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QF + EK A380-800's @ DFW


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#1 Independence76

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Posted 01 October 2014 - 01:24 PM

The past 72 hours have been very exciting for DFW Airport. Qantas began the upgraded SYD-DFW-SYD with an A380-800 (the longest distance commercial flight in the world with the largest commercial aircraft in the world). The aircraft (VH-OQL) had a cowboy hat and a bandana put on the tail kangaroo as well as a sticker on the nose with "G'Day Texas." DFW spent $4.5 Million USD to upgrade gates, widen taxiways, and reinforce concrete to service the A380.

The capabilities to allow the A380 were envisioned with Terminal D with its opening in 2005, but there was zero interest for service by any carrier with the fleet type when it was introduced in 2007. Lufthansa had two A380 diversions to DFW from the daily FRA-IAH flight due to weather since last year. It pressed DFW management to improve the airport for scheduled A380 capabilities as both EK and QF showed interest. On September 29, QF7 arrived from Sydney. Years ago, many would not have expected DFW to be an airport with A380 service. How times have changed...


Unfortunately for me and the 250 other spotters at Founder's Plaza on Monday afternoon, the wind was from the north, so the aircraft landed at the opposite end of the airport. There were a decent amount of spotters and airport employees around other areas with better views. There must have been 400-500 out there total watching this thing come in.

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The pilot of the AA 738 specifically requested a taxiway further down the runway after landing to follow the A380 and watch the water salute from the flight deck.
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Three news helicopters above Terminal D filming the arrival of the first scheduled A380 into DFW. A historic moment for the airport!
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Today, the Emirates A380-800 came in on a nonstop from DXB-DFW-DXB. This was also an upgrade from the previous 777-200LR used since 2013. The weather was terrible for photography and filming, but it was around 75 F / 23 C, so it felt great to be out there. It was a lovely cloudy and cool morning to be spotting. Thankfully the wind was out of the south so it came in the right direction for shots. There were about 100 or so people out at Founder's Plaza to watch it come in.

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Bonus Korean Air 777-200ER that came in a few minutes afterward.
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#2 Iain_

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Posted 01 October 2014 - 06:24 PM

A6-EET was the A380 that came to us in GLA in April, except with the Glasgow 2014 sticker instead of Expo 2020.

#3 Mr. Schutte

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Posted 25 October 2014 - 07:53 PM

Very nice photos, thanks for sharing!