Emirates Expands Capacity In Rugby World Cup Year

Emirates Expands Capacity In Rugby World Cup Year

Emirates today raised the total number of seats it flies in and out of New Zealand, a welcome boost in Rugby World Cup year.

From today (January 2), the airline has replaced the previous Airbus A340-500 operation with the latest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its Auckland service through Brisbane to Dubai and beyond, adding 672 seats a week in each direction.

It is the airline’s second capacity expansion on New Zealand routes within a year following the same aircraft change on its daily Auckland-Melbourne-Dubai service last July. Its third daily Auckland service, via Sydney, is operated by the 489-seat double-decker Airbus A380 superjumbo.

“The change to the Boeing 777-300ER on the Brisbane route is a timely boost to our capacity with the Rugby World Cup coming later in the year,” said Emirates New Zealand manager Chris Lethbridge. “As a worldwide partner for Rugby World Cup 2011™ we are doing our best to ensure that as many fans as possible can visit New Zealand for this historical event.

“With a network of more than 100 destinations, including 25 centres in Europe alone, we are in a good position to bring in rugby followers from all around the world. This latest boost in seat numbers will help us do that.

“The Boeing 777-300ER is also a welcome change for travellers to and from Brisbane, one of our most popular services.”

Emirates will now be flying 10,857 seats in each direction per week across its four daily New Zealand services, including the daily Christchurch service. In 2009-10, Emirates carried approximately 9.95% of total transTasman passengers.

The latest Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is complete with new lie-flat business class seating and private suites in first class, as well as digital widescreens, with 1,200 channels of on-screen information, communication and entertainment in all classes.

The Boeing 777-300ER will operate in a three class configuration with eight first class, 42 business class and 304 economy class seats. Among its current fleet of 153 aircraft, Emirates now has 53 Boeing 777-300ERs, with a further 48 on order.

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