The R.M Williams Weekend at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

A QUINTESSENTIALLY AUSTRALIAN LUXURY ESCAPE

R.M.WILLIAMS WEEKEND AT EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY

This May, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley and R.M.Williams will curate the ultimate Australian luxury weekend, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Greater Blue Mountains.

Guests will experience unforgettable bushland adventures, stunning local cuisine and wines, campfire tales under starry skies and the spectacular surrounds of Australia’s ultra-luxury eco-resort. They will also gain a unique insight into the world of a truly iconic Australian brand and take home as a memento of their stay; a pair of personally fitted R.M.Williams boots.

Highlights of the weekend include a horse trail riding experience led by Terry Goodear, Head of Heritage and Heartland at R.M.Williams, exploring the magnificent Wolgan Valley landscape, accompanied by his bush tales and folklore. Following an ‘Australian-Inspired’ five-course degustation dinner featuring the finest of local produce paired with award-winning wines, guests will join Mark Muller, Editor in Chief of OUTBACK Magazine, to explore the spectacular night sky via telescope, whilst Mark shares stories of life in the Australian bushland in a truly memorable campfire setting. With the launch of ‘R.M.Williams Bespoke’ in April, guests will have the opportunity to visit the Heritage Boutique and learn about the new service, led by the R.M.Williams team, guests will learn about the custom boot making process, the hundreds of combinations and the different types of exotic and treated leathers you can use to build your own boot including your own sign off. Guests will also have the chance to be fitted for their own pair of Craftsman or Adelaide Boots, included in the weekend package.

The R.M Williams Weekend at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley will take place from Friday 6 May until Sunday 8 May, and includes a two-night stay in an ultra-luxury Heritage Villa with private pool; a horse trail ride and morning tea led by Terry Goodear; an ‘Australian Inspired’ degustation dinner; a campfire and stargazing experience hosted by Mark Muller; a morning learning about the R.M.Williams Bespoke program at the Heritage Boutique; gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily including a select range of local wines and beers; two on-site nature-based activities per day and two pairs of R.M Williams boots.

Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is a unique, ultra-luxury conservation-based resort a scenic 2.5 hour drive from Sydney and located within the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains region. Set on its own private 7,000-acre carbon-neutral wildlife reserve, the resort combines One&Only ultra-luxury style with a quintessentially Australian bush experience and with conservation at its heart.

General Manager of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley James Wyndham says: “We’re inviting our guests to discover what makes Australia truly remarkable over the course of one unforgettable weekend. Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley and R.M Williams both share a love of nature, heritage and the environment, and the weekend is a chance to share those passions with our guests.”

CEO of R.M Williams Raju Vuppalapati adds, “Escaping inland to explore and appreciate the beauty of Australia has always been at the heart of R.M.Williams. We are so pleased to work with Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley to present this unique experience for people to enjoy, and to share insight into R.M.Williams, one of Australia’s oldest and most loved brands.”

The R.M Williams Experience is priced at $2,480 per villa per night twin-share*



For further information and exclusive bookings for The R.M Williams Weekend Experience please contact Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley on + 61 2 9308 0500 or email reservations@oneandonlywolganvalley.com

New Emirates Melbourne Airport Lounge

Emirates has unveiled its new Melbourne Airport lounge, revealing a contemporary and fresh look, based on the new design of Emirates lounges worldwide.

At 1,268sqm in size, the Melbourne lounge is one of the biggest outstation lounges for the airline in the world and caters to up to 241 passengers.

With a view of the airfield, passengers will enjoy first class facilities and amenities including LED TV's, leather armchairs, a dining area, prayer room with ablution areas, shower facilities and a business centre.

In addition, passengers will be able to choose from a selection of hot and cold dishes from the gourmet buffet, as well as extensive beverage services. Some of the dishes on offer include: waffles and French toast for breakfast; teriyaki salmon, chicken satay and traditional fish and chips for snacks; and lamb cutlets, prawn salads, curries and chicken Schnitzel for dinner, as well as the finest selection of champagne, wines and spirits.

The new Melbourne lounge forms part of a continuous global effort by the airline to upgrade its lounge offering for its passengers. In the last few months, Emirates has also updated its lounges at London Heathrow Airport and Perth International Airport, to further enhance the passenger experience when flying through these ports.

"Our worldwide lounges ensure passengers are able to enjoy Emirates' world-class experience from the moment they arrive at the airport," said Barry Brown, Emirates' Divisional Vice President for Australasia.

"The new and expanded Melbourne lounge will also help cater for additional capacity from March when we up-gauge and replace the existing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on one of our daily flights with an A380," he added.

