OREANDA-NEWS. Miami International Airport kicked off the final month of the year on a grand scale yesterday, welcoming Air France's Airbus A380-800 superjumbo jet to Miami for the first time. The world's largest passenger aircraft touched down at 6:04 p.m., making Air France just the second airline to offer A380 service at MIA in the process.  The French flag carrier will offer seasonal service on the popular Miami-Paris route through March 27, 2015 with the new aircraft.

The inaugural arrival was greeted with a water cannon salute by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and arriving passengers were treated to gift bags from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Officials from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD), Air France and the French government then joined passengers waiting to board the inaugural departure flight to Paris for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and commemorative cake. Officials on hand included: MDAD Deputy Director Ken Pyatt; Astrid Hennekam, Air France-KLM Director of Market Development for the U.S.; Deputy Consul General of France in Miami Karine Aumont; Sophie Delporte, Chief of Political Affairs for the French Consulate in Miami; and Air France Miami Station Manager Jose Lannefranque.

Air France's version of the double-decker aircraft has ample capacity to meet high passenger demand during the busy winter travel season. The aircraft is arranged in a four-class, 516-seat configuration, comprised of La Premiere (First), Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes, and also features a bar for passengers to enjoy. The A380 represents a gain of 133 seats over the 383-seat Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that normally operates on the route. Daily Miami-Paris service on the Air France A380 is scheduled to arrive at MIA at 6:05 p.m. and depart for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 8:55 p.m. from Gate J-17 in the airport's South Terminal.

"Air France's new Miami-Paris A380 service is great news for our passengers, as well as for our community," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "This massive aircraft is a fitting parallel to Miami's continuing growth as a destination for business and leisure travelers alike, and it will help support both of those sectors by bringing as many as 500 visitors to our community each day."  

German flag carrier Lufthansa was the first airline to offer A380 service at MIA, launching Miami-Frankfurt flights in June 2011. MIA will welcome additional Airbus A380 service in 2015 when longtime airline partner British Airways begins twice-daily Miami-London service on the superjumbo.