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A380 making its US maiden voyage A380 completes maiden US voyage
(about 2 hours later)
The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, was set to land on US soil for the first time on Monday after a test flight. The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, has landed on US soil for the first time after a test flight.
One of the superjumbos is flying from Frankfurt to New York and then on to Chicago, carrying about 500 people. The superjumbo, carrying about 500 people, arrived in New York from Frankfurt, and was greeted by a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators.
It is being billed as the first time it has carried a near-normal number of passengers, though most will be staff of Airbus and German airline Lufthansa. The flight was billed as the first time it has carried a near-normal number of passengers, though most were staff of Airbus and German airline Lufthansa.
A second A380 is also travelling to the US on Monday, but without passengers. A second A380 landed later in Los Angeles but without any passengers.
This will be branded as a Qantas flight and fly from Frankfurt to Los Angeles. The Qantas branded flight also arrived from Frankfurt.
DelaysDelays
The flight to New York, travelling under a Lufthansa flight number, is due to arrive at New York's JFK airport at 1230pm local time (1630 GMT).
The test flights are being used to monitor everything from how easily the plane docks at the terminal gate to the way the in-flight dining and entertainment services work.The test flights are being used to monitor everything from how easily the plane docks at the terminal gate to the way the in-flight dining and entertainment services work.
Delays have dogged the 73m-long A380. Deliveries to Singapore Airlines, its launch customer, are not due until October - two years late.Delays have dogged the 73m-long A380. Deliveries to Singapore Airlines, its launch customer, are not due until October - two years late.
Captain Juergen Raps flew one of the planes across the Atlantic
The delays have already cost Airbus more than $6bn (£3.3bn) and the company has warned there could be additional charges to come.The delays have already cost Airbus more than $6bn (£3.3bn) and the company has warned there could be additional charges to come.
The problems are largely behind a recently-announced restructuring programme at Airbus, called Power8, which will see about 10,000 jobs go and several factories sold to partners.The problems are largely behind a recently-announced restructuring programme at Airbus, called Power8, which will see about 10,000 jobs go and several factories sold to partners.
France will be worst hit with 4,300 job losses. Germany will see 3,700 jobs go, while the UK and Spain will see 1,600 and 400 jobs cut respectively.France will be worst hit with 4,300 job losses. Germany will see 3,700 jobs go, while the UK and Spain will see 1,600 and 400 jobs cut respectively.
Meanwhile, the Belgian government has said it will give up to 150m euros in aid to help its sub-contractors which supply Airbus and employ thousands of workers.Meanwhile, the Belgian government has said it will give up to 150m euros in aid to help its sub-contractors which supply Airbus and employ thousands of workers.