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A380 airliner restored to the Johannesburg route by Emirates

17th February 2017

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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Major international airline Emirates, based in Dubai, recently reintroduced the Airbus A380 Superjumbo on its Dubai–Johannesburg route to meet growing passenger demand. Previously, the airline had operated the A380 on its Johannesburg route for a few months in 2011/12, but the market had not proved mature enough and the type of aircraft was needed more on other routes. “This time, it’s going to stay!” assured Emirates senior VP for commercial operations: Africa OrhanAbbas.

Johannesburg is now the airline’s busiest route in Africa, with four flights daily; until recently, these have been operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Now, one of these daily schedules is flown by an A380. Emirates is the world’s biggest operator of the Superjumbo, with 92 in service and another 50 on order.

Over the past five years, the airline has seen its passenger numbers on the Johannesburg route increase by 47%. Abbas is confident that the increased capacity of the A380 will stimulate further growth in traffic on the route. Emirates’ A380s are fitted with 14 ‘private suites’ in first class, 76 ‘mini pods’ with lie-flat seats in business class and 426 ‘spacious seats’ in economy class. First class passengers also enjoy the use of on-board ‘shower spas’ and first and business class passengers can both use the on-board lounge.

South Africa is the company’s largest market in Africa, although other important continental markets are Egypt, Kenya and Morocco. The airline operates eight flights a day between South Africa and Dubai. In addition to the four to Johannesburg, there are three to Cape Town and one to Durban. It has been flying to and from South Africa for 22 years.

Although there have been declines in traffic on some other routes, this does not apply to South Africa. “In South Africa. . . we see the growth coming in.. . . [H]ere, we do not see any slowdown,” affirmed Abbas, who pointed out that the country also acted as a regional hub for Southern Africa.

The growth is being driven 70% by the leisure market and 30% by the business market. “A lot of leisure [traffic] is coming in, the currency [exchange rate] is very attractive, a lot of dollar-country [holiday] business is coming in,” he explained. “The leisure traffic is growing massively into South Africa.” Moreover, increasing numbers of South African tourists are going to Dubai.

With the A380 restored to the Johannesburg schedule, it will now be possible for passengers to fly on to many of the airline’s major destinations around the world using only the Superjumbo. “Going out, coming in, you’re going from 380 to 380 now,” Abbas summed up.

The South African authorities have been most helpful, he noted. “We are very pleased with the South African [Department] of Transport. They have been very flexible.”

The country’s tourist authorities have welcomed Emirates’ restoration of the A380 service to South Africa. “Introducing the A380 on this route symbolises Emirates’ commitment to the development of tourism in South Africa,” affirmed Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom in a press release. “It indicates confidence in our country’s enduring tourism offerings and the potential for even further growth, following the strong surge in international arrivals last year.”

“As an organisation, we have a close working relationship with the aviation industry,” pointed out South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona in the same release, “and Emirates in particular, who play a key role in making South Africa accessible to the many tourists travelling to South Africa. We saw a 37.4% growth for the Middle East from January to October 2016, compared with the same period in 2015. This increased capacity will help us achieve our mandate of increasing tourist arrivals into the country.”

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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