Emirates receives 100th Airbus A380 in Hamburg with Sheikh Zayed livery

The Dubai airline is the biggest customer of A380s in the world

From left to right: Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, Sir Tim Clark, president Emirates Airline, Fabrice Brégier, chief operating officer of Airbus and president commercial aircraft, Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Germany, Adel Al Redha, Emirates executive vice president and chief operating officer and Tom Leahy, chief commercial officer – customers – commercial aircraft of Airbus. Courtesy Emirates

Emirates A380 in numbers. Courtesy Emirates

Addressing VIP guests and media at the Hamburg event; left to right, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline & Group and Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus. Courtesy Emirates

The 100th Emirates A380 with Year of Giving livery. Emmanuel Samoglou / The National

From left to right: Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Germany, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline & Group, Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, senator Frank Horch, Ministry for Economy, Transport, and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Fabrice Brégier, chief operating officer of Airbus and president commercial aircraft and Dominic Horwood, director – customer and services Rolls-Royce in front the 100th A380 following the ceremony in Hamburg. Courtesy Emirates

Emirates has received its 100th Airbus A380.

The milestone was marked by a special ceremony at the plane manufacturer's delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany, that was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates’ chairman and chief executive. The Dubai carrier has the most A380 aircraft in the world and has another 42 on order.

"This is a tremendous moment for Emirates, for Airbus and for our many partners involved in the A380 programme," Sheikh Ahmed said.

"There is no doubt that the A380 has had a big positive impact on aerospace manufacturing and the broader aviation industry, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and stimulating innovation and new product development in many related areas such as ground handling, catering, airport facilities and cabin products, to name a few."

The 100th A380 features a special livery as a tribute to Sheikh Zayed.

Sheikh Ahmed added: “2018 is the 'Year of Zayed', marking 100 years since the birth of our country’s founding father and celebrating his legacy. Emirates is proud to launch our tribute to the man who has been instrumental to the UAE’s formation and development, at the milestone delivery of our 100th A380.”

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Emirates' 100th A380 is configured in three cabin classes, comprising 14 private suites in first class, 76 seats in business class and 426 seats. It is powered by Rolls Royce engines and will be on display at the Dubai Airshow this month before it goes into service.

The ceremony at Hamburg was also attended by Tim Clark, president of Emirates, Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce director of customer service, Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Germany, and Frank Horch, senator for economy, transport and innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

"We are extremely proud of our long-standing relationship with Emirates – a partnership that has been integral to the A380 programme," said Mr Enders.

"It is a source of immense satisfaction for everyone at Airbus that such a visionary airline has believed in the A380 from the very beginning and chosen it as its flagship and the backbone of its operations. And, of course, it is always exciting to hear positive feedback from our customers and passengers about the aircraft, while associating it with Dubai's success as the world's most dynamic air transport hub."