Emirates inaugurates A380 service to Amsterdam

Emirates’ A380 route network has extended to the Netherlands with the launch on 1 August of services to Amsterdam.

Emirates is the first carrier to offer a scheduled A380 service to the Netherlands, after just two years since its first flight to Amsterdam.

The double decker will operate as EK 0147, departing Dubai to Amsterdam daily, and will become the 19th A380 destination among a host of major cities around the world.

“After progressively building up services to the Netherlands over a course of two years, Emirates is responding to strong demand by bringing its flagship aircraft to one of Europe’s most important trading and logistics hubs, adding much-needed seat capacity – more than 2,000 seats a week – which will stimulate further tourism and trade between the Netherlands, UAE and beyond. The A380 is central to the Emirates strategy. Our orders represent a sizable chunk of the total program worldwide and Emirates has played a key role in the design and performance characteristics of the aircraft, which have become our signature markers in the industry,” said Emirates’ Passenger Sales Worldwide Executive Vice President Thierry Antinori.

 “We are seamlessly connecting passengers to our extensive route network which includes 10 Indian cities, 21 African destinations, and key points across the Far East and Australia. Emirates is also enabling customers to continue their A380 experience via our hub in Dubai to popular destinations like Sydney, Bangkok and Hong Kong,” he added.

The Dutch capital is the fifth largest economy in the Eurozone, known for its key role as a logistics and trade centre. The UAE and the Netherlands have a buoyant trade relationship which reached AED 6.2 billion (US $1.7 billion) in 2011.

Emirates SkyCargo has been serving Amsterdam with freighters for more than 17 years and flowers picked up from Africa, bound for auction in the Netherlands, are amongst the key commodities carried. This is in addition to fruits and vegetables, silk, leather, and telecoms equipment, amongst other commodities.  Over 16.5 million kgs of cargo was carried between Dubai and Amsterdam in 2011.

Joining Antinori on the inaugural A380 service from Dubai was Consul General of the Netherlands in the UAE Kees van Spronsen, Emirates IT Passenger Services Systems and Passenger Experience Vice President Rob Broere, along with other VIP guests and representatives from the Dutch media. The A380 inaugural flight was led by Dutch Captain Finn Zwager and Dutch First Officer Johan Rypma, who proudly waved their native country’s flag upon arrival.

The Emirates delegation was welcomed with an arrival reception at Schiphol Airport with guests including Mayor Municipality of Haarlemmermeer Theo Weterings and Schiphol Group Head of Aviation Marketing Hanne Buis.

Emirates is the largest A380 operator in the world and has now carried more than 10 million passengers and has flown more than 150 million kilometres  since the double decker was introduced to its fleet in August 2008. The airline’s A380 operations are supported by more than 3,000 dedicated cabin crew, and Emirates’ state-of-the-art facilities at Dubai International Airport will soon be augmented by the opening of the world’s first dedicated A380 terminal early next year.

The carrier’s 22 A380s now serve Amsterdam,  Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Manchester, Munich, New York JFK, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto, Tokyo, with Melbourne  set to launch on 1 October and Moscow on 1 December.

Each Emirates’ A380 offers an Onboard Lounge on the upper deck for Premium Class passengers to meet, relax and do business. First Class passengers have the added luxury of two Onboard Shower Spas.