Emirates first scheduled A380 service to Moscow

Emirates will launch the first ever scheduled A380 service to Moscow from 1st December. The airline’s 517-seat version of the A380 will replace the Boeing 777-300ER on EK flight 131/132, one of its two daily flights to the Russian capital. “Since launching flights to Moscow in 2003, the demand for our services in and out of Russia has continually gathered pace and we are now in a position to deploy the world’s largest passenger jet aircraft to the world’s largest country,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation. The A380 is spread over two decks with the Moscow route version offering 427 seats in Economy Class, 76 mini-pods in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites – delivering the ultimate in commercial airline travel.   “We know travellers from Russia have been able to enjoy the Emirates’ A380 when travelling from Dubai to destinations such as Bangkok, Sydney and Johannesburg.  Now we are bringing our flagship aircraft to the Russian market so more travellers can experience this magnificent aircraft,” added Mr Obaidalla. For First and Business Class travellers on the upper deck, there is an Onboard Lounge, which opens once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude and provides a meeting place in the sky to share stories over a drink. Two Onboard Shower Spas are available for the exclusive use of First Class passengers.   Customers in all cabin classes can lose themselves in more than 1000 channels of in-flight entertainment, while enjoying gourmet-chef prepared cuisine. “Domodedovo is the first and the only Russian airport that meets the requirements of A380 operators,” said Igor Borisov, Director-general, Domodedovo Airport. “We are fully prepared to handle A380 flights on the regular basis having purchased the unique equipment designed to serve only this type of aircraft. We are honoured to introduce the exclusive product on the Russian market together with our partner.” From 1st December, the new A380-supported EK 131 flight will depart Dubai at 1750hrs and arrive in Domodedovo Airport at 2315hrs. The return flight, EK 132, will leave Moscow at 0105hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0620hrs. Emirates launched St Petersburg as its second gateway into Russia in November of last year. Emirates Holidays, which offers packages to and from Russia, notes that the country is so large that it spans eleven time zones, two of the six continents served by Emirates and extends from Finland's border in the west to within 80 kilometres of North America in the east. The UAE is a major destination for Russian tourists and investors and thousands have made it their home. In early 2013, Emirates’ A380 passengers are set to experience the world’s first dedicated A380 concourse in Dubai, reflecting further investment in the airline’s global hub.