Second UK Gateway With A380 – For a Day

News Release, 17 July 2009

Emirates To Serve Second UK Gateway With A380 – For A Day

An Emirates' super-jumbo is to serve a second UK gateway - but passengers wanting to enjoy the ride between Dubai and Birmingham better be quick.

In what is likely to be one of Emirates' briefest commercial deployments, an A380 will serve Birmingham for just one day, on September 9, as part of Birmingham International Airport's 70th anniversary celebrations.

The much talked about double-decker, which flies into Auckland on a daily basis, will be used on one of Emirates’ two daily services to Birmingham, giving passengers the first chance to fly directly to or from Birmingham on the A380.

Emirates flies from New Zealand to Dubai and beyond four times daily, and the A380 service that operates from Auckland connects with an A380 service from Dubai to London. The special one-off September 9 service to Birmingham will also connect with the services from New Zealand.

Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “Emirates and Birmingham International Airport have enjoyed a successful partnership since we started services in 2000, and it’s fitting that we should mark this significant milestone in the airport’s history by flying in our most talked about aircraft.”

Joe Kelly, Birmingham International Airport’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our 70th anniversary is a fantastic milestone for the airport and we are delighted that Emirates is helping us celebrate our birthday with the A380. Additionally, this is the first commercial flight of an A380 outside of London Heathrow in the UK."

Mr Kelly added: “As well as our 70th anniversary, September 9th is also the date that our new 45 million pound International Pier opens. The Pier replaces the existing Pier, constructed in 1984, with state of the art facilities and it is therefore very fitting that the first aircraft will be the Emirates’A380.”

September 9 is not only a significant day for Birmingham International Airport in the world of transport developments. Dubai Metro, a full automated, driverless railway system running throughout Dubai, is due to open the same day.

ENDS

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