Emirates: no plans to axe more trans-Tasman Airbus A380 flights
By David Flynn, June 14 2017
Emirates says it has no plans to drop trans-Tasman Airbus A380 flights from Melbourne and Brisbane in the wake of a decision to shutter the daily superjumbo service between Sydney and Auckland.
From July 13 2017, Emirates will no longer send its A380 – complete with first class suites, lie-flat business class beds and an inflight bar – darting across the ditch, relying instead on partner Qantas to bridge the capacity gap with Airbus A330s.
However, other superjumbo services between Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand seem safe from the axe.
A spokesperson for Emirates told Australian Business Traveller that Sydney-Auckland aside, "all other Emirates Trans-Tasman services will continue to operate as normal."
“There is significant capacity on the Sydney-Auckland route, and of Emirates’ Tasman services it is the most highly-competed route," the spokesperson observed.
"Our partnership with Qantas allows us to better meet capacity with an aircraft that is more in line with projected demand on this specific route."
Air New Zealand CEO Chris Luxon recently told Australian Business Traveller that while he didn’t consider Emirates’ A380s as “a big threat” due to the timing of their schedule, "it's just that the amount of added capacity coming into the Tasman from those players is the challenge."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QANTAS
12 Jun 2014
Total posts 22
It's certainly amazing that any airline can justify flying the A380 trans-Tasman. It's a wonderful plane to fly on.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
Its all about the freight they can fit underneath...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
Which is why I'm surprised that SYD-AKL was the first to go as you'd think that the freight loads on that route would be highest.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
@henrus:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
With the EK 380's they often only fill 100 seats so one would assume that there'd be more space for cargo but maybe that's just my thoughts...
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
@markpk:
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 64
Add to that NZ's entry level fares don't included checked bags on the Tasman = 90% of the Y passengers using the over head bins rather than an LD3
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Thank goodness for that.
07 Jan 2017
Total posts 30
EK are short of A380 crew due to retirements and resignations. The reduction saves 2 sets of crew and lots of $$$$ in expensive SYD accommodation.
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