The excitement was definitely in the air - and on the ground as hundreds of people gathered at Toronto Pearson for the arrival of the first scheduled A380 flight on Canadian soil.

Members of the media along with about 80 members of the community group Airport Watch gathered at the Central Deicing Facility at Toronto Pearson to welcome the largest passenger aircraft in the world to Toronto. The anticipation grew with each passing minute and a hush fell over the crowd when the impressive double-decker aircraft emerged from the clouds.

Captain Dave Heino, from Burlington, piloted Emirates’ luxurious aircraft into Toronto Pearson yesterday and was given a hero’s welcome as he entered the terminal building.

“The GTAA is honoured to be part of this historic day,” said Lloyd McCoomb, President and CEO of the GTAA. “We are pleased that this route has proven so successful for Emirates and we are very excited to welcome the A380 to Toronto Pearson. This is exactly what this airport was rebuilt for – to allow for new and larger aircraft that will be the future of the airline business.”

Emirates began offering three weekly flights between Toronto and Dubai in October 2007. Adding the A380 to this service will add capacity to this popular route. There has been a consistently high demand on this route and now more passengers will be able to take advantage of the great service that Emirates offers.

The A380 aircraft is the most advanced, spacious and economic airliner in service. It is the largest civil wide-body aircraft ever made and offers a capacity of 525 passengers in three classes. With a fuel efficiency of less than three litres per 100 kilometers per passenger, the A380 is one of the most efficient passenger aircraft in service today.

The GTAA spent ten years rebuilding and redeveloping Toronto Pearson. The runways, taxiways, apron areas and certain gates have all been built with the knowledge that larger aircraft such as the A380 would come to Toronto. The forward thinking that went into the airport redevelopment is now paying off for passengers in the GTA in the form of additional flight capacity on this busy route.