OREANDA-NEWS. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport becomes the 31st airport served globally by the airline's flagship aircraft.

DUBAI, U.A.E., 2nd October 2014: Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies, has commenced its A380 service from Dubai to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (D/FW). Since it launched a non-stop connection between Dubai and Dallas/Fort Worth in February 2012, Emirates has transported more than 460,000 passengers between the two cities.

The inaugural A380 flight departed from Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport on 1st October and was welcomed in Dallas by a VIP delegation from both cities and the airport. Dallas/Fort Worth is Emirates' 31st global A380 destination and its third in the USA, joining New York and Los Angeles. Emirates' A380 network in the US will further expand in December when San Francisco and Houston become the 32nd and 33rd points on the airline's network on 1st and 3rd December respectively.

“Commencing an A380 service to Dallas/Fort Worth allows us to provide an additional 222 seats each way on the route every day, significantly enhancing the USD 200 million in annual benefits the airport estimated our previous flight provided. This means a greater number of Emirates passengers travelling from South Asia, the Middle East, Far East and Africa can enjoy easy access to North Texas from Emirates' home and hub of Dubai,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President. “The A380 is the flagship of Emirates' fleet and our on-board facilities give passengers the very best product we offer. We know everything in Texas is bigger so it is fitting that Emirates, which is the largest operator of the A380, is bringing the world's largest passenger aircraft to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Texas.”

The Emirates A380 service will operate daily as flight EK 221 departing Dubai at 02:45 local time and arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 09:45 local time the same day, a flying time of 16 hours. The return service, EK 222 departs Dallas/Fort Worth at 12:35 local time and arrives in Dubai at 12:20 local time the following day, with a flying time of 14 hours and 45 minutes.

“Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is proud to welcome the Emirates A380 as we continue our growth as a global hub, connecting passengers from the United States, Mexico and Canada to destinations around the world,” said Sean Donohue, CEO of D/FW Airport. “The addition of the Emirates A380 to DFW brings one of the world's most highly regarded aircraft to the Dallas/Fort Worth to Dubai route, opening the door for even more customers to travel between DFW and Dubai.”

“From burgeoning businesses, to the best shopping in the southwest, premium hotels and restaurants and a captivating arts and cultural scene, Dallas has much to offer,” said Mike Rawlings, mayor of Dallas. “The arrival of the Emirates A380 will allow Dallas to continue to open its doors to international business opportunities, commerce and tourism and show the world that big things continue to happen here.”

“Dallas/Fort Worth is home to many Fortune 500 companies, countless major industries and a strong, diverse workforce. These assets combined with DFW International Airport and our air service partners continue to fuel our local economy,” said Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort Worth. “The investment made by Emirates is a recognition of the importance of our region as a global hub of business and leisure. We thank Emirates for their commitment, and for helping us build an expansive global network."

Unique Onboard Product

While onboard the flight from Dubai to Dallas/Fort Worth, passengers in all cabin classes can enjoy Emirates' renowned service provided by a multilingual crew representing more than 130 nationalities, savour gourmet cuisine and immerse themselves in the award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice Digital Widescreen, which offers more than 1,800 channels of films, TV programmes, music and podcasts. Passengers will not miss a beat while traveling on the A380 as Emirates makes it easy to stay connected to family, friends and colleagues on the ground with a wide range of communications options including onboard Wi-Fi.

The First Class and Business Class experiences truly set Emirates apart. Guests in the First Class cabin enjoy Private Suites and can arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and prepared for a business meeting or adventure after experiencing the two onboard Shower Spas. Emirates is the only airline to offer this exclusive feature in the sky. First Class and Business Class passengers can also enjoy the Onboard Lounge, which offers passengers a space for socializing and networking complete with fine wines, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and delicacies prepared by five-star chefs. The Emirates experience begins the moment they step out the door, with complimentary Chauffeur-drive to and from the airport and access to Emirates' 37 exclusive airport lounges worldwide.

The Emirates A380 on the Dallas/Fort Worth route can accommodate 488 passengers, including 14 in First Class Private Suites, 76 in Business Class lie-flat beds on the upper deck and 398 in spacious Economy Class seats divided into four sections on the main deck.

Emirates is the world's largest operator of the A380 and currently has 53 A380s in its fleet with 87 more on order.