From the 1st of March 2016, EK404 and EK405 will be operated by the Emirates flagship A380 aircraft, providing more customer options as well as additional seat capacity on the route. With this up-gauge, Melbourne will be served twice daily with an Emirates A380.

Emirates currently operates three daily flights to Dubai from Melbourne including a direct daily A380 service, one service which operates via Singapore and a third which operates via Kuala Lumpur. In addition Emirates offers daily flights between Melbourne and Auckland on its flagship A380 aircraft.

The Emirates Lounge at Melbourne Airport is located on Level 3 of the International Terminal (entrance is located adjacent to gate 10 on the departures level).

Emirates adds fourth daily A380 service to Bangkok

Two-Class service between Dubai and Bangkok to commence from 1 December 2015



July 2015: Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies has announced its fourth daily A380 service between Dubai and Bangkok with the up-gauge of its current services from 1 December.

The new two-class A380 service will operate daily as flight EK376 from Dubai to Bangkok and EK377 from Bangkok to Dubai. The up-gauge from its current Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will see an increase in capacity of 255 seats per flight and 3,570 seats per week to and from the Thai capital city.

Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations East, said: “Thailand is an important market for Emirates, and the A380 has been extremely popular with travellers since we first started the double-decker aircraft service to Thailand in 2009. The addition of this two-class A380 passenger service will give even more travellers the chance to experience this revolutionary aircraft first hand.

“For business and leisure travellers, the Dubai-Bangkok route is a popular choice and this additional A380 service will be instrumental in helping us meet growing passenger demand, as well as deliver substantial economic benefits through travel connections and inbound seats.”

Emirates’ two-class A380 is capable of carrying 615 passengers across its business and economy cabins – accommodating 58 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 557 seats in Economy Class.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the spacious A380 aircraft, with 64 in the fleet and 76 on order. An industry benchmark for onboard innovation and comforts, Emirates’ A380s serve 34 global destinations of which 11 are in the Far East: Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney.

EK376 will depart Dubai at 0330hrs and arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 1235hrs the same day. This flight connects seamlessly with European and African destinations, and is especially popular with northern European travellers from the UK and Scandinavia heading to Thailand’s capital city.

The return flight, EK377, a popular flight for residents of countries in the Gulf, will depart Bangkok at 1600hrs, offering a convenient departure time that suits hotel check-out times, and arrives in Dubai the same day at 1955hrs, a flying time of 6 hours and 55 minutes.

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Emirates adds 19 new destinations to its network in France

And signs codeshare partnership with SNCF’s TGV Air

19 additional French cities connected to Emirates’ global network

More convenience for passengers travelling to and from France

One single ticket combining rail and flights Dubai and Paris, 4th June 2015 – Emirates, a global connector of people and places, and SNCF, France’s national railway company, today announced a new codeshare partnership which will allow Emirates passengers from around the world to travel to 19 new destinations in France. With just one easy-to-book ticket, travellers will be able to fly on Emirates and reach some of France’s most beautiful regions using high speed trains that leave directly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

SNCF’s TGV trains

 “This codeshare agreement with SNCF opens up new possibilities for our passengers and complements our current services to Paris, Lyon and Nice. With TGV Air, travelling to the Far East from Bordeaux, or to Strasbourg from Dubai has never been easier," commented Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. "Emirates already flies more than 1.2 million passengers to and from France every year. With TGV Air, we’re connecting French regions to our global network and facilitating inbound and outbound traffic. At Paris Charles de Gaulle, passengers will experience Emirates’ unparalleled comfort and service on board our flagship, the iconic A380,” added Antinori.

As of today, customers are able to book trips with travel dates from 8th June and onwards to these 19 new destinations via Emirates’ website and benefit from the convenience of holding a single ticket. First Class and Business Class passengers will automatically be booked in First Class on board SNCF’s TGV trains.

Destinations that will benefit from the Emirates-TGV Air service:

• Aix en Provence
• Angers-Saint-Laud
• Avignon
• Bordeaux-Saint-Jean
• Champagne-Ardenne
• Le Mans
• Lille-Europe
• Lorraine
• Lyon Part-Dieu
• Marseilles Saint-Charles
• Montpellier-Saint-Roch
• Nantes
• Nîmes
• Poitiers
• Rennes
• Saint-Pierre-des-Corps-Tours
• Strasbourg
• Toulon
• Valence

Emirates now double daily Airbus A380 to Gatwick

Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies, has launched a second daily A380 service to London Gatwick Airport.

Due to passenger demand, Emirates has taken the decision to immediately upgrade its EK15/16 route that was previously operated by a Boeing 777. The A380 will add a total of 318 seats per day increasing capacity in all three classes by 11.5 percent. Over 330,000 customers have already flown with the A380 to and from London Gatwick since the aircraft was first deployed in March 2014.

Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West, commented: “We are constantly seeking ways to enhance our services to meet passenger expectations. Demand for the A380 has prompted us to introduce a second daily A380 service to London Gatwick, months ahead of schedule. This strengthens our bid to provide both holidaymakers and business travellers with a world-class travel experience whilst ensuring better seat availability from one of the busiest airports in the UK.’’

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, London Gatwick, said: “Following increasing passenger demand and a strong performance of Emirates’ first A380 service to Dubai from Gatwick, we welcome the introduction a second daily A380 service. With the world’s busiest single runaway and a constant flow of passengers from London’s South East, it is important that we offer travellers the best possible connections to worldwide destinations and the new Emirates A380 service allows us to do just that.”

The introduction of a second daily Emirates A380 to London Gatwick is expected to help facilitate increased trade from key destinations in West Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Far East. Leisure travellers will also benefit from the additional capacity which has been introduced well in time for the UK summer.

London Gatwick Airport offers excellent connections to the South East and central London – in fact with the Gatwick Express travellers can conveniently reach London Victoria station in only 30 minutes.

Emirates’ First Class, Business Class and Skywards Platinum and Gold members will also benefit from access to the largest lounge on the Emirates network located at London Gatwick Airport.

The Emirates A380 offers spacious seating in Economy Class, access to the world’s only onboard Shower Spas for First Class passengers and the Onboard Lounge where First Class and Business Class passengers can socialise at 40,000 feet. Passengers throughout all classes can also enjoy access to over 2,000 channels of films, TV shows, music and games through ice, the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system as well as free wifi connectivity and gourmet cuisine.

As with all Emirates flights, passengers will benefit from a generous baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class.

Emirates flight EK15 will depart Dubai International Airport at 0800hrs and arrive in London Gatwick at 1230hrs. The outbound flight, EK16, will depart London Gatwick Airport at 1425hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0025hrs.

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Emirates to commence daily service to Bali

Daily service to launch 3rd June

Emirates, a global connector of people and places today announced that it will launch a new daily service to the island of Bali in Indonesia, from 3rd June 2015.

One of the most popular islands in Indonesia with spectacular mountains and picturesque beaches, Bali is a leading tourist destination which welcomed more than 3.7 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2014. Emirates’ new service will add to Bali’s global connectivity, further stimulating the island’s economic and tourism growth. 

 

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER

Bali will be Emirates’ 148th global destination, adding to the airline’s route network in the Asia Pacific region which currently spans 23 destinations in 13 countries. The non-stop service between Dubai and Bali will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a two-class configuration.

“Bali is a significantly important market for Emirates. There is high interest in Bali from across our network, specifically in the leisure segment. We are pleased to be able to offer the Emirates product on a daily basis, connecting passengers in Bali to Dubai and to more than 80 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, via one convenient stop in Dubai.” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates airline.

“The new service will greatly increase convenience, choice, and consistency of travel experience for consumers who currently have to travel via multiple stops, or via other points in Indonesia to reach Bali.”

Emirates’ new daily flight to Bali will depart Dubai as EK398 at 0820hrs* and arrive at Bali’s Denpasar International Airport at 2140hrs* the same day. The return flight, EK399, will depart at 2340hrs* and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 0500* the next day.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy more than 2,000 channels of entertainment on demand on ice, the airline's award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

Passengers on all Emirates flights also have the added bonus of generous baggage allowance with 30 kilogrammes for those travelling in Economy Class and 40 kilogrammes for Business Class.

Emirates commenced services to Indonesia in 1992 with three flights per week via Singapore and Colombo, and since March 2013, the airline has been operating three non-stop flights daily from Jakarta to Dubai with a Boeing 777 aircraft.

*Flight times are local and per summer scheduling

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Emirates Cricket themed A380

#emirates

Emirates spreads the love of cricket around the world with specially-dressed A380 aircraft

With just two weeks to go until the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Emirates airline, a global connector of people, places and passions, has unveiled the first of its aircraft that will feature the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Logo.

Watch a video of how an Emirates A380 gets "dressed up" for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 here.

The Emirates Airbus A380 recently set off to Australia and New Zealand, and is the first of a number of "specially-dressed" Emirates aircraft that will fly around the globe, celebrating this major event with cricket-lovers and uniting fans around the world.

Emirates has been the official partner of the International Cricket Council since 2007 and all its major tournaments including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

In partnership with the ICC, Emirates also sponsors the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Match Referees.

