Emirates is now serving Christchurch with an A380 superjumbo, with the first of its daily services to the southern city touching down earlier today.
One of the 80-metre wingspan aeroplanes, the biggest passenger liners in the world arrived in Christchurch on Monday afternoon in the first trip of a daily service to Dubai via Sydney.
In an article from www.stuff.co.nz, Emirates regional manager Chris Lethbridge said the plane was signed off by its manufacturer in Toulouse just two weeks ago.
Emirates is the biggest customer for Airbus' A380s whose sales have been sluggish. The airline currently has 84 Airbus A380s in its fleet of 250 aircraft, with another 58 on order. Air India claimed the longest flight last week with a service from Delhi to San Francisco. - NZ Herald
Like a growing number of carriers, Emirates has benefited from New Zealand's attractiveness as an international tourist destination and strong growth in outbound travel by Kiwis.
According to www.nzherald.co.nz, the double decker can seat 14 in first class, 76 in business class and 399 in economy class.
Inside the liner, entertainment screens and gold trimming are everywhere. Everything is edged with polished metal.
Downstairs in economy class, each seat has its own entertainment system with game controllers and access to movies, TV, radio and games.
A full bar is also ready to serve passengers at the back of the business class area.
As passengers walk onto the top deck, they are greeted to business class by a well-stocked and perfumed bar. Through the doorways past the bar are the business class seats, which each fold out into a small bed.
At the front of the plane you find the roomy bathrooms, complete with showers, not unlike what you might find in a small but classy hotel.
Emirates' A380 is a luxurious hotel inside a superjumbo aircraft. It definitely provides more than just a comfortable and safe trip to one's destination to New Zealand, the plane ride experience will probably be one of the highlights of the passenger's trip itself.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
