Emirates is to operate its daily non-stop services between Dubai and Auckland with an A380 aircraft, less than a year after operating the flights with a Boeing 777-200LR.

Emirates’ flagship double-decker A380s will operate on the route, currently the world’s longest, from October 30. The airline has been flying the route since March 1, in addition to three daily A380s flying from Auckland to Dubai and beyond via Australia, and a daily Boeing 777-300ER from Christchurch.

Operating eastbound as flight EK448, the service will depart Dubai at 10:05am and arrive in Auckland the following day at 11:10am (local time). Westbound, flight EK449 will depart Auckland each night at 9:15pm, arriving in Dubai the following morning at 5:35am (local time) connecting with Emirates’ 39 European destinations, as well as other destinations in West Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This flight also connects in both directions with 10 A380 destinations, providing passengers the opportunity to fly all the way from Auckland to Europe on Emirates’ flagship aircraft.

The very first flight from Dubai to Auckland and return at the beginning of March was operated by an A380 to especially commemorate the start of the non-stop route, but the flights have since been flown by the Boeing 777-200LR.

As the largest A380 operator in the world, Emirates now has 80 Airbus A380s serving its network. Last month, Emirates placed a new order for an additional two new A380 aircraft, to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2017, bringing its order books for the aircraft to 64.

Emirates A380s currently serve 40 destinations worldwide - one out of every four destinations on the airline’s passenger network. Vienna will become the next A380 destination starting from July 1.

Emirates redefined the First Class experience, leading the design of the first private suites in commercial aviation and was first to put them into service. The fully-equipped A380 Onboard Shower Spa was also a first in the industry and has been overwhelmingly popular with First Class passengers ever since.

First and Business Class passengers can enjoy the exclusive A380 Onboard Lounge and Business Class passengers can relax in new-generation full-flat seats, each with direct aisle access. Passengers in all classes have access to Emirates’ award-winning ‘ice’ inflight entertainment system, which features over 2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment. The latest technology allows passengers to stay connected throughout the flight with free high-speed wi-fi access as well as mobile phone and data services. - TradeArabia News Service