Emirates to Use A380 on Shanghai Flight

Emirates Airline is to introduce the Airbus A380 on three flights per week between Dubai and Shanghai Pu Dong. The airline currently offers two flights per day on the route, using an Airbus A340-300 and Boeing 777-300ER. However, from April 27 it is planning to replace the 777-300ER on the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday rotations of flight EK302/303 from April 27. The A380 is currently being displayed as operating the flight until the end of the Northern Summer schedules and there is no immediate information as to the carrier’s long-term plans. It had listed Shanghai as a potential A380 destination in 2010 but its plans to serve the route were thwarted by Chinese authorities.

“Thanks to the support that we have received from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Shanghai Airport Authority, Shanghai will become the latest destination to join our global Airbus A380 network," confirmed His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group. “Emirates has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with China, we began cargo operations between Dubai and Shanghai in 2002, and then started passenger services in 2004. The A380 launch demonstrates our continuing commitment to this important country, in addition to boosting trade between China and Dubai, the Middle East and Africa."

It is understood that the A380 serving Shanghai will be switched from the airline’s existing Dubai – Hong Kong link. It currently offers 14 weekly flights with the A380 on the route but will cut these to eleven from April 27. The airline is currently offering A380 services to London Heathrow (double-daily), Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland.

Schedule:

Dubai – Shanghai Pu Dong

EK302 DXB0310 – 1530PVG 388 357
EK302 DXB0310 – 1530PVG 77W x357
EK304 DXB1035 – 2325PVG 343 D
EK303 PVG0715 – 1235DXB 343 D
EK303 PVG2330 – 0430+1DXB 77W x357
EK303 PVG2330 – 0430+1DXB 388 357

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NOTE: Schedule data extracted from Flightbase for week commencing April 14, 2011; Traffic data extracted from IATA BSP system for the year ending January 2011.