Cricket has provided Emirates with a powerful platform to connect with fans and communities across Asia, Australasia, South Africa and the UK. In addition to its partnership with the ICC, Emirates' cricket sponsorships include:

• Title Sponsor of the Emirates Airline Twenty20, which brings successful County Cricket Clubs to Dubai to compete for the coveted Emirates T20 Championship.
• In the UK, Emirates has partnerships with Durham County Cricket Club and Lancashire County Cricket Club, including naming rights to both clubs' playing grounds and their respective T20 representative teams.

Emirates has unveiled "specially-dressed" aircraft on special occasions and during major events, such as during the 2020 World Expo bid, which Dubai won in 2013.

Currently the world's largest A380 operator with 57 aircraft in its fleet, Emirates is expecting to take delivery of 15 A380s this year and has 83 A380s on order. The Emirates A380 flies to 34 destinations across the globe, with Perth to join the network in May, Dusseldorf in July, and Madrid in August.

Emirates marks a record launch of 10 new A380 destinations in 2014 with Perth coming on board in 2015

Emirates, a global connector of people and places marked a record launch of 10 new A380 routes in 2014 - ahead of further launches planned for 2015, including the first A380 aircraft to fly to Perth announced in December.

Emirates today has released a ‘mash-up’ video that shows the iconic aircraft landing in 10 destinations spanning the globe over the past 12 months.



In 2015, Perth will join Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as Australian A380 destinations with West Australian residents having the opportunity to experience the aircraft for the first time from May 1st - following the announcement that Emirates will up-gauge one of its three daily services between Perth and Dubai to its flagship aircraft, demonstrating the growth of Perth as a global destination.

The change from a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will see an increase in capacity of 131 seats per flight and 1,834 seats per week, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to Perth passengers

“2014 was a record breaking year for our A380 network, and adding 10 new A380 destinations has given our customers more choice to travel to their favourite destinations and experience what this exceptional aircraft has to offer. Our onboard innovations across all three classes continue to wow our customers, and we hope even more travellers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading product as we expand our A380 fleet and network,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Commercial Operations Worldwide, Emirates airline.

The Emirates A380 celebrated New Year’s in style by taking off to Zurich. It then said ‘Hola’ to Barcelona in February, marking Spain’s first permanent A380 service. The double-decker then jetted into London Gatwick in March, followed by Kuwait in mid-July, marking the world’s shortest scheduled A380 service. A week later, Emirates upped the ante by introducing the A380 on its Mumbai route, fulfilling on-going demand from travellers in India. Emirates flew its A380 into Frankfurt for the first time in September and Dallas became the Emirates A380’s next port of call in October. In December, Emirates created aviation history by launching three new A380 routes in just three days – Milan and San Francisco on 1st December, followed by Houston on 3rd December, concluding a momentous year.

In May, the Emirates A380 was the star attraction at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2014 drawing in thousands of visitors while on static display. The aircraft continues to be a showstopper at airports around the world. The double-decker also performed ceremonial one-off flights to Vienna, Glasgow, Tehran and Manila, where it was feted by VIPs, media and the public.

The 3-minute long ‘mash-up’ video features unique footage from the Emirates A380 flight deck, including a rainy approach to San Francisco, a rousing water cannon salute in Frankfurt, a night time touchdown in Mumbai and a glide slope landing view from London Gatwick. Emirates also reached out to plane-spotters from around the globe who shared their footage of the Emirates A380 touching down in their cities for the first time.

In 2014, Emirates received 13 Airbus A380s, including its 50th A380. Currently the world’s largest A380 operator with 57 aircraft in fleet, Emirates is expecting to take delivery of 15 A380s in 2015 and currently has 83 A380s on order. The Emirates A380 flies to 34 destinations across the globe, with Perth to join the network in May 2015.

Watch the Emirates A380 2014 route ‘mash-up’ video here.

Read more about the Emirates A380 here.

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Emirates Overhauls its First Airbus A380

Emirates Engineering marked another milestone when the team performed its first 3C-Check on an A380, a major overhaul that restores the airline’s first A380 aircraft to near pristine condition.

In a round-the-clock operation taking 55 days, two teams of highly specialised engineers stripped the entire interior of the double-decked aircraft to the bare metal hull, inspected and overhauled every single part, and then put the plane components back together again.

A major part of a 3C-Check is the removal of two of the aircraft’s pylons.

“The entire check is meticulously planned with no room for delays. 

Grounding an aircraft for such a long time is a tremendous expense which means that our engineering teams must not only work extremely efficiently, but also deliver to a superior standard,” said Colin Disspain, Vice President of Base Engineering at Emirates.

“Here in Dubai, we operate aircraft under some of the world’s toughest conditions, including soaring temperatures and a sandy environment. This requires Emirates to increase maintenance standards to our specific situation. For example, parts often need to be exchanged instead of just cleaned in order to achieve our high level of quality and precision.”

