São Paulo – Emirates Airline received delivery of its 123rd Airbus A380 jet. The aircraft, registered as A6-EVS, is also the final A380 aircraft to join Emirates’ fleet, marking the airline’s 21-year commitment to the program with Airbus. Receiving delivery of the aircraft amidst the pandemic, Emirates is signaling its optimism for industry recovery and the return of travel demand.
Emirates was the first airline to announce an order for the A380 at the 2000 Farnborough Air Show when the aircraft was still marketed as the A3XX. This was followed with an additional order for 15 more units at the 2001 Dubai Air Show.
“The A380 is a truly special aircraft in so many ways. For Emirates, it gave us the opportunity to redefine the travel experience, efficiently serve demand at slot-constrained airports, and bolster our network growth. The A380 will remain Emirates’ flagship product for the coming years, and a vital pillar of our network plans,” Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, was quoted as saying in a statement.
The new A380 aircraft features the latest cabin products including Premium Economy that aims to bring more comfort to passengers. “Compare it to our very first A380 delivered back in 2008 and you’ll see the myriad of enhancements and upgrades invested in ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience is unparalleled,” Clark was quoted as saying.
At the 2021 Dubai Airshow in November, Emirates also announced a major retrofit program which will see 52 of its existing A380 aircraft fitted with Premium Economy cabins and other enhancements.
*With information from the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
