Runways have been strengthened, signs moved back and a huge fire engine has been bought to allow the world's biggest passenger plane to land at Manchester.

 

And now the Airport has been given final permission for the Airbus A380 to start flying from its airfield next month.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority officially certified the airport as ready for the Emirates A380, meaning it will be able to touch down for the first time on September 1.

 

The approval makes the airport one of only 17 across the world able to accept the super-jumbo, which seats 517 passengers.

 

Bosses have spent more than £10m upgrading the airfield, including installing a new aircraft stand.

 

Taxiways have been widened and reinforced as well as more than 50 signs moved further away so the jet can pass safely.

 

The airport has also invested in two new fire engines. One of the vehicles has a 30-metre ladder which allows firefighters to reach any level of an aircraft.

 

The certification means that Manchester can now accept any large aircraft operating around the world, which could lead to more business for the airport.

 

The CAA approval is a result of work dating back nearly 10 years with the most detailed and intensive work taking place out on the airfield due to the shear size of the aircraft.

 

Managing director Andrew Cornish explained it was the result of work dating back nearly a decade with extensive alterations needed to accommodate the giant aircraft.

 

He said: “It’s a proud day for Manchester and we’re naturally pleased that Emirates has chosen Manchester to be the first regional airport in the world to welcome an A380 aircraft.

 

“A lot of hard work and planning has gone into the arrival from many people across the business and we’re pleased that as an aerodrome we can accept the newest type of aircraft flying today and

 

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/transport/s/1314539_video_airport_all_set_for_517seater_a380_superjet_after_10m_upgrade

Why the Airbus A380 is a big deal for Manchester

 

 

The arrival of the world's biggest commercial airliner in Manchester certainly grabbed the headlines.

 

At the airport, hundreds of staff joined thousands of plane spotters to watch the twin deck aircraft touch down for the first time [1st Sept 2010].

 

But why is the A380 such a big deal for Manchester and the North West?

 

Its supporters say the A380 has put Manchester Airport on the map and boosted the economy. Critics, however, have dubbed it "a green monster."

 

Investment

 

Capable of carrying up to 800 passengers, the development of the Airbus A380 is something of a revolution in the airline industry.

 

To accommodate such a big plane, Manchester Airport has spent more than £10m on new fire engines, a new aircraft stand and two bridges to connect the super jumbo to the terminal.

 

It's a major investment that puts it an elite group of the world's top 17 airports big enough to take an airliner of this size.

 

Which is why both the airport and Emirates were keen to celebrate the arrival of Manchester's first A380 complete with luxury features like on-board showers for its first class passengers.

 

Maurice Flanagan, vice chairman of the Emirates Airline and Group said he was confident that bookings for the A380 would prove that it was money well spent.

 

''The A380 is proving to be a big hit with our customers," he said.

 

"Our advance bookings are already 20% up from the same period last year,'' he said.

 

Services

 

Emirates will be operating two daily services to Dubai from Manchester - one of them serviced by the new A380.

 

For Manchester Airport, it's the culmination of nearly ten years' work.

 

It had to secure Civil Aviation Authority approval to take the super jumbo which has involved widening taxiways, re-aligning junctions and turns and moving dozens of runway signs so the giant plane can pass safely.

 

The airport's managing director Andrew Cornish said it was a "proud day" for Manchester.

 

''A lot of hard work and planning has gone into the arrival from many people and we're pleased that we can now accept the newest type of aircraft flying today.''

 

Size

 

So what's different about the A380 apart from its size?

 

It's quieter for a start and more fuel efficient than many of its older rivals. But there are still concerns about its impact.

 

Supporters say it's a greener aircraft and moving large numbers of people on one journey is a better way forward.

 

But critics have claimed the move towards this kind of super jumbo will ultimately have a negative environmental effect.

 

Jeff Gazzard runs the Manchester Airport Environment Network. He disputed the aircraft's green credentials.

 

"The flight to and from Dubai will make 800 tonnes of CO2. Its fuel efficiency is actually 10.4 miles per gallon.

 

"That isn't fuel efficient: it's a green monster not a green dream, it's as simple as that."

 

Jobs

 

Wings for the giant A380 are made at the Airbus factory at Broughton near Chester.

 

They have to be shipped by special barge along the Dee for final assembly in France.

 

Nigel Harvey, head of operations for the A380 at Broughton said its arrival was extremely important in terms of employment.

 

"It's created an awful lot of jobs within the local community," he said. "It's secured jobs for about 1,000 people here within the factory."

 

Emirates is one of Airbus's best customers with twelve A380s in its fleet and a further 78 on order.

 

'Mark Barclay, Airbus senior vice-president, said it was also big business for the British economy.

 

"On the A380 programme, work valued at over £7.5 billion has already been placed in the UK," he said.

 

"Over the lifetime of the programme this is set to more than double.''

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8959000/8959787.stm

A380 Superjumbo gets a BIG welcome

 

 

History was made as almost 7,000 people flocked to Manchester Airport to catch a glimpse of its new super-sized arrival - the giant A380 passenger plane.

 

Huge cheers went up as the 517-seat double-decker monster from Dubai touched down at the airport for the first time shortly before 12.30pm yesterday.

 

Airport bosses say the number of spectators was second only to the 10,000 who gathered for Concorde’s last landing in 2004.

 

Susie Melling, 28, from Wigan, was one of the cabin crew as the plane made its maiden voyage into the city.

 

She said: "It’s the fastest, the biggest and the best. I live in Dubai so for me it means I can come home a lot more often and don’t have to take any holidays."

 

Angela Fawley, 44, was at the viewing area with husband Dave Williams, 44, son Haydn Williams, 12, and grandson Macawley Williams, six.

 

She said: "We saw that it was coming in the M.E.N last week and thought we would come down and have a look.

 

"We’ve all been really impressed with it. I stood on one of the picnic tables to watch it come in.

 

"It looks really nice – it must be good when you can afford it.

 

"We had a false alarm when a Cathay Pacific plane touched down first – that was quite funny.

 

"It’s the kids’ last day before school and they have really enjoyed it. It’s been one of the best days in the last six weeks."

 

Carol Bell, 40, her children Shaunna Parkinson, 16, Jamie Parkinson, 18 and stepdad Andy Bell, 38, also travelled to the viewing park from Denton.

 

Carol said: "It’s really, really impressive."

 

Jamie added: "I’ve not been before and I thought it might be a bit boring but there were loads of people here and there was a great atmosphere. When it came in I was using the binoculars to take a look."

 

Leigh-born Sir Maurice Flanagan, founding managing director of Emirates, said: "It’s a proud day for me personally because I am from not far from here and professionally because it shows how far we have come.

 

"Manchester was the first European airport we flew out of and we used to carry 310 passengers a week. Now it’s 6,000."

 

Airport managing director Andrew Cornish said the A380’s arrival was ‘a dream come true’.

 

And an airport spokesman said: "Everything has gone like clockwork. It was rather quiet when it took off again. But it will be back tomorrow and is now part of the airport forever."

 

 

A 73-year-old man was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital after suffering a heart attack at the viewing point at about 1pm. It is understood that doctors were unable to resuscitate him and he died a short time later.

 

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1315733_a380_superjumbo_gets_a_big_welcome

why did they put Old Trafford in the background?

dunno coz it definitely isn't in sight line with the airport hotel :lol:

maybe give rooney something to aim at... he can't find the net these days so needs something! ;)

I think Van Rooney will need a bigger plane as a target :P

so it'll be a new regular line?

 

i freaked out when i saw 'seated' airport currently have barely any seat :\