Emirates announced it will deploy the Airbus A380 aircraft on its direct services to Shanghai Pudong International Airport from April 27 onwards.
Shanghai will be the carrier’s third Greater China destination served by the superjumbo aircraft after Beijing and Hong Kong (see stories here and here).
The A380 will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and depart Dubai at 0310, arriving in Shanghai at 1530. The return leg will depart Shanghai at 2330 and arrive back in Dubai at 0430.
Authorities have given the Dubai-based carrier approval to use the A380 on this route until October 29, 2011, as of now. To enable the services to Shanghai, the A380 will be used on 11 of the 14 weekly services between Hong Kong and Dubai while the Boeing B777-300ER will be used on the remaining three flights.
Currently, Emirates operates double-daily services to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong and flies the A380 to 12 destinations (London, Manchester, Paris, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland).
For more information, visit www.emirates.com
Alisha Haridasani
