Airbus A380 to arrive at MIA

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. (WSVN) -- The largest airliner in the world is set to touch down at a South Florida airport.

"It's major, I mean we are the fifth airport in the country to get this plane," said Marc Henderson of Miami International Airport.

The world's largest and most fuel efficient passenger airplane is scheduled to land at MIA on Friday. Officials say its arrival will bring prestige, increased passengers and more tourist dollars to South Florida. "That means more tourists, that means more business people, that means more people spending money and doing things that help our economy," said Henderson.

MIA is one of five US airports to boast an Airbus A380 to its fleet and the first in the southeast. So far, they have a 90 percent occupancy, which means more than 100 extra passengers on board, per flight, per day. "Families are starting to travel again, Europeans are traveling back again," said Ashutosh Kaul of Lufthansa Airlines.

The double-decked jet liner will carry 526 passengers to and from Frankfurt, Germany for Lufthansa Airlines. There are 420 economy seats, each outfitted with a TV, 98 business class seats and eight first class seats, and the plane still consumes 12 percent less fuel. "Miami International Airport has spent $4 million to retrofit gates at J to accommodate this," said William Talbert of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. "It's really, really exciting."

A ceremony is set for Friday afternoon to welcome the Airbus A380 to Miami. Viewing parties are being planned, and its landing will stream live on the Internet. Its inaugural flight will depart hours later.

A first class flight on the jet costs more than $10,000.

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