On October 14, 2014, Emirates landed the first A380 commercial flight into the Philippines amid fanfare and the presence of President Noynoy Aquino himself. But why is the Emirates A380 so special that its movements and activities are well-celebrated and well-documented? We boarded the aircraft during the one-off event and found out why. Read more…
The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, can fly up to 15,700 kilometers with its four engines. Its length is 72.7 meters or that of two blue whales, while its height is 24.1 meters or ten floors high. Weighing 580 metric tons, the aircraft can carry up to more than 800 people in its upper and lower decks, and 3,000 suitcases in the cargo hold. Despite its gargantuan size, however, it is miraculously silent and therefore comfortable.
Emirates currently has 53 of its flagship aircraft, with 87 more pending delivery. Passengers flying to 31 destinations worldwide can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning product and service in First, Business, and Economy Class on the A380.
KEY FEATURES
- There are two Shower Spas where passengers in First and Business Class may take a shower using Bvlgari and Timeless Spa products.
- There is also an Onboard Lounge with a dedicated bartender where passengers in First and Business Class may socialize while enjoying a great selection of drinks and snacks.
- OnAir wi-fi service is available for all devices, and mobile phone and data roaming is possible using GPRS/EDGE. Each seat also has a phone and onscreen SMS service.
- All seats are fitted with the award-winning ice system (Information, Communication, Entertainment) that offers over 1,800 channels of TV shows and movies.
FIRST CLASS
- Each First Class seat is a Private Suite with a sliding door, a personal minibar, adjustable ambient lighting, vanity table, mirror, wardrobe, and privacy divider for central suites.
- Seats may be converted by flight attendants into a fully-flat bed with mattress.
- Gourmet meals are presented on Royal Doulton fine bone china with exclusive Robert Welch cutlery. A meal consists of cocktails and canapés, appetizer, salad, main course, dessert, cheese, fruit, chocolate, and beverages.
- Perks include access to exclusive lounges and a limo service to and from the airport.
BUSINESS CLASS
- A Business Class seat may be converted into a fully-flat bed with a button on the touchscreen controls. The bed can extend up to 79 inches long.
- Each seat has a power supply, large table, storage area, minibar, and privacy divider.
- Regional gourmet meals, as well as healthy options, are presented on Royal Doulton fine bone china with exclusive Robert Welch cutlery. Champagne is complimentary.
- Perks include access to airport lounges and a limo service to and from the airport.
ECONOMY CLASS
- Economy seats have a very generous 32” or 34” pitch and 18” width.
- Each seat is fitted with an touchscreen ice system.
- Regional meals are prepared with care and high-quality ingredients.
An awe-inspiring behemoth, the A380 deserves every hype it gets today. Leave it to Emirates, one of the best airlines in the world, to fit it with the best seats, facilities, inflight entertainment, and communication, and to complement it with stellar service, safety, and cuisine. No wonder, a lot of people fly to where the Emirates A380 does.
Emirates flies three times daily between Manila and Dubai. At Dubai International Airport, passengers may easily connect to 31 A380 destinations, such as London,Paris, and Amsterdam.
Photos above are from The Emirates Group.
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