Giant passenger plane makes UK debut

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) The world's biggest passenger airliner, the European Airbus A380, will touch down in Britain for the first time today.

The double-decker superjumbo, designed to carry 555 passengers but with room for more than 800, will fly from Berlin to Heathrow for its first visit to Britain.

The plane is also expected to make a small detour and dip its wings as it flies over the Airbus sites that designed and made them in north Wales and Bristol.

Big crowds are expected to gather to catch a glimpse of the A380, which is as long as eight London buses and with enough room on its wings to park 70 cars.

Airports planning to receive the new plane are having to widen taxiways and ensure that lounges and baggage-handling facilities can accommodate the larger number of passengers per flight.

The Airbus will stay at Heathrow to test facilities before it flies out on Friday.

According to local media, British test pilot Ed Strongman will be at the controls of the 240ft-long plane when it touches down at around 1.20pm.

REUTERS MIR SSC1344