FORGING ahead with the airline’s immense fleet expansion Emirates has taken delivery of its sixth Airbus A380 aircraft.

The colossal aircraft landed in Dubai after travelling from the Jürgen Thomas Delivery Centre in Hamburg, Germany.  It is being fitted with the airline’s service hallmarks at Emirates’ engineering facility, in preparation for entry into service.

Taking delivery of this mammoth plane Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ executive vice president engineering and operations said: “The delivery of our sixth A380 aircraft is testament to Emirates’ steadfast resilience amidst the global economic crisis.

“We remain resolute in our expansion plans in terms of both fleet and destinations. In the last four weeks alone Emirates has announced plans to start services to Tokyo and Amsterdam in 2010 and has also taken delivery of three new aircraft including two Boeing 777-300ERs, in addition to today’s Airbus A380.”

Serving Sydney, Auckland, Bangkok, Toronto, Heathrow and Seoul, the A380 aircraft provide a greener option for long-haul travel through substantial reductions in noise, emissions and fuel burn.

Emirates was due to commence an A380 service to Paris at the beginning of the year, with the carrier’s seventh A380 aircraft due for delivery at the same time.

Unique to the Emirates aircraft are its shower spas – two fully-equipped bathrooms in first class with shower facilities.

Spread over two levels, the whole of the A380 upper deck is dedicated to premium passengers. Towards the front, first class passengers can relax in one of 14 flat-bed, massage-equipped private suites incorporating remote-controlled doors, a work desk, an electrically controlled mini-bar and the most advanced in-flight entertainment system available.