New Emirates A380 flights for Sydney, Christchurch, Bangkok

Another website just announced it with a 777.

Outbound EK412 will depart Dubai at 10:15 hours, and will stop only in Sydney before arriving in Christchurch at 13:50 hours the next day (local time). EK413 will depart Christchurch at 18:45 hours, touching down in Dubai at 05:15 hours the next day after its stop in Sydney.

The Dubai service to Auckland via Sydney, EK418, will operate via Bangkok, as well as Sydney. Flight EK418 will depart Dubai at 08:55 hours and arrive in Auckland at 15:55 hours the following day (local time). The return service, via Sydney and Bangkok, operating as flight EK419, will depart Auckland at 16:30 hours and arrive in Dubai the following morning at 06:45 hours.

DCom82 - 35 minutes is an impossible turnaround time in AKL. Suspect you mean it wil deaprt AKL at 18:30 and not 16:30

I noticed that too on the press release but I believe that the A380 that will operate the AKL-SYD-BKK-DXB return route will not be the same frame as the outboud route but Emirates will deploy another one coming from BNE or MEL for that mission and will therefore swap aircraft at AKL.

They will use the EK448/449 DXB-AKL 777, gets upgraded to an A380 on the 30th October. It arrives at 11:10am and doesn't depart until 21:15. 

A380 flights start from 1 Oct 16 SYD/CHC/SYD.

A380s on both New Zealand Auckland non-stop and South Island flights from 30 October, according to websites of Emirates and Christchurch Airport.

I think it is the latter more than the former. Emirates, through its government sponsorship, is not concerned about overcapacity on many, many routes. It is part of a wider strategy to get people to Dubai and the UAE.  

it is actually cheaper for emirates to park the planes in NZ rather then in Australia as australian airports like sydney are super expensive.

There is no doubt this is wonderful for the travelling public, but there is a reason why Emirates is able to operate more than 3x as many A380s as the next biggest operator and has more than 6x as many on order.  It is not just NZ - Emirates flies to destinations all over the world with big planes in a way that other airlines would not be able to afford to, because they have to fill the planes.

Emirates want to use NZ as a hub for its A380's, as they are eyeing SYD/AKL/LAX or SFO for A380 services.  Secondly NZ is cheaper to lay over A380's as oppose to SYD.

I did wonder about this! It would complete a round the globe network! Would that be a first for an airline? Bit of a scarey thought for the competition to be honest.

Brisbane, maybe. But I highly doubt that Adelaide will see an A380 any time soon. 

Your missing EK 408/409 - the current DXB-KUL-MEL route which is going direct from OCT 31st. This is also the most likely to be upgraded to the A380 

Adelaide: Fat chance. Brisbane: Hopefully and probably

Would you say still via Singapore or a 2nd direct flight ? 

09.15

09:15am doesn't sound right for SYD departure??

I was in 6A on it a few weeks back as a 777

They had a couple divert from AKl to CHC 3yrs ago when a Qantas plane "had issues" and was blocking AKL runway

Yes CHC can handle A380's, as the runaway is very long and has been widen for A380's so it can be a back up to AKL.  When CHC terminal was rebuilt, the new terminal has 2 A380's equipped gates.

This was bound to happen, the runway had extensive widening done 1 year ago to accommodate A380's

Might be worth checking again. Only today did my EK413 booking ex AKL on Jan 4 get swapped to EK419 - both A380 ops.

Do you think Emirates would want to boast!!! What a magnificent offering, real choice of classes on a A380 Trans Tasman service and to the South Island now as well as the North Island, the only way to fly to NZ.

Anything less than an EK A380 to NZ from Oz is a veritable Crop Duster service. I want the same from Melbourne to Christchurch with all those supurfuous Super Jumbos they have, hope that day will be soon.

Agree totally SGB - I used to fly the MEL-CHC route regularly on EK about 12-14 years ago when it was on an A340 and then a 777 for a while, before the service was abruptly cancelled. Load factors were good and I understand that the cancellation of the service had more to do with scheduling issues than anything else. Hopefully EK will now consider a resurrection.

I'd be thrilled if EK would even bring in a 777 again for MEL-CHC, it would be heaps better than any other mosquito's on offer by other carriers.

Not sure about award seat availability, but I have flown many times on the SYD-CHC-SYD service on the EK 77W last 2 years, and I have been the only person in the First cabin at least 4 times (load factors in J & Y seem fairly good though). The F fare is usually circa A$2,700 return, so will be interesting if the pricing changes for the A380.

I was on that flight a few weeks back, 1 person in First as I went into 6A, flight attendant let me try out a First seat before my partner ordered me back into J. First is very luxurious, even in a 777.  Mini forward cabin of J (us) 4  pax, larger J cabin full, Y like a sardine tin....

The First Suites are the same on B77W and A380 in a 1-2-1 config, and if there is any differences in dimensions it is not noticeable.

Some of the older B77W's are getting a bit tired, but I usually find better service in the 8 person cabin which feels more private versus the 14 in A380.

B77W still has 2 restrooms for First up the front and even though they are also used by the flight crew, almost never any wait for restrooms compared to A380 shower suites which tends to attract lurkers - not an issue for shorter haul flights like NZ though, although have seen people ask about taking a shower on MEL/SYD - AKL A380 flights. I guess some people are determined to extract max value from their ticket (or upgrade), and are usually the same "buffet beasts" seen gorging themselves in the lounge....you know the type.

I thought the First suites looked identical to A380's. As you say, only 8 on 777 instead of 14 in A380 - nice ratio to cabin crew, very attentive. Lurkers sound a bit of a worry up at the shower suites... I just liked being led onto front aerobridge and walking through First then into front J class, as apposed to boarding main cattle ramp and turning right into main J cabin with all those Y's tramping past. I take this flight often and look forward to the A380 replacement, I can see myself visiting the bar and quite enjoy the rear smaller J cabin, so close to the Bar.

Hi born2fish, re: service differences between Boeing 777 and Airbus A380, I've found that's because the purser works in first class on the Boeing 777s and brings more attention to detail (plus they have the tablet to track your preferences), whereas on the A380 the purser has more of a management role in their little office under the stairs with the first class cabin service given by 'regular' flight attendants who may not be as experienced. :)

Thanks for the extra info Chris - that explains the noticeable difference in service levels and crew engagement. Even had the captains on the 777 come out and say hi and were on for a bit of a chat a couple of times previously, but probably more out of boredom or wanting to stretch the legs I think.

As for the purser with the tablet, I often wonder what level of detail they have on those tablets at QF & EK when they come around to introduce themselves pre-flight. Possibly something for a future article.