DUBAI: Emirates launched its daily A380 operations to Bangkok and thrice weekly to Toronto yesterday (Monday). Opening a new era in luxury air travel, EK 372 took off from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport to Thailand with 488 passengers. Another A 380 (EK 241) that headed to Canada was carrying 458 passengers.
The A380 is the world's only twin-deck airliner that has 35 per cent more seats than its closest rival. It is the most environmentally-advanced commercial aircraft in the sky today, offering better fuel economy than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 burns up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than today's next largest aircraft, and is quieter, generating less than half the noise of other aircraft on takeoff.
Meanwhile, Dubai also launched its first low cost airline flydubai yesterday. The flight, which took off from Dubai International Airport's Terminal 2 at 10.30hrs bound for Rafic Hariri International Airport, Beirut, signifies an opening of the skies for low cost travel to and from the Emirate.
Flydubai chairman, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, was present to bid farewell to flight number FZ-157, which carried 189 passengers, including several special guests.
"This is an historic moment. Today, we have not only witnessed flydubai's first commercial flight but we have also seen a new chapter in the history of aviation in the UAE" said Sheikh Ahmed.
© Arab News 2009
