Delhi to become the third Indian city served by the double-decker, with Premium Economy debuting on the route
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, hosted a special preview of its retrofitted A380 in Delhi for VIP guests, travel trade partners and media, ahead of daily scheduled services starting on 25 October.
The world’s largest commercial aircraft touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the presence of Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, and Pradeep Panicker, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Abdulaziz Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, and other distinguished guests were also present.
The VIPs were then invited on board for a guided tour of the aircraft’s four cabins and signature amenities, which customers travelling between Delhi and Dubai will enjoy once the aircraft enters service this month. The four-class A380 carries the airline’s latest signature experiences and design, including the highly acclaimed Premium Economy cabin, offered in Delhi for the first time. The tour was hosted by Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for West Asia and Indian Ocean, and Mohammad Sarhan, Vice President for India and Nepal.
When the daily A380 service launches on 25 October, Delhi will join Mumbai and Bengaluru as the third Indian city served by the iconic double-decker. The aircraft will operate flights EK512/513 in a four-class configuration. It will complement Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777s, also in a four-class layout with Premium Economy, which will operate the airline’s other three daily Delhi flights, all deployed from the same day.
The launch is part of a wider set of fleet and operational upgrades that Emirates is making in India. The airline is extending Premium Economy to six Indian gateways by October: Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi. In addition, its newest aircraft type, the next-generation A350, will begin flying to Kolkata from 25 October, also fitted with Premium Economy.
