Emirates' Year of Tolerance’ A380 is ready for the historic flight. Courtesy Emirates
Emirates' Year of Tolerance’ A380 is ready for the historic flight. Courtesy Emirates
Emirates' Year of Tolerance’ A380 is ready for the historic flight. Courtesy Emirates
Emirates' Year of Tolerance’ A380 is ready for the historic flight. Courtesy Emirates

Emirates rolls out 'Year of Tolerance' Airbus A380 ahead of UAE National Day flight


Ian Oxborrow
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Emirates has rolled out its special Year of Tolerance A380 livery ahead of its first flight this weekend.

The striking design is being used for the Dubai airline's one-off National Day flight, which it says "brings together the diverse, multi-cultural communities of the UAE" when it takes off on Friday.

The livery depicts a panorama of people from different backgrounds and cultures, each holding hands in a show of solidarity. The image can be seen on both sides of the aircraft.

UAE residents were invited to apply for a seat on the flight, with the aim of hosting as many nationalities as possible on board.

The airline said at the time that selection was carried out "via multiple criteria, but passengers need to reside in the UAE in order to qualify".

The final number of nationalities will be revealed on Friday.

The flight, EK2019, will be airborne - at low altitude - for about an hour and a half, and Emirates has revealed the route so that residents on the ground can catch a glimpse.

It will be visible off the coast of Umm Al Quwain at about 11.45am, Ras Al Khaimah at around 11.55am and Fujairah at about 12.05pm.

It will then alter its course to head to Al Ain and should be off the coast of Abu Dhabi at about 12.25pm before making its way to Sharjah corniche at 12.35pm and Ajman at 12.45pm before flying along the Dubai coastline and landing back at Dubai International Airport at approximately 1pm.

Emirates also has plans to make the flight more environmentally friendly.

"We are exploring different opportunities to offset the emissions of this flight and planning is already under way on an initiative which will be announced soon." an Emirates spokesperson told The National.

The Year of Tolerance aircraft will then enter regular service to Emirates' network of A380 destinations for the next 12 months, the airline said.

On average, Emirates carries more than 50 nationalities on any given flight across its network.

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A380 through the years

  • Airbus will stop production of its A380 superjet by 2021 Reuters
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Airbus and Emirates celebrate the 100th A380 in 2018. Courtesy Emirates
  • The A380 is the World biggest passenger jet . AP
    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
    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
    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 an Emirates A380. Courtesy: Emirates
  • Interior of Business Class on Emirates A380. Courtsey: 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 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    A Singapore Airlines Airbus in the snow at JFK, 2018. Reuters
  • Etihad Airways economy on an A380. Courtesy Etihad
    Etihad Airways economy on an A380. Courtesy Etihad
  • The Lobby of an Etihad Airways A380. AFP
    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
    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 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
    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
    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 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
    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
    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
    Tthe A380 has been Airbus’s flagship project for the past two decades. Bloomberg
  • A British Airways A380. Courtesy British Airways
    A British Airways A380. Courtesy British Airways
  • A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Beijing airport. AFP
    A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Beijing airport. AFP
  • New wheels on the Emirates A380. Courtesy Emirates
    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
    At Dubai's Miracle Garden, more than five million flowers were grown to produce a full-size Emirates Airbus A380. Courtesy Guinness World Records

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Holiday weekend

Friday, November 29 marks the start of a holiday period for UAE residents.

Following on from the weekend will be three days of public holiday to mark Commemoration Day and the country's 48th National Day.

Flybys are a common occurrence on big occasions in the UAE - last year Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia linked up with Al Fursan, the Emirates' aerobatics demonstration team, to mark National Day with a spectacular show.

Meanwhile, as a result of the festivities, and the Abu Dhabi F1 weekend, Emirates has warned travellers passing through Dubai International Airport to arrive early with more than 40,000 passengers expected.

Special liveries

Emirates has rolled out a host of special liveries this year with the Year of Tolerance the latest.

Last week saw the special spacecraft theme take to the skies for the first time when the A380 flew to and from Melbourne.

The livery celebrates the UAE’s debut space mission, which saw Hazza Al Mansouri become the first Emirati astronaut in space.

Other liveries this year include the Rugby and Cricket world cups.