A380 set to arrive in India

Emirates is all set to become the first international carrier to bring to India the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, also known as the Superjumbo.

The A380 will operate EK516 on the Dubai-Delhi route on 15th July, 2010 departing Dubai at 10:10 hours and arriving in Delhi at 14:50 hours. The aircraft will be at the IGI Airport for three hours before it returns to Dubai as EK517 departing Delhi at 17:50 hours. Bookings for this special flight are open with immediate effect, until 15th July, 2010, with a special return fare of Rs. 9,990/- (plus taxes) from Delhi to Dubai. The fare is valid only for bookings made on the special flight of the Emirates A380.

Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President - West Asia and Indian Ocean, said, “Emirates has been flying to Delhi since our first day of operations in 1985. 25 years on, 10 destinations and 184 weekly flights certainly represent the efforts and investment that have gone into building a strong relationship with India. The fact that we are bringing the A380 here is a reiteration of the potential that we see in the Indian market and our intent to partner with the nation in its growth.”

Emirates recently placed an order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380s, taking the total firm order for the airliner to 90. The order is valued at $11.5bn at list prices.

Emirates, currently flies 11 of the aircraft serving destinations such as London Heathrow, Toronto, Bangkok, Paris, Jeddah, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland. It will fly to Beijing from 1st August, to Manchester from 1st September and resume services to New York from 31st October 2010.