This week Emirates made several Flagship Airbus A380 announcements. A four-class A380 will be displayed at the Dubai Airshow, A380 service will resume to Bangkok, and fans can now acquire bespoke upcycled collectibles, fabricated from the first Emirates A380 delivered.
On Friday (November 12, 2021), Emirates announced that their Flagship Airbus A380 service will return to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport from November 28, 2021, in response to strong customer demand. The daily A380 flights will operate as EK/372/373, and the aircraft will be configured with First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins. Flight EK372 departs Dubai daily at 09:30 and arrives in Bangkok at 18:40, while the return flight (EK373) departs Bangkok at 20:35 and arrives in Dubai at 00:50 the next day (all times local).
The new A380 flights to Bangkok will complement existing daily three-class Boeing 777-300ER flights, operated as EK384/385, as well as five weekly flights to Bangkok via Phuket, operated as EK378/379. The Dubai-Phuket-Bangkok route will increase to a daily frequency from December 1st, 2021. Emirates currently offers Flagship A380 service to 25 cities across six continents, which will increase to 28 destinations by the end of December 2021.
In an earlier press release on Thursday (November 11, 2021), Emirates announced that they will showcase their four-class Airbus A380 at the 2021 Dubai Airshow which runs from November 14th through 18th. The aircraft will feature the airline’s recently introduced Premium Economy Class cabin, refreshed interiors and enhancements across all cabins. The new Premium Economy cabin on display offers 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout. Each seat is 19.5 inches wide and offers a generous pitch of up to 40-inches, and a comfortable recline of eight inches. The seats are covered with cream-colored leather and include fine stitching and a wood paneling finish, similar to Business Class. Designed to provide maximum comfort, each seat includes a 6-way adjustable headrest, calf rests and footrests.
Additionally, each Premium Economy seat features a 13.3” IFE screen, one of the largest in its class, for customers to enjoy entertainment on Emirates’ award-winning ice system, as well as in-seat charging points, a wide dining table and side cocktail table. Emirates’ A380 Premium Economy cabin is located on main deck forward and includes three dedicated lavatories for guest convenience.
The aircraft will also be decorated with a unique ‘United Arab Emirates 50’ livery, celebrating the UAE’s Golden jubilee. The Emirates exhibition stand will also feature the airline’s game-changing Boeing 777-300ER First Class Suite, Business Class and Premium Economy Class seats.
In Thursday’s announcement, Emirates Airline and Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said,
“The Dubai Airshow has long been one of the most important events in the aviation and aerospace calendar. This year, all eyes will be on Dubai as the industry bounces back with global aviation and aerospace players reconvening in person to forge new partnerships and engage in strategic dialogue. The event will be seen as a bellwether for the industry’s pace of recovery, and a showcase for technologies that will drive its future progress. As a leading player in commercial aviation, Emirates will be setting the stage with its latest products and services on display, and engaging with its partners on various activities at the show.”
At this year’s Dubai Airshow, Emirates will also be displaying their Cirrus SR 22 and Embraer Phenom 100 training aircraft, which are utilized by the Emirates Flight Training Academy. During the first afternoon of the airshow, Emirates will open the flying display with a special fly past comprised of an Airbus A380 and a Boeing 777, which will be adorned with the special UAE 50th and Expo 2020 Dubai liveries. The aircraft will be joined by partner UAE commercial airlines, followed by the UAE’s air-display team, Al Fursan.
Select Highlights From Emirates' Display at the Upcoming Dubai Airshow 2021, Including an A380 in 'United Arab Emirates 50' livery, Premium Economy Class Cabin, Cirrus SR 22 and Embraer Phenom 100 Training Aircraft - Photo Gallery Courtesy of Emirates
In a separate announcement on Thursday (November 11, 2021), Emirates announced that aviation fans and collectors can now pre-order bespoke furniture and unique collectibles fabricated from the first Airbus A380 delivered to Emirates (A6-EDA) which is now retired. Collectibles include a coffee table made from an A380 wheel, a clock made from a wing fuel panel (original metal or polished) and the First Class cabin’s gold-plated Emirates logo. Emirates A380 fans interested in something larger can purchase the 24-meter aircraft tail featuring the UAE flag, or the A380 lounge bar for their patio. These unique items and more can be designed and customized for collectors and enthusiasts looking for a unique piece of aviation history.
Bespoke Aviation Collectibles Made From Emirates' First A380 Now Available for Pre-Order - Courtesy Emirates
Emirates has contracted with UAE-based Falcon Aircraft Recycling and their partner Wings Craft to responsibly break down and recover materials from the A380 which can be given new life through recycling or repurposed through upcycling, thereby keeping landfill waste to a minimum.
In Thursday’s A380 upcycling announcement, Wings Craft Furniture’s Founder and CEO, Fawaz Mohammed Ali, said,
“We are excited to showcase some of the unique items that we’ve crafted from Emirates’ retired A380 at this year’s Dubai Airshow. Our team will be onsite to discuss design options for customized items, including one-off pieces made from winglets, window panels, or specific parts of the aircraft marked with its tailfin registration. We’re also in the process of restoring the iconic A380 onboard bar which will soon be released for sale via an online auction.”
Falcon Aircraft Recycling’s Director, Andrew Tonks, added,
“The work to break down the aircraft is still underway at our facility, following the strictest regulatory guidelines and best practice to minimize waste and environmental impact. This is a special aircraft that deserves a meaningful second life. Most upcycling projects offer only mass-produced retail items, but there are so many iconic features of the Emirates A380 that we believe there will be demand for customized one-off pieces. We’re working closely with Wings Craft to introduce more unique items as new parts and material become available, so stay tuned.”
In coordination with the Emirates Airline Foundation, Wings Craft and Falcon Aircraft recycling will display samples of the first batch of items and collectibles made from the retired A380 at the Dubai Airshow 2021, stand 450B with the generous support of the Dubai Airshow organizers and F&E. A portion of the profits from the sale of all repurposed items will benefit the Emirates Airline Foundation, the carrier’s charity organization focused on helping disadvantaged children worldwide. A380 fans and collectors interested in bespoke furniture made from the aircraft can also contact the Wings Craft Team for consultation and pre-orders at sales@wingscraftshop.com.
Source: Emirates