The check was completed with a rigorous test flight before being put back into regular service, in this case, carrying passengers to Brisbane and Auckland.

“The aircraft has been fully overhauled during its 3C-Check. We return it in a pristine condition, just as it originally left the factory,” Colin Disspain. “It’s like having a brand- new A380 again.”

Echo Delta Alpha is one of Emirates’ 55 A380s and the first to undergo a 3C-Check.

Emirates was the first airline to place an order for the iconic A380, and is today the world’s largest operator of this efficient and spacious twin-deck aircraft. The airline’s first A380 (registration EDA - Echo Delta Alpha) was delivered in June 2008, and deployed on the airline’s inaugural A380 flight from Dubai to New York.

Flight hours, landings and aircraft age determine the due date for a 3C-Check. In this case Echo Delta Alpha had flown an impressive 20 million km, the equivalent of almost 27 return trips to the moon. It has completed over 3,000 take-offs and landings, carrying over 1.2 million passengers safely across the globe.

Months of meticulous planning led up to the C-Check on Echo Delta Alpha. Even though the experienced team of engineers have performed hundreds of C-Checks on the various aircraft of the Emirates fleet, this check was out of the ordinary simply because of the tremendous size of the A380. Operated until a few hours before the check, Echo Delta Alpha was towed into one of the Emirates Engineering hangars at Dubai Airport. Purpose-built for the A380, each hangar is as large as two football fields.

In the first 12 days of the check, over 1,600 parts were removed from the cabin interior including 475 Economy and Business Class seats, 14 First Class private suites, 16 galleys, 2 bars, 2 showers, floor panels and even parts of the cockpit. Every part was inspected and - where required - replaced.

A major part of the operation was the removal of two of the aircraft’s pylons which connect the engine with the aircraft’s wing. Each pylon holds a massive engine which weighs an impressive 6.7 tonnes.

The last two weeks were dedicated to putting all parts back in place with all teams on a tight schedule.

Echo Delta Alpha is one of Emirates’ fleet of 232 aircraft, including 55 A380s. Operating the biggest A380 route network of any commercial airline worldwide, Emirates currently serves 31 airports on 5 continents. To date, the airline’s fleet of A380 aircraft has carried 27.5 million revenue passengers, made over 68,800 trips and covered more than 405 million kilometres.

Its Dubai-Los Angeles route is the world’s longest commercial A380 flight in operation, and its Dubai-Kuwait route is the world’s shortest. By the end of this year, the number of destinations served by an Emirates A380 will increase to 33, with the addition of San Francisco from 1st December and Houston from 3rd December.

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Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Emirates Airlines Join Forces

New Partnership Takes Loyalty to New Heights in Growing Travel Markets with Extra Rewards and Elite Earnings.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announces Your World Rewards Partnership with Emirates Airline Frits van Paasschen, Starwood President & CEO (Left) and Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and
Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline (Right)

STAMFORD, Conn. and DUBAI, U.A.E – November 10, 2014 – Today, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and Emirates Airline® are announcing a new partnership providing reciprocal benefits to Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) and Emirates Skywards® members. The program, Your World Rewards®, begins Nov. 19 and allows SPG and Skywards elite members who register for the program, to elevate their earnings and benefits when they fly with Emirates or stay with SPG Participating Hotels.

With Your World Rewards, SPG and Emirates Skywards members will now earn in the air, on the ground and around the world. Whether on business or leisure, registered SPG and Emirates Skywards members will enjoy the best in travel from take-off to check-out with rich benefits, personal service and extensive access around the world through this partnership of two loyalty programs.

Elite SPG and Emirates Skywards members will receive exclusive rewards of each loyalty program. Skywards Gold and Platinum members will have the opportunity to upgrade their hotel experience, receiving exclusive benefits including access to SPG elite check-in, 4:00 p.m. late check-out and complimentary in-room Internet access. In turn, all SPG Platinum members will enjoy some of the advantages of Emirates Skywards elite like priority check-in and priority boarding when flying Emirates. Members will also receive complimentary e-gate access for flights in and out of Dubai.

Members will also earn bonus Starpoints® when they fly with Emirates and bonus Miles when they stay with SPG on top of their usual earnings. Elite SPG members will earn one Starpoint® per dollar, in addition to Skywards Miles, for all eligible Emirates operated flights; and all Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members will earn the equivalent of one Mile per dollar, on top of Starpoints, for all eligible stays at Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide. Conversion rates will be adjusted for local currencies.

