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Aviation WA reporting "Emirates A380 services to Perth commencing 29 March 2014"
AviationWA | Aviation News & Photos in Western Australia
Emirates Airbus A380 services to Perth commencing 29 March 2014
By David Eyre February 10, 2014 WA Aviation News
10 February 2014 – Copyright © David Eyre
A6-EDE Airbus A380-861 (cn 017) of Emirates, lining up for take-off from runway 21 at Perth on 15 August 2009.
The aircraft had been en-route from Dubai to Sydney was forced to divert to Perth Airport at 6am, after a female passenger was thought to have suffered a stroke (later found to be a virus). This was the second visit by an A380 (first was a promotional visit by VH-OQA of Qantas on 14 October 2008) and the first by an Emirates A380. The Airbus departed for Sydney at 4:37 pm.
Photo © John Krepp
Further to reports in June 2013, the start date for Emirates’ Airbus A380 services is now shown in slot allocations as 29 March 2014, with the aircraft replacing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the evening EK420/421 service between Dubai and Perth.
Emirates itself has not yet confirmed a start date for the services, and the A380 is not yet showing on the airline’s flight booking system.
The slot allocations show that the airline will use 489-seat Airbus A380s on the EK420/421 service from 29 March 2014, with seating configured as 14 First Class suites, 76 Business class seats, and 399 Economy seats.
From 1 June 2014, A380s with a denser seating arrangement of 517 seats will be used – these are configured with 14 First Class suites, 76 Business class seats, and 427 Economy seats.
Perth Airport’s runway and taxiways have been capable of taking A380s for a number of years.
The first A380 to visit Perth was a special promotional (non-revenue) flight by Qantas’ A380 VH-OQA on 14 October 2008. A further five A380s have visited since then, but only because of medical emergency diversions – four of these from Emirates (A6-EDE, A6-EDA, A6-EEH, A6-EEO) and one from Qantas (VH-OQB).
Emirates had been waiting for Perth Airport’s $700 million redevelopment program, including the construction of A380-capable dual split-level aerobridges – these are required to enable passenger loading to both decks simultaneously. The first of these A380 aerobridges was constructed at Bay 51, at the southern end of Terminal 1 (International). It was planned to be completed in June 2013, but delays during construction and technical issues posponed its opening until December 2013. A second A380 aerobridge is being constructed adjacent to Bay 51 on the new International/Domestic Pier, which is currently under construction for completion late in 2014. Additionally, Emirates’ new business class lounge would not be completed until March 2014.
The A380 is popular with passengers, who prefer its quieter and more spacious interior. The A380 has a 10-abreast seating configuration as used in the Boeing 777, but the 777 is narrower, making it somewhat less comfortable. Business class passengers also prefer the fully flat beds in the A380, compared to the angled lie-flat seats in the Boeing 777.
AviationWA | Aviation News & Photos in Western Australia
Emirates Airbus A380 services to Perth commencing 29 March 2014
By David Eyre February 10, 2014 WA Aviation News
10 February 2014 – Copyright © David Eyre
A6-EDE Airbus A380-861 (cn 017) of Emirates, lining up for take-off from runway 21 at Perth on 15 August 2009.
The aircraft had been en-route from Dubai to Sydney was forced to divert to Perth Airport at 6am, after a female passenger was thought to have suffered a stroke (later found to be a virus). This was the second visit by an A380 (first was a promotional visit by VH-OQA of Qantas on 14 October 2008) and the first by an Emirates A380. The Airbus departed for Sydney at 4:37 pm.
Photo © John Krepp
Further to reports in June 2013, the start date for Emirates’ Airbus A380 services is now shown in slot allocations as 29 March 2014, with the aircraft replacing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the evening EK420/421 service between Dubai and Perth.
Emirates itself has not yet confirmed a start date for the services, and the A380 is not yet showing on the airline’s flight booking system.
The slot allocations show that the airline will use 489-seat Airbus A380s on the EK420/421 service from 29 March 2014, with seating configured as 14 First Class suites, 76 Business class seats, and 399 Economy seats.
From 1 June 2014, A380s with a denser seating arrangement of 517 seats will be used – these are configured with 14 First Class suites, 76 Business class seats, and 427 Economy seats.
Perth Airport’s runway and taxiways have been capable of taking A380s for a number of years.
The first A380 to visit Perth was a special promotional (non-revenue) flight by Qantas’ A380 VH-OQA on 14 October 2008. A further five A380s have visited since then, but only because of medical emergency diversions – four of these from Emirates (A6-EDE, A6-EDA, A6-EEH, A6-EEO) and one from Qantas (VH-OQB).
Emirates had been waiting for Perth Airport’s $700 million redevelopment program, including the construction of A380-capable dual split-level aerobridges – these are required to enable passenger loading to both decks simultaneously. The first of these A380 aerobridges was constructed at Bay 51, at the southern end of Terminal 1 (International). It was planned to be completed in June 2013, but delays during construction and technical issues posponed its opening until December 2013. A second A380 aerobridge is being constructed adjacent to Bay 51 on the new International/Domestic Pier, which is currently under construction for completion late in 2014. Additionally, Emirates’ new business class lounge would not be completed until March 2014.
The A380 is popular with passengers, who prefer its quieter and more spacious interior. The A380 has a 10-abreast seating configuration as used in the Boeing 777, but the 777 is narrower, making it somewhat less comfortable. Business class passengers also prefer the fully flat beds in the A380, compared to the angled lie-flat seats in the Boeing 777.
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