Travellers will be able to experience Emirates Airline’s A380 aircraft for the first time on August 1 when the airline launches its A380 commercial service from Dubai to New York JFK.
The 14 hour non stop flight will also be the first ever commercial A380 service to The Americas.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline & Group said, “The Americas represent a key focus area in Emirates’ route development plans, and we are delighted to be the first airline to launch commercial A380 services to the continent. We are confident that Emirates’ customers travelling to and from North America will welcome the A380’s additional space and capacity, as well as our luxurious onboard amenities which will provide a very high quality travel experience previously associated only with private jets.”
Emirates’ A380 interiors and onboard products will be revealed for the first time when the airline receives its first A380 from Airbus’ Hamburg facility on July 28.
On August 1 and 3, Emirates will operate its A380 aircraft between Dubai and New York JFK on a commercial basis. These will be additional flights to its existing twice daily non-stop service. Subsequently, Emirates will deploy the A380 between Dubai and New York, on one of its scheduled twice daily flights.
Emirates expects delivery of five A380s in its current financial year, all featuring its ultra long haul configuration of 489 seats: 14 in first class, 76 in business and 399 in economy; with 13 tonnes of belly hold capacity for cargo. After New York, these aircraft are slated to operate on Emirates’ routes from Dubai to London Heathrow, and Sydney to Auckland.
Emirates new tailored look
Emirates Airline's 16,000 plus uniformed staff are to be given a sharper, more business-like look with the introduction of a brand new uniform.
The new, stylish and contemporary look will be unveiled when the airline receives its first A380s, and the cabin crew assigned to Emirates’ flagship aircraft will be the first to wear the new uniform.
The current beige and red female uniform is, as a result of a two year project, being modernised, in line with the massive investment taking place across the rest of the carrier's onboard and on-the-ground product.
Terry Daly, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, service delivery, said, “The Emirates uniform has been the same since 1997, with a few tweaks here and there. In this new design we have addressed style, comfort, the suitability for different climates – for cabin crew and ground staff – and managed to retain the iconic and instantly recognisable hallmark of our uniform worldwide.”
The most noticeable elements of the new uniform, on the women's side, include beige piping detail on the new red hat, subtle red pin stripes throughout, more fitted, chic blouses and eye catching, red kick-pleats in the skirts.
Male cabin crew members will wear a chocolate brown suit, also featuring pinstripes, with a cream shirt and a caramel, honey and red tie.
The new uniform will have its first public outing on July 28, when Emirates receives its first A380 aircraft during a grand delivery ceremony at an Airbus facility in Hamburg.
Emirates’ A380 cabin crew will be the first to wear the uniforms onboard, with a full roll out across all 16,000 cabin crew and uniformed ground staff expected to be completed by May 2009.
DSS packages at $62
Summer time and the living is easy with Emirates’ super value-for-money Dubai Summer Surprises packages that start from as little as $62.
Valid until August 22nd 2008, the packages must be booked for a minimum of three nights and offer customers a choice of 24 city and beach hotels in various price-brackets. The packages include a personalised meet-and-assist service on arrival at Dubai International Airport, an Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack and chauffeur-driven transfers between Dubai International Airport and the hotel. An additional 10 kg free baggage allowance on return/onward flights from Dubai is awarded to customers to accommodate all the great DSS bargain shopping they do.