Emirates deploys four A380s to serve airport

Emirates said it will become by far London Heathrow's largest A380 operator in 2012 with four of the double decker aircraft to serve the airport daily. Following last month's announcement of a third daily A380 flight from January 24, 2012, Emirates will launch a fourth A380 service from March 25. The deployment means four of Emirates' five daily Heathrow flights will be served by the A380 — twice as many as any other carrier. From January 24, the A380 will operate flight EK029 to London Heathrow — leaving Dubai at 9.40am and arriving in London at 1.30pm. From March 25, the double decker also will operate flight EK005, which departs Dubai at 3.45pm and arrives in Heathrow at 8.15pm. Both services are currently flown by a Boeing 777-300ER. Article continues below "This demonstrates the beauty of the A380 — its ability to increase our service to our passengers in style, and without adding traffic to London Heathrow's busy schedule," said Salem Obaidullah, Emirates' Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation. "We would like to acknowledge the support and cooperation of the Heathrow authorities in bringing a fourth A380 to the British capital." UK-based aviation analyst Saj Ahmad said: "Heathrow is a lucrative market and while airport capacity there is running at some 98 per cent, it makes sense that Emirates can expand its services with a bigger jet like the A380."