Emirates to introduce A380 on Mumbai route as it expects 50th delivery

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

By the end of June Emirates, the award winning national airline of Dubai, will operate 50 giant Airbus A380’s – the largest fleet of this aircraft type in use by any airline around the globe.

By the end of June Emirates, the award winning national airline of Dubai, will operate 50 giant Airbus A380’s – the largest fleet of this aircraft type in use by any airline around the globe.

The arrival of ‘Number 50’ will surely be celebrated as a major milestone by Emirates and Airbus and recent talk in Dubai has raised speculation that the number of additional aircraft on order may yet be upped again at a suitable moment in the future as the airline continues its quest to conquer the skies around the world.

It was also confirmed that Emirates will add a further A380 frequency come end of June to Paris CDG, a sign of continued sustained demand for flights made by Emirates, where all destinations in Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Far and South East can be reached with but one stop via Dubai. Additionally, Emirates will introduce the world’s largest passenger aircraft on the route from Dubai to Mumbai on 21st of July, which will be the 28th A380’s destination, this being the first of Emirates’ destinations in India to welcome this aircraft type.

For long being questioned by competitors as to the suitability as a very large double-deck aircraft, the A380 established itself as a permanent feature in the skies and with all three major Gulf carriers now either already operating the A380 or expecting deliveries shortly, in addition to several of the European legacy carriers and Asian airlines too using this aircraft, has the A380 made inroads into the fleets. While not on the level of the venerable Boeing B747’s in terms of orders and deliveries, the A380 however has offered airlines the option to upgrade and modernize their First Class and Business Class sections, bringing a new dimension in on board luxury to passengers hitherto only available on private jets.

Etihad was the first to spring the surprise at the recent Arabian Travel Market when they had the audacity to launch their new First Class Apartments in the Sky in Dubai, upstaging Emirates, and Qatar Airways too launched their First Class product at ATM 2014, with their first A380 being delivered in just over a week after their successful move to the new Hamad International Airport which was reportedly built to handle the A380 of which QR has a number on order.

Emirates however was not much perturbed and promptly served notice back that they too will introduce a new First Class Product, upgraded from their present ‘Suites’ to an even more elaborate level of comfort and privacy.

Sky wars apparently are good for competition and for the passengers flying with these giants out of Eastern Africa, where Emirates serves Nairobi and Dar es Salaam twice a day (current runway repairs in Dubai have impacted on schedules and departure frequencies though) and once a day to Entebbe. Flights with Emirates from these East African destinations to India are popular and the introduction of the A380 will no doubt add to the appeal the airline holds for travelers from the region.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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