Emirates plans to upgrade its Perth flights to an Airbus A380 service next year.
"Emirates Airline will fly the 489-seat A380s to Perth as soon as the WA airport completes a dedicated boarding bridge now being built," Emirates country manager Khalid Al Zarooni revealed today via Twitter.
In a statement issued by Emirates' Australian PR agency in reponse to an enquiry from Australian Business Traveller the airline stopped short of making any firm committment, saying only that "Once Perth Airport is A380 compliant, Emirates will certainly assess the feasibility of operating there.”
The Gulf carrier is likely to be the launch customer for Perth Airport's first double-decker boarding gate, which is due to open in the "second half" of 2013 according to airport CEO Brad Geatches.
This will be capable of loading passengers onto both decks of the superjumbo.
Read: Perth Airport's $700m makeover: what you'll see, and when
It's good news for Qantas passengers who will start heading from Perth to Dubai on Emirates as part of the Qantas-Emirates alliance beginning in April -- they'll enjoy the significantly better business class on the A380 compared with the Boeing 777 Emirates currently uses for Perth flights.
That means fully flat beds with direct aisle access for all business class passengers, replacing the angled lie-flat seats on the Boeing 777.
Compare the two: check out our review of Emirates' A380 business class and what you'll find on board the less spacious Boeing 777-300ER business class.
The spacious upper deck business class bar, quieter A380 cabin and a less dry cabin atmosphere are extra superjumbo benefits for passengers.
Read more: Australian Business Traveller's comprehensive coverage of the Qantas-Emirates hookup includes...
- Emirates Skywards frequent flyers to earn tier points on all Qantas flights
- Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn tier points on codeshare flights, with reciprocal lounge arrangements and other perks also on offer
- What you'll find on board Emirates' flights, and how they compare to Qantas, in first class, business class and economy class
- How the Qantas-Emirates hookup (and the Qantas-BA breakup) will revolutionise business travellers' options for flying to the UK
- Singapore changes from Qantas' main hub for Europe into an Asian destination in its own right: new flights, timings and more.
About John Walton
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
1 on 16/11/12 by Michael Dart