Consider it a cruise ship in the sky.
The double-deck Lufthansa Airbus A380, which flies daily between Miami and Frankfurt, is so huge it has 220 windows and 55,450 square feet of floor space, more than the average Publix.
Able to hold 526 passengers, it's the world's largest airliner, and it only lands in five U.S. cities: Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Here's the buzz on the super jumbo, which started flying into South Florida on June 10.
Q: Just how big is the A380?
A: At takeoff, fully loaded, it weighs about 600 tons, equal to the weight of 428 Toyota Corollas. About 290 of those tons are fuel, allowing the plane to fly 9,200 miles nonstop. Its wingspan is 261.6 feet, more than twice as long as the Wright Brothers' first flight. Its interior, including the cargo hold, is spacious enough to hold 35 million pingpong balls.
Q: How much does the plane cost?
A: About $375 million apiece. Not bad considering it contains 4 million components, produced by 1,500 companies from 30 countries. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, has sold 236 of the planes to 18 airlines, said Mary Anne Greczyn, Airbus spokeswoman. By comparison, a new Boeing 747-8 costs about $333 million.
Q: Does it cost passengers more to take than other planes?
A: No. The lowest round-trip fare — at least, through mid-December — between Miami and Frankfurt is about $900, about the same as other airlines.
Q: When and where is the best place to see it land and take off?
A: The plane is scheduled to land in Miami at 1:50 p.m. and depart at 5:10 p.m. each day. Airplane watchers can get a great view from the parking lot of 94th Aero Squadron, a restaurant on the south side of the airport at 1395 NW 57th Ave.
Pam Ambrogi, Aero Squadron's general manager, said the restaurant has no problem with spectators in the lot but notes that those who loiter are unwelcome. She said the plane continues to draw a big crowd most days. "It's more magnificent taking off than landing because you can watch it longer," she said.
Q: Has the jetliner been flying full?
A: Not quite. Since June, almost 90 percent of its seats have been sold, according to Lufthansa. For now, the airline doesn't plan to add A380 flights into Miami.
Q: What did Miami International have to do to accommodate the A380?
A: MIA spent $4 million to install a third loading bridge and make other improvements to J-17, the only gate that can handle the aircraft. Otherwise, its runways already were long enough to accept it, said Greg Chin, airport spokesman.
Q: Has it created any long lines inside the airport?
A: Only at the check-in counter. Otherwise, it has not created any problems for the Transportation Security Administration or Customs. The airport can easily handle the additional passenger load, Chin said.
Q: Will it ever fly into Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach?
A: While the A380 could land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International in an emergency, the airport's gates and taxiways would be unable to handle it on a regular basis, airport spokesman Greg Meyer said. Palm Beach International Airport's runways are unable to accept the gargantuan jetliner, airport spokeswoman Casandra Davis said.
Q: Does it require any special attention from air traffic controllers?
A: Because it creates dangerous wake turbulence, the A380 must be spaced six to 10 miles apart from other airplanes while in the air, about double the separation needed between other jetliners, said Arlene Salac, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman. Otherwise, while it's on the ground, controllers must be careful to direct it onto taxiways that can accept its enormous wing span, she said.
Q: What amenities does it have?
A: First-class seats can be converted into ottoman beds, and first-class lavatories are extra large. Otherwise, economy passengers will find the interior much like any other jetliner.
Q: Will any other airlines fly A380s into South Florida?
A: Not in the near future. Korean, Qantas, Air France and Emirates are the only other airlines that currently fly the plane, and Miami for now isn't on their radar.
"The plans for other airlines to come to the U.S., or specifically Miami, are actually pretty well-guarded secrets by the airlines," said Greczyn, the Airbus spokeswoman.
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