Thursday, Oct 18, 2012
Dubai: Emirates will operate the first ever A380 scheduled service into Athens.
“Touching down at Athens International Airport on the 26th of October will mark a significant milestone for Emirates and its operations in Greece,” the Dubai-based airline said in a statement.
Emirates flight EK105 will depart Dubai on 26th October at 08:55 and will arrive in Athens at 12:50 the same day. The return flight, EK106, will depart Athens at 16:40 arriving in Dubai at 22:05 the same day.
“In June 1996, Emirates launched our inaugural flight to Greece. Some 16 years later we will operate our award-winning A380 service into Athens International Airport proving the company’s commitment to Greece,” said Richard Jewsbury, Senior Vice-President Commercial Europe and Russian Federation.
“Our customers in Athens are eager to try our A380 services and we have worked closely with the local authorities to make this possible. Although we have no immediate plans to operate an A380 on the route permanently, we remain dedicated to providing customers in Athens with convenient flight and onward connection times through our Dubai hub,” said Jewsbury.
The Emirates’ A380 is renowned for the range of innovations to make the journey more comfortable and enjoyable for passengers travelling in all classes. First Class passengers can relax in one of 14 flat-bed, massage-equipped private suites; the cabin also has two on-board shower spas, ensuring a revitalised and refreshed arrival. Business Class passengers can enjoy a new generation of intelligent seating designed to ensure all 76 seats — which convert to flat beds up to 79 inches long — have direct aisle access. Passengers in Economy Class will appreciate the straight walls throughout the cabin that lend to a more spacious ambience, enhanced by seats with a pitch of up to 33 inches and wider aisles.
The upper deck also features a lounge for First Class and Business Class passengers, which provides the opportunity for passengers to stretch their legs, socialise and enjoy a gourmet selection of on-demand beverages and canapés.
Revamp
Emirates is conducting a re-shuffle of some of its UAE national senior managers to broaden experience and streamline commercial operations.
Adil Al Gaith will become responsible for Bahrain, in addition to his existing portfolio as Vice-President, Saudi Arabia. Reema Al Marzooqi, Manager Bahrain, will now report into him. This is a result of the very close relationship between the two customer markets.
Abbas Haji will be posted as Vice-President, Iran & Central Asia, moving from his current position of Vice President, Cargo Commercial Development.
Mustafa Al Jabri will be posted as Manager Tunisia, moving from his current country manager position in Iran. In March 2012, Emirates upgraded its frequency and aircraft serving Tunis to become a daily service with an Airbus A340-500.
Omar Al Banna will become Manager Jordan, moving from a similar position in Tunisia. Emirates has been flying double daily to Jordan since 1st October, boosting accessibility to one of the most popular tourism destinations in the Middle East.
The management changes take effect from November 1.
Staff Report
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