“The combination of Emirates' growing global network, Starwood's innovative take on hospitality and our top-rated loyalty programs allow us to recognize our most valuable customers with a heightened level of service and greater rewards wherever they travel – be it to one of our more than 140 destinations or at any of Starwood's 1,200 hotels," said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline. “This partnership unites two like-minded companies with complementary global footprints, putting more rewards on the map and taking our most loyal guests' travel to new heights.”

As one of the leading global airlines, Emirates is constantly adding new routes and new destinations, connecting more people with more places. To date, Emirates has 55 A380 in their fleet and is receiving an average of two of these supersized aircrafts per month. Particularly, the U.S. market has been a growing market for Emirates, adding Boston and Chicago as its latest U.S. destination in August 2014 and upgrading its routes to Dallas/Fort Worth to an A380 with San Francisco and Houston to follow shortly. In total, Emirates serves more than 140 destinations in more than 80 countries across 6 continents. With its hub in Dubai, it connects the West with the East – providing customers from the Americas, Europe and Africa service to destinations in the Far East and Australasia, West Asia, Indian Ocean and Middle East and vice versa.

“We are living in a new Golden Age of Travel with more people from more places traveling than ever before,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing at Starwood. “Your World Rewards allows us to cultivate even greater loyalty with travelers from the world's fastest-growing travel markets. As Emirates increasingly connects East with West, and the emerging markets to the developed world, their reach dovetails perfectly with Starwood's preeminent high-end, global footprint and our pipeline of new hotels, 75% of which will open in emerging markets.”

According to Vondrasek, SPG membership has grown 400% in key emerging markets over the last five years. And as the Middle East continues to emerge as a premier global gateway, and the crossroads of new world travel patterns, it is also increasingly a source of new frequent travelers. The Middle East is SPG's third fastest-growing market behind China and India and one of the top 10 travel destinations for SPG members. Today, Starwood is the largest high-end hotel company in the region and expects to grow its footprint by 70% over the next five years, specifically in Dubai and other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, where tourism is on the rise. With 82 operating hotels and more than 20 hotels expected to open by the end of 2015 in the region, Starwood is on track to reach a milestone 100 hotels across its Middle East and Africa portfolio.

Elevate Your Earning

Beginning Nov. 19, members can register for and learn more about Your World Rewards by logging on to their account at emirates.com/yourworldrewards or spg.com/yourworldrewards to link their Skywards and SPG accounts with benefits going live on Nov 19.

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Timelapse photography of Emirates 50th A380

From wingtip to cockpit - 800 workers in 80 days

A behind the scenes glimpse into the making of Emirates’ 50th A380 aircraft



It takes 800 workers just 65 to 80 days to assemble, install, test, paint, furnish and deliver an Emirates Airbus A380, the iconic double-decker aircraft that has been creating headlines and delighting travellers since it first entered into service in 2008.

It takes 800 workers just 65 to 80 days to assemble, install, test, paint, furnish and deliver an Emirates Airbus A380, the iconic double-decker aircraft that has been creating headlines and delighting travellers since it first entered into service in 2008.

Click here to watch a time lapse video on the making of Emirates’ 50th A380 aircraft which was delivered last month.

Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of A380 aircraft, with 50 of these graceful feats of modern engineering currently serving 29 global destinations. All of Emirates’ A380s have been furnished and delivered via the Airbus facility in Hamburg.

First, the aircraft fuselage is produced in Hamburg and then transported to Toulouse for the first stage of final assembly. The wing sections, produced in the UK, are also shipped from Airbus’s Hamburg facility to Toulouse. Parts like the fuselage and wings are transferred through a transportation network that includes three specially-commissioned ships to carry the sections from production sites throughout Europe. Over 10,000 bolts are used to connect the fuselage and over 4,000 for the wings.

The first part of final assembly, which takes place in Toulouse, yields an aircraft that is ready for its first ferry flight, sans its interior and paint.

After assembly, each of the five sections of the fuselage are tested by engineers, and then the aircraft is off to Hamburg for painting and cabin furnishing. It takes 30 people approximately 10 days to paint the A380, which has a surface area of 3,150 square meters - approximately the size of seven professional basketball courts. Over 500 kilograms of paint is needed just to give the aircraft its white colour.

Cabin furnishing, to install Emirates’ distinctive on-board facilities come in the final stages of the assembly process. It takes about 33 working days to furnish the 550 square metre cabin area on-board the Emirates A380. This includes all seats, galleys, crew rest areas, the unique shower-spa and private suites in First Class, the on-board lounge located at the back of the Business Class cabin, and the award-winning ice inflight entertainment system in all cabins.

