CANNES, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Dubai carrier Emirates expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 superjumbo in August next year and hopes to have it in service the following month, airline president Tim Clark said Thursday.

Clark said the A380, the first of 55 on order, 'will fly almost immediately, in September, if we get it in August.'

The airline will get four or five more of the aircraft next year, he added.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed in Singapore on Wednesday, as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever built.

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) jet touched down at 1040 GMT -- 10 minutes late -- at Changi Airport, where hundreds of guests in business suits toasted its arrival with champagne.

The A380 arrived from France, where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - When they finally saw the giant plane, they gasped.

Hundreds of guests including foreign diplomats gathered in a cavernous glass-walled hall at a new Singapore airport terminal Wednesday night to welcome Singapore Airlines' first A380 superjumbo jet with a lavish reception.

They heard the massive jet before they saw it.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed in Singapore on Wednesday, as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever built.

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) jet touched down at 1040 GMT -- 10 minutes late -- at Changi Airport, where hundreds of guests in business suits gathered for a champagne reception to welcome it.

The A380 arrived from France where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed in Singapore on Wednesday, as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever made.

The Singapore Airlines jet touched down at 1040 GMT -- 10 minutes late -- at Changi Airport, where hundreds of guests in business suits gathered for a champagne reception to welcome it.

The plane arrived after a flight of more than 12 hours from the headquarters of European manufacturer Airbus.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - Ten facts about the Airbus A380 superjumbo:

- The double-decker A380 measures 73 metres (239 feet) in length, or about 80 percent of the smallest international football field

- The wing area is 845 square metres (9,092 square feet), enough to park 72 medium-sized cars on each wing

- It has 50-percent more floor space than the next biggest aircraft, the Boeing 747 jumbo, which can carry about 400 passengers

- It can carry 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The Airbus A380 superjumbo was set to land on Singapore on Wednesday as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever made.

Decked out in the blue and gold of launch customer Singapore Airlines, the A380 was en route from France, where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost over-runs.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus on Monday made the first delivery of its A380, the world's biggest passenger jet, handing it over to Singapore Airlines 18 months behind schedule but with both sides hailing a major advance in air travel.

The 73-metre-long (239-feet) superjumbo was handed over in a ceremony at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse in southern France, with Singapore Airlines also revealing its 'new standard' in first-class cabin design.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Singapore Airlines on Monday unveiled the mystery bidder who paid more than 100,000 dollars (70,000 euros) for a seat on the inaugural flight of the Airbus A380 between Singapore and Sydney.

Julian Hayward, a 38-year-old Briton who sold his Internet business in 2000, said he wanted a 'little bit of history' by flying in seat 1A in the first class area of the plane on next week's journey.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - 'There is no first class on this plane, sir. This is Suite Class,' repeats the Singapore Airlines steward as she shows off the front of the plane to curious onlookers.

All of the guides parroted the same line on Monday as the carrier unveiled what it called a 'new standard for luxury and comfort' in the Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger jet.