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Emirates set to fly A380 to Pakistan

dubai - It will be the first carrier to fly the world's largest aircraft to the Asian country

Dubai-based airline Emirates will be the first carrier to fly the world's largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, to Pakistan next month.

"Emirates can confirm that it will launch a scheduled A380 service to Pakistan in July. The airline is currently in the middle of planning the operation and will disclose inaugural date and flight details in due time," an Emirates spokesperson told Khaleej Times.

Media reports said the Airbus A380 is expected to land at the newly-opened Islamabad International Airport on July 7 as other airports in the country can't handle the double-decker aircraft.

The Pakistani capital's new airport is equipped with two runways, taxi way aprons and parking bays for wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and Airbus 350.

Emirates is the A380s biggest backer, ordering far more than any other customer and making it the flagship of a fleet that has helped transform Dubai into a major international air hub. The A380 is the world's largest passenger four-engine jetliner, having a seating capacity of between 489 and 615 passengers, depending on the configuration.

A request from the airline is reportedly pending with the country's Civil Aviation Authority and preparations are being made to receive the aircraft as the runway at the new airport has the needed length of 12,000 feet and capacity to bear the weight of the A380.

- waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com