Emirates has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 superjumbo.

Although not the first airline to receive an A380, Emirates was the first to place a firm order eight years ago initially for seven aircraft, with five further options, collectively worth US$1.5 billion. By November 2007, the carrier had placed firm orders for 58 A380s.

The 58 A380s are set to play an integral role in the carrier’s ambitious network expansion, eventually serving all the major cities in the Emirates’ network which spans six continents. This first aircraft will be deployed on the Dubai-New York route, marking the first commercial A380 service to the UAE and US.

Emirates is due to receive five superjumbos by the end of March, 2009, and receive the remaining 53 by June 2013. The first five 489-seat, long range aircraft will be deployed on some of the carrier’s busiest routes including New York, London Heathrow (1 December), Sydney and Auckland (1 February, 2009).

The Emirates A380s will be powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines, enabling the carrier to save 500,000 litres of fuel per aircraft per year over any other engine alternative currently available.

Delivery of this aircraft takes the Emirates fleet to 118, including 108 passenger aircraft and 10 freighters.