World's biggest passenger plane A380 lands in Japan on maiden voyage

NARITA - Airbus superjumbo A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, arrived Sunday at Narita airport east of Tokyo, marking its first landing in Japan and drawing many aviation fans at and around Japan's largest international airport.

The aircraft is currently on a test-flight tour visiting key airports in Asia to see if airport facilities and equipment can accommodate the double-decker plane. It flew in from Hong Kong after departing Toulouse, France, where the aircraft manufacturer's main operations are located.

When the white fuselage, blue tail plane started approaching a runway, a large number of aficionados at a park near Narita International Airport snapped away to capture photo opportunities.

Naomichi Shiraishi, 33, from Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, said with a touch of emotional excitement, "It's just simply so stylish.

It's really impressive." The aircraft can seat 555 passengers in a standard configuration. The delivery of the inaugural unit was initially scheduled for this year but has been delayed.