OREANDA-NEWS. Emirates' Dubai - Munich route will become an all-A380 service from 30 March 2014, when the airline deploys its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft on its second daily flight.

Emirates' flights EK49/50 and EK51/52 are currently served by Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER, respectively. The second A380 service will add almost 1,800 seats per week on the route, reflecting Emirates' steadfast commitment to the German market.

Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates said: “This is a significant development for Emirates as Munich is a key airport for us in Germany and in Europe. Passenger demand has been steadily growing and our second A380 will add much needed seat capacity which is essential for us to meet the demand growth of the route and support the expansion of trade, tourism and international investment in Germany. We are also proud to fly our flagship A380 aircraft as a connector of people and cargo between Germany and destinations across the globe, particularly as Germany plays a big role in producing this aircraft.”

The Emirates A380 at Munich Airport. Emirates' Dubai - Munich route will become an all-A380 service from 30 March 2014.

The Emirates A380 taking off from Munich Airport. The airline will deploys its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft on its second daily flight from 30 March 2014.

Christian Ude, Lord Mayor of Munich: “The second daily scheduled service with the Emirates A380 is good news for Munich as a business location and the tourism industry in our region. Due to the capacity increase, even more guests will come to us from the airline's global route network - without increasing the number of flight movements. The two daily A380 flights emphasize the significance of Bavaria as location for the European aviation industry.”

Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport GmbH said: “We are very pleased that Emirates will operate Munich twice a day with its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft in the coming year. This decision is clear evidence of the importance and attractiveness of Munich Airport in worldwide air traffic. In November 2011, Emirates was the first foreign carrier to operate scheduled A380 services into Germany. Since then, the A380 has become a real crowd-puller at our airport.”

Last month, Emirates operated the second Munich service with an A380 due to high demand. The service proved popular among passengers and aviation enthusiasts alike. Munich Airport offered the “A380 lights bus tour” during this period. The tour offered visitors in the evening a glimpse at the 'behind the scenes' operations of Munich Airport, including advantageous sights of the Emirates A380.

The second daily A380 operation will be serviced with a three-class configuration comprising of 399 seats in Economy Class, 76 fully flat-bed, mini-pods in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites.

Since November of 2011, when the first service was inaugurated, over 600,000 passengers have flown the Emirates A380 to and from Munich. The first landing of the A380 to Munich in November 2011 can be viewed here

Germany plays a significant role in the production of Emirates' highly efficient A380s. German aeronautical businesses contribute to the production of the aircraft's engines, wings, ice entertainment system, lighting and Onboard Shower features, and an estimated €280 million is spent each year by Emirates for the operation and maintenance of these components, according to a study by the Institute of Air Transport and Airport Research (DLR). Moreover, the A380 programme alone is estimated to add around 40,000 direct, indirect and induced German jobs.

The regional economy around Munich will also derive substantial benefits as a result of the aircraft upgrade from a B777 to an A380. According to recent Deloitte report titled 'The Economic Value of Sydney Airport', it is estimated that the annual incremental contribution of a B777 to an A380 upgrade amounted to more than €40 million in GDP and added more than 700 jobs in Sydney. Generation of similar economic returns can be expected for Munich and its surrounding areas.

Emirates is the largest A380 operator in the world, with 38 currently in its fleet flying to 22 global destinations.

Emirates flight EK51 departs Dubai at 1630hrs and arrives in Munich at 2010hrs, the return flight EK52 departs Munich at 2140hrs and arrives in Dubai at 0630hrs the following day.