return to Latest Press Releases

EMIRATES DOUBLES UP ON HEATHROW DOUBLE-DECKER

March 2010

11th March, 2010 - Emirates is to add another Airbus A380 to its London Heathrow route from 1st July this year, making the popular superjumbo experience more widely available to passengers.

The airline brought its own brand of double-decker, equipped with an Onboard Lounge and Shower Spas, to London in December 2008.

In addition to the daily departure of flight EK002 at 1415hrs from Heathrow (Terminal 3), the A380 will also be deployed daily on EK004, which departs at 2040hrs, and arrives into Dubai at 0630hrs the following day.

Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation, said: "This is an important development for Emirates as this is the first route where we have made a long term commitment to double up on the double-decker."

Mr Obaidalla added: "London Heathrow was one of the key airports we had in mind when the A380 was first conceived and the new deployment allows more passengers travelling to and from the British capital to experience this remarkable aircraft."

The giant 517-seat aircraft offers 14 flat-bed First Class Private Suites with electrically operated doors, 76 fully-flat seats in Business Class - all with mini bars and aisle access, and 427 comfortable contoured seats in Economy - spread across four roomy cabins on the lower deck.

Passengers in all classes can lose themselves in the quietness of the aircraft and the much-enjoyed ice entertainment system. There are more than 1000 channels of on-demand entertainment including 200 movies from around the world, 100 TV channels, more than 500 audio channels, 100 video games and BBC news, sports and business headlines.

A personal satellite phone is fitted to each seat, which also carries a seat-back sms and email service, along with seat to seat calling and a "My USB" personal picture viewing facility.

Emirates, which has won more than 400 international awards for its products and services, is now operating eight A380s. In addition to London Heathrow, they fly to Toronto, Paris, Jeddah, Bangkok, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland.

An Emirates A380 at London Heathrow.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

Emirates A380 Timetable: Dubai - Heathrow & Heathrow - Dubai
EK001 departs Dubai daily at 0745hrs, arriving at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 1215hrs. EK002 departs Heathrow daily at 1415hrs, arriving at Dubai International at 0005hrs the following day.

From 1st July, 2010
EK003 departs Dubai daily at 1415hrs, arriving at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 1840hrs.
EK004 departs Heathrow daily at 2040hrs, arriving at Dubai International at 0630hrs the following day

About Emirates

Emirates operates 98 non-stop flights per week to the UK. As well as five flights a day to London Heathrow, it operates daily services to Newcastle and Glasgow, a double daily to Manchester and Birmingham and three flights a day to Gatwick.

On 28th March, the airline's 100-plus destination route network will be extended to Tokyo, followed by Amsterdam in May, Prague in July, Madrid in August and Dakar in September.

On board Emirates’ fleet of145 modern, wide-bodied aircraft, passengers can enjoy state-of-the-art inflight entertainment, meals produced by leading chefs and some of the finest wines available. Advance seat selection is complimentary on all flights, and Emirates recently increased baggage allowances for First, Business and Economy Class passengers to 50kgs, 40kgs and 30kgs respectively.

For more information contact:
Steve Double, Charlie Hampton, Claire Freeman & Leisa Workman
in the Emirates Group UK Press Office at Bell Pottinger Business & Brand
Telephone: 020 7861 2449/31/47/46
E-Mail: cfreeman@bell-pottinger.co.uk / lworkman@bell-pottinger.co.uk