Twenty-five years after it first flew to Delhi, Emirates will make history when its 517-seater Airbus A-380 super jumbo lands at the Indira Gandhi International Airport Thursday to become the first international airline to dock at the brand new Terminal 3.
The Terminal 3, inaugurated earlier this month by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
has six of its 78 aerobridges equipped to handle the giant double-deck aircraft.
"The fact that we will bring the A-380 to Delhi is a reiteration of the potential we see in the Indian market and our intent to partner with the nation in its growth," said Majid Al Mualla, the airline's senior vice president for West Asia and Indian Ocean.
"Emirates has been flying to Delhi since our first day of operations in 1985. Twenty-five years on, 10 destinations and 184 weekly flights certainly represent the effort and investment that have gone into building a strong relationship with India."
The special flight into the Indian capital is scheduled to leave at 10:10 in the morning here (local time) and touchdown at 2:40 pm (India time) in Delhi, after a nearly three-and-a-half-hour flight. It flies back at 5:50 pm.
The airline introduced a special tariff for this flight with a return fare of Rs9990, including taxes.
The 517-seat aircraft offers 14 flat-bed first class private suites with electric doors, 76 fully-flat seats in business class and 427 contoured seats in economy spread across four roomy cabins on the lower deck.
It offers its first and business class passengers private suites, shower spas and an onboard lounge with a wide range of drinks and canap