Emirates to take delivery of 3 A380s as it prepares to launch premium economy

Dubai-based airline received the first of the superjumbos scheduled for 2020

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

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

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Airbus and Emirates celebrate the 100th A380 in 2018. Courtesy Emirates

The A380 is the World biggest passenger jet . AP

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Interior of Business Class on an Emirates A380. Courtesy: Emirates

Interior of Business Class on Emirates A380. Courtsey: Emirates

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Etihad Airways economy on an A380. Courtesy Etihad

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Tthe A380 has been Airbus’s flagship project for the past two decades. Bloomberg

A British Airways A380. Courtesy British Airways

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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