Emirates has unveiled plans for several of its new A380 services, although the carrier is remaining tight-lipped as to the very first route.
What it has revealed nonetheless is that Dubai to New York and London Heathrow will start on 1 October and 1 December respectively, while Sydney-Auckland flights will begin on 1 February next year.
Configured for 489 passengers ” Singapore Airlines has opted for 471 on its initial services to Sydney ” Emirates” A380s will feature 14 first, 76 business and 399 seats, but has yet to disclose what its onboard features will be.
”While we are still debating our first commercial A380 route, it has always been our intention to fly the aircraft on capacity-constrained trunk routes,” said Emirates president Tim Clark.
”The cities that we have now scheduled for A380 services, starting this autumn, bring our plans to fruition. We have played an integral role during the design and development stage to tow the aircraft from the drawing board to the production line.”
The ultra-large aircraft is seen by many as a way to alleviate congestion at slot-constrained airports such as Heathrow, with Singapore Airlines scheduled to begin A380 services to London within weeks.
Emirates is due to take delivery of 58 A380 aircraft with five machines arriving this year. It also says that other configurations in its A380 fleet will feature medium-range three-class aircraft with 517 seats and medium-range two-class machines with 604 seats.