Emirates to launch A380 Heathrow flights on December 1

Published: 01/02/2008 - Filed under: News »

Print
Send

Bookings are now open for Emirates’ inaugural Airbus A380 flight between Dubai and London Heathrow this December.

Although the airline has yet to make an official announcement, Emirates’ website shows the A380 superjumbo operating daily to and from Heathrow on the carrier’s flagship flights EK1 and EK2 commencing December 1.

London will be the second destination served by the Emirates A380, following New York which is set to launch on October 1 (see online news, January 17). The capacity boost out of Heathrow offered by the A380 is timed to capitalise on the traffic boom from the UK in the run up to the festive season.

EK 1 is scheduled to depart Dubai at 0745 and reach Heathrow T3 at 1135. Returning flight EK2 departs Heathrow T3 at 1345 arriving in Dubai at 0030 the following morning. Many connections are available at Dubai to destinations across the Emirates network.

The carrier is expected to operate the plane in a three-class 490-seater configuration, as is the case with the New York service. Details of the onboard accommodation are still a closely guarded secret but first class is expected to be a development of the existing “suite” while business class will almost certainly feature fully flat beds.

After London, the next destination for the A380 will be Sydney with Australian services starting early in 2009.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the chairman of Emirates Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum has stated that his airline will use the A380 to serve Sydney in the first quarter of 2009, with Melbourne following later in the year.

Next year Emirates will also take up the opportunity to expand its services to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane by nearly 50 per cent, from 49 to 70 a week. The carrier is allowed to up the total to 84 a week by 2011 – see online news March 21, 2007.

The resulting increase in capacity will lead to more choice for passengers and, hopefully, better pricing. As regular travellers heading Down Under can testify, flights are regularly sold out and tickets can be especially costly at certain times of the year.

In other news, Emirates has indicated it plans to add eight new destinations this year. Nothing definite has been announced but there is speculation these will include additional points in the US (with Chicago and Los Angeles being favoured) and Europe.

For more information go to emirates.com.

Report by Alex McWhirter

Crowne Plaza opens Manchester property 30/08/2008

Intercontinental Hotel Group has opened the Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre, joining the brand’s existing airport property in the city — full story »

Zoom goes bust 29/08/2008

Canadian carrier Zoom is the latest airline to fall victim to the high cost of fuel and “‘acutely difficult’ trading conditions within the aviation industry” — full story »