Emirates received 13 of the giant double-decker aircraft in the last year. Over 28 million passengers have travelled on the Emirates A380 over the last six years of operations, and more travellers can look forward to the experience as Emirates adds more A380 destinations to its route network. New A380 destinations planned for this year include: Frankfurt on 1st September, Dallas on 1st October, San Francisco on 1st December and Houston on 3rd December.

Emirates to upgrade Moscow to double daily A380 operation

Emirates, a global connector of people and places, will serve its Moscow route with a double daily A380 service from 1st August this year.

This second A380, which will operate as flight EK133/134, replaces the existing Boeing 777 operation and increases seat capacity on the route by 15%.

"Since launching services between Dubai and Moscow on 1st July 2003, we have received a very positive response from Russian customers and trade partners to the Emirates product.  Our Moscow service continues to grow in popularity, especially since the introduction of the first A380 on this route in December 2012. This second aircraft upgrade will help us meet the ever increasing demand, giving many more travellers the chance to experience our flagship A380 aircraft and all its comforts and features," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

"Operating Moscow-Dubai now as a full A380 route reflects the strength of our commitment to this strategic market and opens up a wealth of choice for passengers travelling from Domodedovo to visit or re-visit Dubai, where Russian visitors are always very welcome. Connecting through our efficient Dubai hub, more than a dozen Emirates destinations in the Far East, Australia and the Indian Ocean Islands including  rich variety of cities like Bangkok, Singapore, Sydney and Mauritius can be reached enjoying the A380 experience all the way," he continued.

"This new milestone promotes Domodedovo airport to the 'premiere league' of the world's airports, one of just a few offering Emirates' service entirely using A380 aircraft. The airport is prepared - our ground infrastructure, equipment and staff are ready and set to provide the highest product and service," said Igor Borisov, Director, Moscow Domodedovo Airport.

Across its two decks, Emirates' A380 will offer 399 seats in Economy Class, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 14 luxury First Class Private Suites. Passengers travelling in First Class can freshen up in one of two on-board Shower Spas before joining fellow premium class travellers in the On-Board Lounge where they can enjoy complimentary beverages and canapés.

Passengers across all cabins can enjoy up to 1,600 channels of entertainment featuring the latest movies, TV shows and music from around the world alongside a range of games on the award-winning ice inflight entertainment system. They can also stay connected throughout the flight with high-speed Wi-Fi access and mobile phone and data services.

Passengers travelling on all Emirates flights benefit from a generous baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50 kg in First Class.

The upgraded A380 service leaves Dubai as EK133 at 0935hrs, arriving at Domodedovo Airport at 1445hrs. It returns as EK134 leaving Moscow at 1755hrs landing at Dubai International Airport at 2255hrs.

Captions for photos:

1 and 2: An Emirates A380 pictured at Domodedovo Airport.

3: The onboard lounge of an Emirates A380 where premium cabin travellers can meet to socialise or do business while enjoying complimentary beverages and canapés.

Emirates circles the globe over 18,000 times in 2013

 

Nearly 46 million meals loaded on flights leaving Dubai

Emirates' aircraft flew around the world more than 18,000 times in 2013, underlining its position as a global connector of people and places.

 

Figures show the airline's fleet travelled more than 751 million kilometres throughout the year. Taking the earth's circumference at the equator as 40,075 kilometres, this translates into the equivalent of 18,753 circumnavigations.

 

A total of 164,635 flights were conducted, carrying over 43 million passengers, who enjoyed the finest dining in the skies and the very best in-flight entertainment.

 

Emirates Flight Catering loaded nearly 46 million meals aboard Emirates' flights departing Dubai. A particularly memorable day for the catering team was 20^th December 2013 when a staggering 157,308 meals were produced, breaking their previous record of 147,722 on 1^st March 2013.

 

"2013 has been another impressive year for the airline. We continue to raise the bar in the industry with investment, innovation and the expansion of our services globally, bringing unrivalled value for money to the millions who travel with us," said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. 

 

Throughout the year, the airline has received 24 new aircraft – a combination of Airbus A380s, Boeing 777s and 777 freighters. Nine new passenger routes have been launched; Warsaw, Algiers, Tokyo Haneda, Stockholm, Clark, Milan-New York, Conakry, Sialkot and Kabul. Hanoi, Chicago, Kano in Nigeria and Quito in Ecuador have been launched as cargo only destinations.   

 

The first major milestone of 2013 was January's opening of Concourse A, the world's first purpose built A380 concourse. The giant building with 20 A380 gates is over 800m long and houses the largest airline lounges in the world.

 

In February, Emirates went from big to fast, becoming a Global Partner of Formula 1 in a five year deal starting with the 2013 season. 

 

April saw the landmark commercial deal with Qantas come to life. The new partnership brings the total combined number of weekly flights from Dubai to Australia to 98.

