Jamaican pilot Norman Russell has been promoted to Captain on the Airbus A380 for Emirates Airlines. Russell is a past student of Manchester High School and is a former pilot for Air Jamaica, which was launched in 1968 as the national airline of Jamaica, but has been owned and operated by Caribbean Airlines Limited since 2011. Emirates Airlines launched its operations with two aircraft in 1985, but has expanded since then to operate the largest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s in the world. The A380 is a double-decker passenger jet and the world’s largest plane. If placed in a football field, the aircraft would essentially fill the space, its wingtips touching the sidelines. There are two grand staircases in the plane, as well as ample space for sleeper cabins, business centers, and childcare services. The A380 can hold between 550 and 840 passengers and utilizes advanced avionics technology and composite materials. It can make non-stop flights over distances up to 10,000 miles. There are four pilots and some 27 flight attendants staffing the aircraft. First-class passengers receive seven-course dinner meals on long-haul flights. In 2016, Emirates Airlines was named the World’s Best Airline and received its 12th consecutive award for Best In-Flight Entertainment at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. It also opened a new SkyPharma facility at Dubai International Airport that is exclusively dedicated to the secure transport of pharmaceuticals. The airline is the first in the world to acquire a million followers on Instagram, and it has introduced the world’s first interactive amenity kit for Economy Class travelers. Many Jamaican pilots left Trinidad-owned Caribbean Airlines. dissatisfied with how the company handled bargaining rights. Those pilots found numerous opportunities with airlines in the Middle East, and many former Caribbean Airlines pilots currently fly for Emirates Airlines, which is based in Dubai.