Airline Industry: Two Airbus A380 to fly over Harbour Bridge as Qantas and Emirates tie-up

Quantas Emirates A380 fly tandem over Sydney Harbuor

Australian airline Qantas marked the official launch of its partnership with Emirates on Sunday with a spectacular tandem flyover of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by two Airbus A380s.

Qantas said the feat by the two super-jumbos -- one from each of the carriers -- is thought to be the first time anywhere in the world that two commercial airline A380s have flown in formation.

As the planes flew over the bridge the Qantas jet was in the lead, flying at about 1,500 feet (450 metres).

"The sight of two of the world's great airlines flying two of the world's largest aircraft so close together over Sydney Harbour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Qantas chief pilot Philip Green said before the event.

"There has been a huge amount of planning which has been necessary to make this possible, including seeking approval from safety regulators in both Australia and the United Arab Emirates."

Pilots from both airlines completed dozens of special simulator training sessions since January, with Emirates pilots traveling Down Under to conduct sessions in Qantas's A380 simulator in Sydney this month.

Read more: Two Airbus A380 to fly over Harbour Bridge as Qantas and Emirates tie-up | Astro Awani