Some routes will now have more Emirates Airbus A380 flights, while others will see the double-decker sooner than expected. However, the type will no longer be used to China, freeing up equipment for these other developments and more.
Good changes on these routes…
The changes are summarized in the following table and are based on the carrier’s latest schedule submission to Cirium over the weekend.
Some changes were already known. For example, on January 26th, I wrote about the Middle East giant becoming all A380 to Brisbane. Meanwhile, Bangkok’s five daily services are now entirely by the A380, up from one daily 777-300ER and four daily A380.
Perhaps the most intriguing development is Washington Dulles. In December 2023, Emirates’ schedule indicated that the A380 would return to Dulles on October 1st, 2024, having last been used there in March 2020.
But as often happens, this has changed. The latest plan is that the daily service will see the double-decker on March 31st when northern airlines switch to summer schedules. Given it is barely two months away, it will undoubtedly happen.
| Dubai to… | What was planned? | What is planned now? |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Daily A380, daily 777-300ER | Double daily A380 from October 1st |
| Nice | Daily 777-300ER, with the A380 taking over on June 1st | The A380 will take over on March 31st |
| Washington Dulles | Daily 777-300ER, with the A380 taking over on October 1st | The A380 will take over on March 31st |
The A380 will no longer operate to…
Perhaps reflecting China’s slower recovery and broader economic problems, Emirates’ latest schedule shows a massive change to mainland China. Its entire passenger route network there will no longer see the A380. Of course, things are subject to further change.
| Dubai to… | What was planned? | What is planned now? |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing Capital | Daily A380 to replace the 777-300ER on March 31st, with the second daily flight by the 777-300ER | Double daily 777-300ER; no A380 |
| Guangzhou | Daily A380 to replace the 777-300ER on March 31st | Daily 777-300ER will continue; no A380 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Daily A380 and daily 777-300ER, becoming double daily A380 on March 31st | The A380 will cease being used on February 20th, with the route becoming all 777 |
A380 plan this coming July
As of January 29th, the latest information shows that Emirates will deploy the A380 to 48 destinations in July, down from 56 in July 2019. There will be 76 daily departures from Dubai, and the UK will have the most (13). It will be one of 30 countries to see Emirates’ A380s in this peak summer month.