Emirates is introducing the Airbus A380 superjumbo on its service between Dubai and Los Angeles on December 2, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER which the carrier currently uses for the service.
The carrier’s ability to replace a Boeing 777-300ER on the route not only represents a substantial capacity increase for the service, but also suggests the new Airbus A380 jets Emirates is now receiving have improved range compared with those built earlier in the production program. Emirates is the largest customer for the A380, with a total of 58 on order, and is now operating the type to major airports throughout the world
Several years ago Emirates said it would like to operate A380s on the Dubai-Los Angeles route but the aircraft’s range with full payload at that time was slightly less than that required for the westbound flight, so Emirates used (first) the ultra-long-haul Boeing 777-200LR for the service and then the larger (but still very long-haul capable) 777-300ER.
“Demand for our award-winning onboard service has steadily grown since we commenced operation to L.A. in 2008 and customers have been requesting our flagship A380 for some time now,” says Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ commercial senior vice-president of the Americas.
“As Los Angeles is known for its luxury and the Hollywood lifestyle, bringing our A380 into the market was a natural fit as it allows every Emirates passenger a taste of the glamorous life at 35,000 feet,” adds Abbas.
Emirates’ A380 service to Los Angeles will operate daily as flight EK215, departing Dubai International Airport (IATA code DXB) at 8:20 a.m. and arriving at Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal at 12:50 p.m. the same day, local time.
The return flight, EK216, will leave Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 4:00 p.m. and touch down at DXB at 7:50 p.m. local time the following day. The arrival time of the A380 at Dubai International Airport will offer passengers from L.A. connections to an extensive range of destinations across Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East, according to Emirates.
Emirates A380 to fly between Dubai and LAX
