Emirates will add a superjumbo service between Milan and New York JFK on June 1.
The Gulf carrier will upgrade flights EK205/206 on its Dubai-Milan-New York route from a B777-300ER to an A380.
Currently, it operates the A380 between Dubai and Milan as flights EK091/092 (see news, October 7). The third service between those two destinations, EK101/102, will continue to be operated by a B777-300ER.
The news is bound to cause disquiet among the US airlines and Etihad/Alitalia, none of which are flying the superjumbo on the Milan-New York route.
Emirates is able to deploy the A380 between the two cities after successfully appealing a November decision made by Italian officials that its Milan-New York service was illegal.
The carrier said in a statement: "We are very pleased with the decision by the Consiglio di Stato, which has annulled the ruling of Lazio Regional Administrative Court. This is excellent news for the thousands of customers who have been benefitting from our Milan to New York service since the launch in 2013."
Graham Smith
