Emirates scores a double with first-ever A380 services to Bangkok
and Toronto
Released
on: July 3, 2009, 6:39 am
Author: Emirates
Industry: Travel
Emirates
has scored a double as two of its A380 super jumbos jetted off
from Dubai to the opposite ends of the globe, marking the aviation
world's first A380 commercial services to Bangkok and Toronto.
The
launch of the Emirates
A380 daily flights to Bangkok and thrice weekly to Toronto
- signals a new era of luxury air travel to Thailand and Canada,
and represents another milestone in the airline's A380
schedule.
The
new Emirates
A380 to Bangkok took off from Emirates' new home, Terminal
3 at Dubai International Airport, carrying 488 passengers, and
the landed to a festive welcome by the Thai government at Suvarnabhumi
International Airport. Meanwhile the Emirates A380
to Toronto departed Dubai with 458 passengers and was the
first commercial A380 jet to touch down on Canadian soil.
Senior
management from Emirates flew on the two inaugural services. On
arrival in Bangkok and Toronto, the A380 was unveiled to local
media, travel trade and key government officials.
The
A380 is the world's only twin-deck airliner, with 35 per cent
more seats than its closest rival. It is the most environmentally-advanced
commercial aircraft in the sky today, offering better fuel economy
than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 burns up to 20 per cent
less fuel per seat than today's next largest aircraft, and is
quieter, generating less than half the noise of other aircraft
on takeoff.
Tim
Clark, President, Emirates Airline said: "Emirates is delighted
to celebrate its inaugural A380 services to Thailand and Canada.
The aircraft with its large capacity and excellent operating economies
is a pillar of growth, both for the airline and the destination.
In Thailand, the introduction of the super jumbo will support
the local government's multi-million dollar promotional drive
to boost tourism arrivals from the high-yield Middle East region.
At the same time the higher-capacity A380 will help address the
strong demand for passenger and cargo services on the Dubai-Toronto
route which is currently restricted by the bi-lateral agreement
to three flights per week."
Hailing
the arrival of Emirates' A380 as a positive development for Thailand's
tourism industry, Mr. Chaisak Angkasuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Transport, Thailand said: "We are delighted Emirates
selected Bangkok as the first Far East gateway for its revolutionary
A380 product. Our current marketing and trade campaigns focus
on promoting Thailand as an ideal holiday destination in the Middle
East. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Emirates to grow
the tourism potential from this region."
Lloyd
McCoomb, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority
(GTAA) said: "The GTAA is honoured to be part of this historic
day. We are pleased that this route has proven so successful for
Emirates and we are very excited to welcome the A380 to Toronto
Pearson. This is exactly what this airport was rebuilt for - to
allow for new and larger aircraft that will be the future of the
airline business."
Mr.
Clark added: "With air travel due to triple in the next 18
years and constraints on traffic rights and airport slots to continue,
larger capacity aircraft such as the A380 are key to Emirates'
plans to meet increasing passenger demand. We have ordered 58
A380s and each one of these has been carefully planned for our
present and future requirements. Our next A380 destination will
be Seoul on 1st December, and will represent Emirates' first A380
service to North East Asia."
About
Emirates:
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, is one of the
world's most successful and rapidly-expanding airlines. With a
focus on high quality service and industry-leading products, Emirates
has received more than 400 international awards and accolades
for excellence since its inception in 1985. Emirates is currently
the only airline to operate non-stop flights to six continents
from one hub.
Emirates
PR Contact:
Radhika Markan
Emirates Corporate Communications
New EGHQ
5th Floor
Opposite DXB Airport
P O Box 686
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
(+9714) 708 2181
www.emirates.com