One last look of A6-EDD who carried me to New Zealand.
With a firm touchdown in Auckland, the first part of the journey comes to an end, but there's still the welcome ceremony to attend. All invited guests were escorted out of the plane and head back to the security screening to go upstairs for the ceremony.
The Ceremony
Emirates sure knows how to celebrate in style, over 100 guests were invited for the ceremony and touring of the aircraft.
Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, East Asia & Australasia with the tourism minister of New Zealand and Auckland airport executive.
All invited guest on the day received a well presented gift bag, inside the gift bag includes a Herpa 1:500 EK A380 model, an Emirates A380 book by Andrew Spaeth and other goodies.
After the ceremony, media were given chances to tour the cabin (all clean and well presented) of the A380. I have included a few pictures in this Trip Report. You can view more by visit my personal website.
http://samchuiphotos.com/EKA380/
During the tour, the Emirates cabin crew were especially helpful, offered me every assistance for posing, providing equipment to gain elevation for photo purpose and happy to introduce all functionality of the aircraft.
All 3 class cabins were meticulously presented with food, turned down beds and other amenities. I remember there were no presentation whatsoever on the first Qantas A380 media tour of cabin apart from the clean seat. Qantas can certainly learn a few things from Emirates.
After the tour, it is time to say Goodbye to the friendly crew and head to the Emirates Lounge for some well deserved rest.
A6-EDD quietly parked at Gate 15 in the new extension of Auckland Int’l terminal.
A company A340-500 arrived from Melbourne at another gate.