Emirates, which has often picked up the Oscars of the travel industry, swooped into the home of the original Oscars to launch its celebrated A380 service.
Packed with Hollywood movies on ice Digital Widescreen, the double-decker touched down in Los Angeles, becoming the world’s longest A380 service in operation.
The landmark flight, crossing Russia, the North Pole and eastern Canada, is 16 hours 20 minutes long, more than enough time to delve into over 400 hours of in-flight Hollywood movies.
“Bringing the glamorous A380 set of wings to the City of Angels seemed like a natural fit as this aircraft mirrors the luxury of the Hollywood lifestyle,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president, Commercial Operations West.
The Emirates’ A380 is like no other. Its generously proportioned Economy Class, exclusive mini-pods in Business Class and Private Suites in First Class are talked about the world over.
On the top deck of the aircraft, First Class passengers can freshen up in one of two Onboard Shower Spas, while First and Business Class travellers can mix and mingle in the popular Onboard Lounge – enjoying a drink and exchanging tales at 40,000 feet.
Passengers in all cabins have access to Wi-Fi, 1,500 channels of in-flight entertainment and gourmet-chef prepared meals, served by the cabin crew.
Generous luggage allowances are available to customers: 30 kilos in Economy Class, 40 kilos in Business Class and 50 kilos in First Class. Premium passengers can also enjoy dedicated lounges and chauffeur-driven transfers at many destinations across Emirates’ network.
The airline started flying to Los Angeles in 2008 with the Boeing 777-200LR. The introduction of the 489-seat A380 service, powered by US-made GE GP7200 engines, is a direct response to demand with over one million passengers travelling between Los Angeles and Dubai so far.
Emirates 23rd A380 service will operate daily as EK 215, departing Dubai at 8.20am and arriving at Los Angeles International Airport at 12.50pm the same day. The return flight, EK 216, departs Los Angeles at 4pm and arrives in Dubai at 7.50pm the following day.
The double decker has 14 First Class private suites, 76 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 399 seats in Economy Class.
The A380’s arrival time in Dubai offers passengers from LA connections to an extensive range of onward destinations in the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Africa, Asia and the Far East.
The airline operates 63 weekly flights to the US, serving seven gateways: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Washington DC and New York JFK, where two of the three daily flights are operated with A380s.
The third JFK flight, operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, stops in Italy’s fashion capital of Milan before continuing to New York. A daily service from Dubai to Boston will start on March 10.
With 131 Boeing 777s in its fleet worth $34 billion, and a further 150 Boeing 777Xs ordered at Dubai Air Show 2013, valued at $76 billion, Emirates is a major contributor to the US aerospace industry.
Emirates operates four scheduled flights weekly from Malta to Dubai via Larnaca, Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. While on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, the airline operates direct flights from Dubai to Malta and return flights fly via Tripoli.