Emirates superjumbo takes to the skies

The A380, which can seat 853 passengers, took off for its inaugural flight bound for New York, the first of 58 ordered in a 18.8-billion-dollar (12-billion-euro) deal with the European plane manufacturer.

The government-owned airline, the fastest growing in the Middle East, is already the largest single client of the A380, which has been beset by delays. The first plane had been scheduled for delivery in October 2007.

Singapore Airlines last year became the first carrier in the world to fly the superjumbo.