Emirates’ A380 touches down in Auckland for first time since Feb 2020

Dubai-based airline Emirates has initiated its A380 service to Auckland.

This marks the first time that the airline’s A380 aircraft has touched down in Auckland since February 2020. The non-stop daily service from Dubai was greeted at Auckland Airport ahead of the country’s first fully open summer since the pandemic.

.@emirates‘ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Auckland Airport. This is the first time the Emirates double-decker has landed in Auckland since February 2020, demonstrating increasing travel demand in and out of New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/KFAtoKA57L

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 5, 2022

Emirates flight EK448 takes off from Dubai International Airport at 10.05am and lands in Auckland at 11.05am local time.

The flight has become the airline’s longest route on its network, clocking in 14,200km, with an estimated flight time of just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand and 17 hours, 15 minutes in the other direction.

Emirates has been flying to New Zealand for 19 years, with the airline serving the country throughout the pandemic, both through connecting New Zealand and the world with daily flights, as well as its SkyCargo services bringing essential goods in and out of the nation.

The addition will offer customers greater choice when making travel plans and provide connectivity and reduced transit time when travelling to other destinations in its network.

The Emirates A380 offers 14 first class suites and 76 business class seats. The airline has been gradually accelerating the deployment of its A380 aircraft in line with growing demand for air travel. Currently, Emirates’ A380 is deployed to 37 global destinations in 25 countries, increasing to 42 cities by March 2023.

Emirates also reintroduced its A380 to Perth on December 1, as part of the airline’s ramp up of services to Australia from December 1.

Read: Emirates to restart A380 daily service to Perth from December 1