New Delhi:
In a landmark of sorts, the first commercial flight of an A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, will land in New Delhi today.
The Emirates A380 Super Jumbo EK516 from Dubai to Delhi will arrive at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport's brand new Terminal 3. The aircraft will be at the IGI Airport for three hours before it returns to Dubai.
Emirates' A380 is renowned for its First Class Private Suites and Shower Spas. The 517-seat aircraft offers 14 flat-bed First Class Private Suites with electrically operated doors, 76 fully-flat seats in Business Class - all with mini bars and aisle access, and 427 comfortable contoured seats in Economy - spread across four roomy cabins on the lower deck.
A personal satellite phone is fitted to each seat on the A380 aircraft, which also carries a seat-back SMS and email service, along with seat to seat calling and a "My USB" personal picture viewing facility.
New Delhi's Terminal 3 became operational on Wednesday evening as an Air India Boeing from New York via Washington became the first aircraft to dock at one of the 78 aerobridges of the glass-and-steel terminal.
(In pics: Air India flight from New York first in at T3)
The flight was given a salute with jet of water being sprayed from cannons from both its side as it taxied on the bay to dock at T3. The passengers were given a warm welcome on arrival by officials Air India and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the terminal on July 3. Terminal 3, or T3 as the new airport building is called, is the fifth largest airport terminal in the world.
The spanking new world-class Rs 9,000-crore T3 will integrate domestic and international operations and is expected to handle 34 million passengers every year.