NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 2 – Emirates has started A380 service to Rome.
EK 097, which departs Dubai at 0910hrs local time and arrives in Rome at 1235hrs, is now operated with the popular double-decker, bringing an additional 34 percent capacity on the Nairobi-Rome route through its Dubai hub.
“With the A380 forming part of the double daily service to Rome, twice daily flights to Milan and a daily offering into Venice, Italy is becoming an increasingly active market for us. The introdution of our A380 service will add an extra 250 seats to our Nairobi – Rome route, which we believe will greatly improve tourism and trade between Kenya and Italy,” said Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Regional Manager for East Africa.
The airline started flights to Italy in 1992 and currently operates 35 weekly frequencies out of Italy.
The 489-seat double-decker offers 399 seats in Economy, 76 fully-flat, mini pods in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites. Passengers in all cabins can sit back and delve into the more than 1,000 channels of the award winning ice entertainment system.
On the upper deck of the aircraft, passengers can enjoy an Onboard Lounge, providing a meeting place for Premium Class travellers. In First Class, customers have access to two Onboard Shower Spas.
The latest A380 deployment comes as Emirates’ double decker fleet rises to 18 with a further 72 to be delivered. The overall fleet is now 163-strong with 242 aircraft on order worth over US$84 billion.
Since being brought into service in August 2008, Emirates’ A380s have carried more than seven million passengers and flown more than 100 million kilometres. So far this year, Emirates’ A380s have flown around 61,000 tons of cargo.
The Emirates’ double decker made an appearance in Rome in June to mark Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport’s 50th anniversary, while commemorating 150 years of Italian unification.
In July of last year, an A380 touched down in Milan for the official launch of the Fly Emirates AC Milan shirt in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.
Rome A380 timings:EK 097, departs Dubai at 0910hrs and arrives at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport at 1235hrs. EK 098 departs Rome at 1435hrs and arrives in Dubai at 2305hrs.
Emirates’ environmentally friendly double-decker operates services from Dubai to London Heathrow (double-daily and triple daily from 24th January 2012), Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rome, Munich, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney, Johannesburg and Auckland. From 1st January 2012, the A380 will be deployed on the Kuala Lumpur route.
The 24 airports so far visited by the Emirates’ A380:Auckland, Birmingham, Bangkok, Paris, Rome, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jeddah, New York, Johannesburg, Kuwait, London Heathrow, Manchester, Milan, Beijing, Shanghai, Riyadh, Auckland, Sydney, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin.
