The Future of Flight?
2008-06-11
Air travellers will be able to experience Emirates Airline’s state-of-the-art A380 aircraft for the first time on 1st August, when the airline launches its first A380 commercial service from Dubai to New York JFK. The 14-hour non-stop flight will also be the first-ever commercial A380 service to The Americas.
After New York, these aircraft are slated to operate on Emirates’ routes from Dubai to London Heathrow, and Sydney-Auckland.
Emirates’ A380 interiors and onboard product, which have been kept under wraps so far, will be revealed for the first time when the airline receives its first A380 from Airbus’ Hamburg facility on 28th July.
The A380 can fly up to 12,000 kilometres on a full passenger load, and offer better fuel economy per passenger kilometre than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 is also quieter, both inside and outside of the cabin, which means more comfort for passengers and a smaller noise footprint.
Emirates expects delivery of five A380s in its current financial year, all featuring its ultra long-haul configuration of 489 seats: 14 in First Class, 76 in Business and 399 in Economy; with 13 tonnes of bellyhold capacity for cargo.
The largest customer for the A380 superjumbo, Emirates will receive the first of its 58 A380 aircraft on order on 28th July.
The 58 A380s are worth US$ 18.8 billion at current list prices.
The airline has invested in 58 A380s, and more than 100 new generation aircraft that feature the latest technology and composite materials, because these are more efficient to operate, and produce less emissions while offering travellers more comfort in the air. Emirates’ current order book of 180 aircraft (excluding options), worth approximately US$58 billion, is possibly the largest-ever in commercial aviation history.
