Emirates, the world's biggest customer of the Airbus A380s, took delivery of the first of three superjumbos scheduled for 2020 as it prepares to launch its premium economy class.
The Dubai-based airline received its 116th double-decker on December 4 with two more A380s scheduled later this month, one of which will be fitted with the long-awaited premium economy offering, Emirates said on Monday.
"We look forward to introducing our Premium Economy experience, which will make its debut on an A380 in the coming months, and we will continue to invest in our world-class A380 product experience," Tim Clark, Emirates' president, said.
Emirates - known for its luxury premium cabins, onboard shower and lounge - will make its first foray into premium economy when the fitted A380s enter into service.
The airline had idled most of its 115-strong A380 aircraft as the Covid-19 pandemic decimated air travel demand globally. The A380 currently flies to a handful of passenger routes including Cairo, Amman, Paris, London, Guangzhou, Manchester and Moscow. A380 flights have been ramped up recently to four daily on the London Heathrow route and a daily service to Moscow. The double-decker superjumbo is also being used as a "mini-freighter" on select cargo charter operations to transport urgently required cargo across the Emirates network.
Mr Clark said he remained optimistic about resuming more routes served by the superjumbo as demand recovers.
"The A380 will remain our flagship for the next decade, and we will re-deploy it on more routes as travel demand returns," he said.
The A380 delivered on the weekend was powered by a blend of jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel.
"Sustainability remains very much on our agenda at Emirates," Mr Clark said. "We are watching developments in sustainable aviation fuel very closely, and we look forward to a time when it can be produced at scale, and in a cost competitive manner."
Last month, the veteran executive said he expects the airline's full fleet of A380s to return to the skies by 2022 as travel demand recovers following the distribution of vaccines globally.
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A380 through the years
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Airbus will stop production of its A380 superjet by 2021 Reuters -
People look at a Emirates A380 airbus landing in Nice, south of France. AFP -
Sheikh Mohammed takes a tour of an Emirates A380 during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Airshow in 2013. AFP -
A visitor poses for a photo in front of an Emirates A380 Airbus passenger aircraft decorated with a giant portrait of UAE founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan. AFP -
Airbus and Emirates celebrate the 100th A380 in 2018. Courtesy Emirates -
The A380 is the World biggest passenger jet . AP -
Emirates will receive 14 more A380s from Airbus before the plane maker ends production. Courtesy Emirates -
Airbus said Thursday it will stop making A380 superjumbo jets in 2021 after struggling to win clients. AP Photo -
Interior of Business Class on an Emirates A380. Courtesy: Emirates -
Interior of Business Class on Emirates A380. Courtsey: Emirates -
An air stewardess arranges bedsheets of a double bed in a suite of Singapore Airlines' new Airbus A380 during a tour of the plane at Changi Airport in Singapore. AFP -
An Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world, in Dubai. The airline topped a list of attractive employers in a recent survey of Gen Y and Gen Z. EPA -
The special Emirates A380 will be in service with the Real Madrid decal for six months. Courtesy Emirates -
United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Courtesy Emirates Airline -
An Etihad Airways A380 at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Christopher Pike / The National -
A Singapore Airlines Airbus in the snow at JFK, 2018. Reuters -
Etihad Airways economy on an A380. Courtesy Etihad -
The Lobby of an Etihad Airways A380. AFP -
Aermacchi MB-339 jets from UAE's Al-Fursan display team perform with an Airbus A380 from Etihad Airways before the start of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit. AFP -
An Emirates Airbus A380 plane in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo -
An Emirates Airline A-380 leads UAE's "Al Fursan" aerobatic display team, during the opening day of the Dubai Air Show. AP Photo -
The tail of the Airbus A-380 at the 46th Paris Air Show. Getty Images -
An Emirates Airbus A380 plane is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France. REUTERS -
An Airbus SAS A380 super jumbo performs a flying display on day two of the 51st International Paris Air Show in Paris, France. Bloomberg -
Line Emirates is one of the airlines included in the TSA's emergency order. Courtesy Emirates -
Tthe A380 has been Airbus’s flagship project for the past two decades. Bloomberg -
A British Airways A380. Courtesy British Airways -
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Beijing airport. AFP -
New wheels on the Emirates A380. Courtesy Emirates -
At Dubai's Miracle Garden, more than five million flowers were grown to produce a full-size Emirates Airbus A380. Courtesy Guinness World Records
