Emirates Airline will make a different use of the A380, the world’s largest commercial airliner. The airline will fly between Dubai and Muscat, capital of Oman, twice a day with the four-engine jet and two double deck in July.
The two cities are separated by only 340 km (just over 211 miles) which will make the shortest flight from the Emirates network. The average flight time is only 75 minutes, most of which is used for climb and approach procedures for landing.
The two flights with the Airbus A380 will replace three currently operated flights with the Boeing 777. The most curious is that Emirates will maintain the long-range configuration of the jet, with 429 seats in economy class, 76 flat-bed seats in the business class and 14 seats in first class with private cabins.
“The introduction of the A380 services to Muscat means more of our customers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading products onboard, and will also enhance choice and travel preferences as they plan their journeys,” said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, vice president commercial aircraft from Emirates.
“From its side, Muscat International Airport has shown its readiness for this extraordinary event, and the arrival of these scheduled flights for this giant aircraft is to gain the large airport capacity to accommodate an aircraft of this size,” added Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports.
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Emirates has been operating in Oman since 1993 and has had an A380 test flight last year. The company believes that such a short route will demonstrate the company’s agility in dealing with a short-range flight.
However, it will not be the first time Emirates flies to such a close destination with the world’s largest commercial airliner, which has already operated to Doha, Qatar, 239 miles (236 miles) from Dubai.
