Emirates’ iconic A380 aircraft will operate a one-off flight to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, on October 2, as the global airline joins local authorities in celebrating the opening of the airport’s new Terminal 3.

The airline’s flagship double-decker will become the first scheduled A380 service to Ghana, with Emirates partnering with the airport to test its operations and infrastructure to accommodate an A380 service.

The one-off A380 flight EK787 from Dubai will arrive at 11:35 hours and be on ground for more than six hours before it returns to Dubai as flight EK788 departing at 17:50 hours.

“We have enjoyed a close relationship with Ghana as a strategic hub to West Africa for over a decade, and are honoured to bring our flagship A380 to this vibrant city. The launch of Terminal 3 is a milestone in Ghana’s aviation history and we support every effort to facilitate greater trade links, grow tourism and boost cargo to the region. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and our trademark A380 experience is very popular with our customers including Ghanaians who have flown on it to popular destinations like London, Beijing and Guangzhou. We take great pride in showcasing our unique products and services on this aircraft such as the Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa, to travellers between Dubai and Ghana for the first time. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Ghanaian government, and in particular, the Ministry of Aviation and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and thank them for their continuous support,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates' senior vice president, commercial operations – Africa.

Emirates commenced operations to Ghana in January 2004 and flies to Accra daily from Dubai. Close to 1.6 million passengers have flown the Dubai–Accra route since its start, with popular destinations being China, India and the UK via its Dubai hub. In 2017-18, Emirates transported over 6,300 tons of cargo to and from the country, supporting businesses and exporters. Main commodities exported from Ghana bound for the UAE and beyond to the Emirates network include fresh and cut fruits.

The Emirates A380 flying to Accra will be set in a three-class configuration, with 426 seats in Economy Class on the main deck, 76 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck. Once the A380 reaches cruising altitude, passengers in the First Class can enjoy Private Suites, and Shower Spas, an Onboard Lounge for First Class and Business Class passengers that offers a wide range of drinks and canapés, as well as space to socialise or simply relax at 40,000 feet.

Passengers travelling on the main deck in Economy Class can enjoy stretching out in seats with a pitch of up to 33 inches. Passengers in all classes will enjoy Emirates’ multi award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, offering over 3,500 channels of on-demand entertainment. The largest selection of programming in the sky includes a broad selection of movies, shows, music and other programming from Africa, and up to 20MB complimentary onboard wi-fi.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Emirates A380. As the largest operator of the double-decker aircraft, Emirates’ currently has 104 A380s in service and 58 pending delivery, more than any airline globally. The airline also recently announced a $16 billion deal for 36 additional Airbus A380 aircraft. - TradeArabia News Service