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Emirates all set to launch A380 service to New Delhi

The Dubai-based airline has commissioned a special commercial service of the 517-seat superjumbo to celebrate the launch of the new terminal at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi.

The airline will operate superjumbo flight, EK516, on the Dubai-Delhi route on July 15. The flight will depart Dubai at 10:10 hours and arrive in Delhi at 14:50 hours. The superjumbo aircraft will be at the IGI Airport for three hours before it returns to Dubai as EK517 departing Delhi at 17:50 hours, according to a Press statement on Tuesday.

“Emirates has been flying to Delhi since our first day of operations in 1985. Twenty five years on, 10 destinations and 184 weekly flights certainly represent the efforts and investment that have gone into building a strong relationship with India,” Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Senior Vice-President (West Asia and Indian Ocean), said in a statement to Khaleej Times.

Bookings for this special flight opened yesterday with a special one-way fare from Dubai for Dh380 plus taxes or return for Dh990 plus taxes. The fare is valid only for bookings made on the special flight of the Emirates A380, the statement said.

“The fact that we are bringing the A380 here is a reiteration of the potential that we seeinthe Indian market and our intent to partnerwith the nation in its growth. Over the years, Emirates has evolved to become a company that is global in its operations but firmly connected with the Indian mindset and 
the consumer,” Al Mualla said.

Emirates last week placed an order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380s, taking the total firm order for the iconic airliner of the 21^st century to 90 and signalling the carrier’s confidence in the long-term growth of air travel.

The order, valued at $11.5 billion at list prices, reaffirms Emirates’ status as one of the world’s leading carriers and of Dubai as a central gateway to 
worldwide air travel.

Emirates, the largest operator of the A380, currently flies 11 of the aircraft serving popular destinations for travellers including London Heathrow, Toronto, Bangkok, Paris, Jeddah,Seoul, Sydney and Auckland.

The airline will fly to Beijing from 1^st August, to Manchester from 1^st September and resume services to New York from October 31, 2010. The airline recently inducted a brand new A380 into its fleet, taking the total number of A380s to 11, the statement said.
—business@khaleejtimes.com