Its amazing to think that its almost five years since the first Airbus A380 visited our shores! The occasion was a flag waving exercise by Qantas who flew their first, and yet to enter service, Airbus A380-800 VH-OQA "Nancy Bird Walton" to Auckland from Sydney on 09 October 2008 as QFA6601.
VH-OQA was then the centre-piece for the opening of Auckland International Airport's terminal extension project specifically designed with Airbus A380's in mind. The jet flew a local flight from/to Auckland 10 October carrying dignateries etc and departed mid afternoon for Sydney as QFA6602.
VH-OQA flew its first commercial service 20 October flying from Melbourne to Los Angeles as QFA93.
Auckland received its first commercial flight by an Airbus A380 on 02 February 2009 when Emirates introduced the type on its Dubai-Sydney-Auckland service, UAE412. A6-EDD had the honours of operating this first daily service. 13 December 2010 was the first time Auckland had two A380's on the ground at once with A6-EDB delayed from the previous day and then A6-EDO on the scheduled Sydney run.
From 02 October 2012 Emirates introduced the type on their daily Dubai-Melbourne-Auckland UAE406 service and from today the mega carrier introduced the type on their Dubai-Brisbane-Auckland service making for three of the type on the ground at Auckland. The first of these services was operated by A380 A6-EEK.
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| A6-EEK trialing Auckland's gate 10 18 September 2013 for the first time following modifications to A380 requirements in anticipation of triple day A380 services from 02 October. |
