Emirates deploys A380 on longest route

Emirates has unveiled plans to deploy its largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, on its longest route, Dubai-Auckland.

The airline first launched the non-stop New Zealand service on 1 March 2016, which became the world’s longest scheduled air route at 14,203km. Emirates currently serves the route using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, but effective 30 October 2016 the daily flights will be upgraded to the double-decker A380.
Emirates will fly its three-class A380 to Auckland

This will become the fourth daily A380 flight Emirates operates to Auckland, with three existing services operating via Australia. It also operates daily B777 flights to Christchurch.

The direct A380 flights to Auckland will depart Dubai International Airport daily at 1005 and arrive in New Zealand’s largest city at 1110 the next day. The return flights will then take-off from Auckland International Airport at 2115 and arrive back in Dubai at 0535 the following morning.

Emirates is the world’s largest A380 operator, with 80 of the aircraft now in its fleet. This accounts for more than 40% of all A380s operating in the world today. These aircraft now serve 40 global destinations, with the 41st – Vienna – scheduled to launch on 1 July.

Emirates configures its A380s with three different seating layouts. The Dubai-Auckland route is likely to feature the airline’s “ultra-long-haul” configuration, which offers first and business cabins on the upper deck and economy class seating on the lower deck.Written by:
 
Mark Elliott / Travel News