The world’s most populous country, China, will fittingly receive the aviation world’s largest commercial aircraft with the start of Emirates A380 Dubai-Beijing-Dubai services on 1 August 2010.
The 517-seater A380 will be deployed on the existing EK 306 service that departs Dubai daily at 4.10am, touching down in the Chinese capital city at 3:10pm. Return flight EK 307 takes off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 11.55pm, landing at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport at 4.20am the following day.
Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline noted: “Emirates was the first Middle Eastern airline to establish direct air links with mainland China over seven years ago. The link has proved very successful for both of us and we are strengthening it further with the launch of China’s first A380 service. This new operation bears testimony of our ongoing commitment to China; offering enhanced capacity to the world’s third-largest economy as it surges ahead with its international trade and development agenda.
The A380 is the world’s most environmentally-advanced aircraft with significant reductions in noise, emissions and fuel burn vis-à-vis other comparable aircraft.
Emirates A380’s ground-breaking in-flight product includes on board shower spas in the First Class cabin featuring signature products by the airline’s premium spa brand, Timeless Spa. The onboard lounge for First and Business class customers mirrors the ambience of an executive club and includes a bar with a wide range of beverages and canapés.
With flat-bed massage-equipped private suites in First Class, a new generation of all-aisle flat-bed seats in Business class, mood-lighting, a second-to-none in-flight entertainment system featuring over 1,200 channels of on-demand entertainment, and a more spacious Economy Class, the Emirates’ A380 introduces a whole new dimension to luxury air travel.
Emirates operate a daily flight from Malta to Dubai via Larnaca, Cyprus. The Maltese traveller may continue his journey to China from Dubai, where Emirates operates daily-double services to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and daily services to Guangzhou.