AeroplaneFreak From Australia, joined Sep 2006, 515 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 5 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 5203 times:
Emirates have announced it will begin A380 flights to Melbourne from October 2012. Only one of the three daily flights will become A380 with that being EK406/407: DXB-MEL-AKL-MEL-DXB.
tayser From Australia, joined Mar 2008, 1087 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 5046 times:
The only first class across the Tasman just got better.
This will be at the time when SQ 380 has been mooted to re-enter MEL (leaving temporarily so they can start another European port AFAIK and then the next delivery after that it comes back to MEL).
Q4 2012 380 DEP in MEL:
EK406 (to AKL) 8:10am
SQ238 (to SIN) 11:0am
QF93 (to LAX) 11:20am
QF9 (to SIN & LHR) 5:00pm
EK407 (to DXB) 10:55pm
* assuming SQ resume the same schedule, highly likely they'd change it to SQ228 (4:50pm departure) - which is what it originally started on and is the flight that connects with the midnight European departure bank in SIN.
byronicle6 From New Zealand, joined Oct 2011, 262 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 4838 times:
Not surprising that MEL is getting the 380, although must say i am surprised its EK406/407 they have chosen to upgrade which continues to AKL. Will also be interested to see how AKL copes, and will be good to see 2x EK380's at gate 15&16 at the new international pier in AKL at the same time!
EK413 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 3915 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 4770 times:
Quoting kiwiandrew (Reply 1): I wonder how AKL will cope with having two A380's on the ground together at the same time during the turnaround?
Quoting byronicle6 (Reply 3): Will also be interested to see how AKL copes, and will be good to see 2x EK380's at gate 15&16 at the new international pier in AKL at the same time!
Probably the same way congested SYD airport cope with the A380...? Let's see how AKL cope...
IndianicWorld From Australia, joined Jun 2001, 2403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days ago) and read 4476 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 6): They tend to do what they say.
Actually, EK have a bit habit of announcing things and delaying or for it to not happen.
Their reps have actually stated similar timeframes before to MEL and it hasn't eventuated. As stated, its a long time to go and things can change, but it would be great to see them here.
They have already entered it into their booking systems. Looks like it starts1st October 2012. When it was "announced" last time I don't think it was entered into their website, so it looks like this is it
IndianicWorld From Australia, joined Jun 2001, 2403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 5 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 4420 times:
Quoting byronicle6 (Reply 10): They have already entered it into their booking systems. Looks like it starts1st October 2012. When it was "announced" last time I don't think it was entered into their website, so it looks like this is it
I just checked and it has indeed been entered, which is a great sign.
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40 Reply 12, posted (1 year 5 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4211 times:
Quoting byronicle6 (Reply 3): although must say i am surprised its EK406/407 they have chosen to upgrade which continues to AKL.
Why so surprised? It's the most popular (usage wise) of all MEL flights (just like EK412/3 is for SYD and 434/5 is for BNE). And also, why not go for a bit more revenue by throwing it on the MEL-AKL route when you know that there'll always be demand for the route?
tullamarine From Australia, joined Aug 1999, 1147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 5 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3090 times:
EK406/407 is not surprising at all. It is the only of the 3 MEL flights that is non-stop to DXB. The other two go via SIN and KUL. The KUL service departs at 3AM so it is the least likely and will probably never have sufficient demand to justify the A380.
In its new configuration, how many A380s can MEL T2 handle simultaneously? There are ample parking stands but I'm not sure how many can be serviced at the terminal at the same time.
tayser From Australia, joined Mar 2008, 1087 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 5 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1592 times:
Quoting tullamarine (Reply 13): In its new configuration, how many A380s can MEL T2 handle simultaneously?
5
2 gates in the original sat terminal that were upgraded when QF said they'll fly to LAX. And the new infield sat has 3 380 capable gates - which could also fit 6 737/320s (VA/NZ/JQ TT services) should the need arise etc.
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