World's Largest Passenger Jet Begins Service To SFO
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CBS SF) - The world's largest passenger airplane arrived at San Francisco International Airport Tuesday on a flight from Germany.
The double-decker Airbus A380, flown by Lufthansa from Frankfurt, touched down at SFO at 11:51 a.m. Pacific time.
Two SFO fire trucks provided a water-cannon salute as the plane taxied toward the gate.
SFO spokesman Mike McCarron said Lufthansa will be the first airline to operate an Airbus A380 on regularly scheduled daily flights to and from SFO.
The airport's International Terminal is one of a half-dozen airports in the world with gates that can accommodate the jumbo jet, which carries 525 passengers.
The Airbus A380 boasts the lowest fuel consumption per passenger seat and claims to be the quietest long-haul airplane in operation, generating 50 percent less noise during takeoff than other airplanes, according to the Airbus website.
Lufthansa and SFO hosted an "A380 Plane Spotting Party" from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bayfront Park in Millbrae.
Attendees were given a chance to win two tickets to Frankfurt on Lufthansa's A380 service.
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