Cape Town - Emirates airline will reinstate its Airbus A380 between Johannesburg and Dubai fulltime from 1 October.
The airline withdrew the A380 earlier this year to do inspections on the aircraft's wing struts after Singapore Airlines and Quantas found cracks in their wings in January.
Fouad Caunhye, Emirates’ Regional Manager, Southern Africa, says Emirates had been delivering a limited service with the A380 but this will now return to normal, i.e. once daily from October.
Caunhye said Emirates introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER on its Durban route has increased load factors by 20%.
"The improved product has had a magnificent impact," said Caunhye to Fin24 yesterday.
He says Emirates is still enjoying an average load factor of above 80% on its flights to and from South Africa.
The 354-seat Boeing introduced Emirates’ First Class cabin on the Durban route. Emirates previously operated the smaller capacity Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route.
Emirates currently serves 22 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent after the addition of Zambia and Zimbabwe in February this year.
Caunhye said the Zimbabwe route was exploding.
"We're doing very well, and will increase our service to Harare from Dubai to a daily flight, also from 1 October," said Caunhye.
Follow James on twitter : @jamesstyan
The airline withdrew the A380 earlier this year to do inspections on the aircraft's wing struts after Singapore Airlines and Quantas found cracks in their wings in January.
Fouad Caunhye, Emirates’ Regional Manager, Southern Africa, says Emirates had been delivering a limited service with the A380 but this will now return to normal, i.e. once daily from October.
Caunhye said Emirates introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER on its Durban route has increased load factors by 20%.
"The improved product has had a magnificent impact," said Caunhye to Fin24 yesterday.
He says Emirates is still enjoying an average load factor of above 80% on its flights to and from South Africa.
The 354-seat Boeing introduced Emirates’ First Class cabin on the Durban route. Emirates previously operated the smaller capacity Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route.
Emirates currently serves 22 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent after the addition of Zambia and Zimbabwe in February this year.
Caunhye said the Zimbabwe route was exploding.
"We're doing very well, and will increase our service to Harare from Dubai to a daily flight, also from 1 October," said Caunhye.
Follow James on twitter : @jamesstyan