Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar al-Baker addressing a press conference after the arrival of the airline’s first A380 super-jumbo yesterday.
By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter
When Qatar Airways’ first Airbus A380 super-jumbo jet flew past the Corniche around 4.40pm yesterday, Doha residents were left speechless.
Many were seen scratching their heads in awe at the sight of the mammoth aircraft, while others expressed their excitement on social media.
One such spectator was Mahashaya, a Nepali cleaning boy, whose job is to collect garbage that people leave behind after enjoying their karak on the Corniche strip near the upcoming Banana Island Luxury Resort and Museum of Islamic Art.
Dressed in yellow uniform and equipped with his paper picker trash stick, Mahashaya made a faint cry of “Oui” as he saw the A380 coming close to the towers in West Bay, but then burst into a bright smile as he realised that the plane had a “Qatar” sign in bold letters on its large belly.
At the end of the minute-long show, 30-year-old Mahashaya said he thought the plane “looked good” in the sky and felt “nice” to see the event unfold, although he was a bit “surprised” to see it fly so low.
He was curious to know how many people could fit inside such a plane. When he was told it was “the largest passenger jet in the world” with twin decks, he gasped in disbelief and came to the conclusion (by himself) that the aircraft must be meant for “big people”.
When asked whether this new plane he saw was his favourite, Mahashaya said: “Any plane that takes me home to Nepal is my favourite.”
Qatar Airways’ first A380 is expected to fly to London
Heathrow on October 10 for its inaugural commercial flight.
There were many other families and fitness enthusiasts out and about on the Corniche yesterday. They, too, stopped in their tracks to witness the beauty of the airline’s first A380.
Many people in the West Bay took to the social media to record their excitement in cyberspace.
Hooriya Hussain (@hooriya13) tweeted with a picture of the aircraft: “Just saw #QatarA380 from the office wowww!![sic]” Phillippa Eastgate (@PipEastgate) tweeted “A fantastic close up of the new A380! Thanks for the fly by!”
