Emirates to launch second A380 service to Paris

From 1st January 2013, the Emirates' double decker will be deployed on EK flights 075 and 076 - in response to overwhelming demand on the Dubai-Paris route.

“Our decision to commit a second A380 on the Paris route is a clear sign of potent demand from travellers who wish to fly with Emirates and enjoy our superior product offering,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe & Russian Federation. “This will be only the second European destination after London Heathrow where we have multiple A380 services each day and one of only a handful on our entire network.”

Emirates started A380 services to Paris Charles de Gaulle in December 2009, replacing one of the then double daily flights with the airline’s flagship aircraft. A daily flight to Nice takes to 25 its total current number of flights into France each week.

The new A380 EK 075 service will leave Dubai at 1500hrs and arrive in Paris at 1930. The return EK 076 departs Paris at 2105hrs and gets into Dubai at 0640hrs the next day.

“The Dubai-Paris route is one of our top markets worldwide and we are committed to further developing this route and our France operations to provide even more convenience to French travellers and exporters,” said Obaidalla.

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: "By moving Paris flights to A380s, not only is Emirates saying that it is experiencing higher demand but it also throws down the gauntlet to incumbent Air France, which has been struggling with high costs and losses. What makes this move even more exciting is that Dubai Airport is still growing its passenger numbers thanks in large part to Emirates and flydubai's expansion, more traffic from cities like Paris and beyond will see those numbers swell further. Emirates is leveraging its A380 fleet to good effect and it'll be difficult to see how Air France will react, if at all."

       Selman TENGÜZ

   Wednesday, May 18, 2011

       Talip BÖLÜKBAŞI

   Thursday, May 19, 2011