The return comes as Emirates celebrates 20 years of serving Perth.
After a long wait, Emirates is again using the A380 to Perth in time for Christmas and the Australian summer. It comes as airlines shift seasons, with many new routes launched and aircraft equipment changed. It is another step towards normality, although there is no indication yet if or when Perth’s second daily Emirates flight will return. Perth is one of four Australian cities to see Emirates’ double-deckers this winter and one of 41 globally.
Emirates’ A380s are back in Perth
On November 1st, Emirates resumed using the A380 to Perth, the first time since March 2020 that the quadjet has been used on the 5,609-mile (9,207km) route. It replaces the 777-300ER.
According to Flightradar24, 9.4-year-old A380 A6-EEO operated the first rotation. It has 489 seats, with 14 first, 76 in business, and 399 in economy, and reportedly had 480 passengers. It had 135 more seats (+38%) than the 777-300ER that operated the day before. There were six more first class seats for sale (+75%), 34 more business (+80%), and 95 more in economy (+31%).
Operating 1x daily, Emirates’ Perth schedule is as follows, with all times local:
- Dubai to Perth: EK420, 02:45-17:20 (10h 35m block time)
- Perth to Dubai: EK421, 22:20-05:25+1 (11h 5m)
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20 years of serving Perth
Emirates inaugurated Perth in 2002. Speaking of the A380’s return, Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Vice President of Australasia, said:
“Due to the ongoing high demand for international travel in and out of Western Australia, we are thrilled to have Perth join the rest of our Australian points in being serviced by the A380 aircraft which comes right as we proudly celebrate 20 years of flying to the city.”
Photo: Perth Airport.
Where do Perth passengers go?
According to OAG, Emirates had 432,000 Perth seats for sale in 2019, the year before everything changed. Booking data shows that it carried approximately 336,000 passengers, a seat load factor of around 78%.
Around 294,000 Perth passengers – nearly nine in every ten – transited Dubai. Western Europe was overwhelmingly the top region, followed by the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, and – despite the backtracking – South Asia.
At the country level, the UK was, of course, very much the largest market, followed by Ireland, Italy, Germany, the US, France, Switzerland, Spain, South Africa, and the Netherlands.
At the airport level, Manchester over Dubai to/from Perth had the most passengers, booking data reveals. It was followed by London Gatwick, Dublin, London Heathrow, Bangkok, Glasgow, Rome, Newcastle, Amsterdam, and Paris CDG.
Photo: Perth Airport.
What about Qatar’s A380 return?
Fellow Middle East carrier Qatar Airways is set to return the A380 to Perth on December 6th, with its resumption timed for the peak season. Like Emirates, it will run 1x daily and will replace the 777-300ER. QR900 will depart Doha at 03:20 and arrive in Australia at 19:20. Returning, QR901 will leave at 21:50 and arrive home at 04:20.
What do you make of the return? Let us know in the comments.
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Emirates
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- EK/UAE
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Dubai International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1985
- CEO:
- Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
- Country:
- United Arab Emirates
Source: simpleflying.com
