Emirates Airline announced today that it will begin commercial service using its brand-new Airbus A380 aircraft between Dubai and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), beginning August 1, 2008. The 14-hour non-stop flight will also be the first-ever commercial A380 service to The Americas.The first Dubai-JFK flight, EK3801, is scheduled to depart Dubai at 11:00, and arrive at JFK at 16:45 local time on August 1, 2008. The return run, operating as Flight EK3802, will depart JFK at 21:00 on August 1, and arrive in Dubai at 17:45 local time on August 2, 2008. (Planespotters, dust off your cameras!)
Emirates, the largest customer for the A380, has ordered 56 of the superjumbo aircraft, and is scheduled to take delivery of its first A380 in late July. Emirates says it expects delivery of five A380s in its current financial year, all featuring its ultra long-haul configuration of 489 seats: 14 in First Class, 76 in Business and 399 in Economy; with 13 tonnes of bellyhold capacity for cargo. After New York, these aircraft are slated to operate on Emirates’ routes from Dubai to London Heathrow, and Sydney-Auckland.
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