Emirates has resumed A380 services to Melbourne, with daily flights to Victoria. The flagship aircraft returned on Tuesday.Melbourne becomes Emirates’ second point in Australia to be served by the double-decker aircraft since resuming operations during the pandemic. The A380 provides a near 50 percent boost to passenger capacity between Melbourne and Dubai. The upgrade follows the airline’s recent increase in services from four times weekly to daily on the Melbourne-Dubai route, a healthy sign for international travel following the easing of international travel restrictions in Victoria. The aircraft is emblazoned in a distinctive blue ‘mobility’ decal inspired by the Expo 2020 Dubai logo. More than 30 Emirates aircraft now sport Expo 2020 livery in three distinct colours reflecting the sub-themes of Expo – orange for ‘opportunity’, green for ‘sustainability’ and blue for ‘mobility.
Australia is the third-largest destination for the carrier’s A380 operations. The airline says it is committed to increasing flights here, with full and greater capacity on flights to Brisbane, Sydney, and now Melbourne, with ongoing services to Perth. Sydney’s daily A380 services began on December 1 2021. No mention of Adelaide however or if the aircraft offers premium seats.
Ian mcintosh