World’s largest airliner A380 returns to Glasgow - where and when to see it

The world’s largest airliner returns to Scotland on Sunday for the first time since September 2019.

Emirates said it was reintroducing the Airbus A380 for flights between Glasgow and Dubai due to increased demand.

The double-decker aircraft towers at over 24 metres high, with a wingspan of nearly 80 metres, has four jet engines and can carry 517 passengers.

Glasgow Airport has made special arrangements to help people eager to catch a glimpse of the plane’s arrival.

Where and when can you see the A380?

Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline departing Zurich airport iStock

Glasgow Airport operations director Ronald Leitch said the airline’s Glasgow-Dubai route “continues to be a tremendous success story for Scotland”, and the reintroduction of an A380 is “a huge vote of confidence for Glasgow and the wider region”.

The flight on Sunday is due to land at the airport at 12.45pm and the airport said it was keen for the public “to join in the celebrations” safely.

Glasgow Airport said it has been working closely with Police Scotland to make arrangements to minimise congestion on both its internal road network and those surrounding.

There is six hours of free parking available at the Long Stay Car Park with the airport urging everyone wanting to watch the aircraft arrive and depart to gather there.

Glasgow Airport has issued a map showing where people can gather and access to free parking. Glasgow Airport

There are walking routes along pavements to the west and east of the airport.

Parking is prohibited on any of the roads surrounding the airport, including Abbotsinch Road, Walkinshaw Road and Barnsford Road.

No vehicles are to be left within 3m of the facility’s perimeter fence.

Police Scotland and airport security will be enforcing parking restrictions throughout the day.

Emirates previously ran Glasgow-Dubai flights using Boeing 777s, which have 302 seats for passengers.

The airline’s UK divisional vice president, Richard Jewsbury, said: “The return of the A380 is purely demand driven. We’ve seen sustained demand from the Scottish market.

“Dubai is the number one destination but we’re seeing really good flows down to Australia, Thailand, the Indian subcontinent – which is very popular particularly for VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic – and the Indian Ocean.

“It’s about growing the capacity back.

“As we go into the summer period we’re expecting more visitors and inbound traffic from around the network.”

The vast majority of A380s around the world were put into storage at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, fuelling speculation they would never return due to the existence of more fuel-efficient aircraft.

But their ability to carry more passengers than all other commercial planes means the model is making a recovery.

Mr Jewsbury claimed the suggestion that A380s could be permanently grounded was “always ridiculous”.

He said: “I think the A380 always has been and will continue to be in high demand.