As markets around the world further ease Covid-related travel restrictions and demand for flights grows around the world, Emirates is responding with a plan to return more than 50 of its A380s to service over the next two months, to more destinations across its network. By the end of November, the number of cities that the airline’s A380s serve will be scaled up to 27: a more than 65% increase from the 16 Emirates superjumbos currently flying.
With 11 routes added to its A380 network by November, and more flights operating, Emirates is on the threshold of offering an additional 165,000 seats on the A380 to customers. The airline reports that it is on track to restore 70% of its capacity by year-end, with a total of more than 280,000 seats being added across its global network.
The carrier currently serves more than 120 cities, representing 90% of its pre-pandemic network, Cities to which Emirates will gradually re-serve over the rest of the year include popular tourist and commercial destinations such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Johannesburg, Madrid, Milan, Riyadh (after government approval), São Paulo and Zurich. A new destination will also join the A380 network on 1st October, with a daily service scheduled to be launched in Istanbul – the first-ever A380 to operate in Turkey.
Emirates is the world’s largest A380 operator, with its fleet of the aircraft type due to reach 118 by the end of 2021, including six aircraft arriving by November, equipped with new cabin interiors featuring premium economy class seats and a 4-degree distribution.
