Manchester Airport welcomes world's largest passenger plane

Manchester Airport today welcomed its first Airbus A380 superjumbo - the world's largest passenger plane.

Dubai-based airline Emirates flew the 500-seat aircraft into Manchester at the start of its daily services between Dubai and the northern England city.

Emirates has been operating the A380, whose wings are made in the UK, into Heathrow but this is the first time a regional UK airport has received one.

Ian Godden, chairman of aerospace, defence and security trade organisation ADS, said: "The UK aerospace sector is number one in Europe and second only to the US globally. The Airbus A380 is an embodiment of this success.

"Up to half of the aircraft is made in Britain with major contributions from many world-leading British-based companies of all sizes."

The huge, double-decker A380 went into passenger service with Singapore Airlines in October 2007, with Singapore starting Heathrow flights in March 2008.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among the carriers due to take delivery of A380s in the next few years.