 

In May, The Emirates Group, which includes dnata, announced its 25^th consecutive year of profit, despite the continuing tough international business environment. For the 2012/13 financial year, the group posted a AED 3.1 billion (US$ 845 million) net profit, up 34 per cent from the previous financial year.

 

August brought the fifth anniversary of Emirates' A380 operations. At the five year mark, its A380 fleet had carried more than 18 million passengers on over 45,000 flights. Earlier this month, the double decker, offering more than 400 hours of Hollywood movies, was deployed to Los Angeles, creating the world's longest A380 service in operation at 16 hours and 20 minutes.  

 

"We were bold ordering this double-decker when we did, and in the numbers that we did, but my goodness, it has proved to be a gamble worth taking, said Mr Clark. "Our customers love it, and it is one of the most efficient aircraft to operate today in terms of fuel burn per passenger." 

 

In September, Emirates' fans were given an unprecedented look behind the scenes of its home base at Dubai International. The ten part series, "Ultimate Airport Dubai," charts the incredible story of Dubai's aviation sector on National Geographic Channel. The documentary can also be viewed on Emirates' ice Digital Widescreen.  

 

In October, Emirates hit two million Facebook fans and predicted it would be carrying a total of 70 million passengers by 2020, a date which has now taken on a new significance after Dubai landed Expo 2020.

 

Emirates has won a host of awards during 2013 – most notably the Skytrax "World's Best Airline" award. Close to 18,000 cabin crew from 137 nationalities help to deliver the world renowned on board service.

 

Emirates Skywards membership has now reached 10 million and new partnerships for the year include American Express, Virgin America and JetBlue.    

 

The most headline grabbing news of 2013 was the dramatic announcement at November's Dubai Airshow. Held for the first time at the emerging aviation city of Dubai World Central, Emirates ordered 200 aircraft - 150 Boeing 777Xs and 50 A380s. At US$99 billion, it was the largest order in civil aviation history, and Emirates, once again, rewrote the history books. Watch the moment.

 

Notes:

 

*Flight figures are for the calendar year 2013 (including estimates for 28-31 Dec 2013).

*Catering figures cover meals loaded at Dubai International only. This does not include meals loaded at other destinations.

 

Infographic caption: Emirates' aircraft have circled the globe over 18,000 times in 2013, carrying over 43 million passengers.

 

Make ‘Hello 2014’ with Emirates your New Year’s Resolution

 

Emirates Airline customers who have made a New Year's resolution to see more of the world can now say Hello to 2014 with some very attractive fares in both Business and Economy Class.

Return economy fares from Australia begin at $1,499 to Europe, $1,678 to Dubai, $1,676 to Africa and $1,073 to India. All inclusive Business Class fares from Australia start at $7,271 to Europe, $6,957 to Dubai, $5,326 to Africa and $5,008 to India.

Together with Qantas, Emirates offers 98 flights a week to its home and hub of Dubai, including six daily A380 services. With a network of more than 75 countries available via just one stop in Dubai, the vibrant city is the ultimate stopover point and a compelling holiday destination in its own right.



"What better way to begin 2014 by travelling to a destination that you have never been to, or making that much promised visit to a friend or family member," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

"We've combined our excellent flight connections offered by our global network with great special fares and by doing so we hope to help our customers fulfil their travel aspirations in 2014."

Bookings to all destinations across Emirates' network on six continents should be made before 14 January 2014, for travel between 1 February and 31 May 2014.

A total of eight new destinations have been added to the Emirates network since the beginning of 2013, including Stockholm, Tokyo Haneda and Clark in the Philippines; with Taipei, Kiev and Boston to join the network in early 2014.

It is not only the destinations that are increasing, Emirates also continues to add the latest aircraft to its fleet which now stands at 210 in including 41 Airbus A380s flying to 24 destinations.

For more information on Emirates, including how to book flights and a complete list of terms and conditions, contact your travel agent or visit www.emirates.com

*Terms and conditions apply

*Terms and Conditions for the offer:

•             Valid for sales and ticketing from now until 14 January 2014
•             Airfares shown above for travel 1st February until 31st March, 2014. Higher fares apply for other travel dates.
•             Blackout travel dates apply for Economy and Business Class departures
•             Fees for changes and cancellations apply
•             Seats and Class are subject to availability at time of booking

*The inclusive taxes and surcharges quoted are correct at 5 December 2013. These may vary slightly over the travel period.

Double delivery takes Emirates A380 fleet to 44

Emirates has received delivery of its 43rd and 44th A380 aircraft with a double delivery from Airbus’ Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg, Germany.

“Our customers love the A380 - from the quieter cabins and spacious layout on the main deck, to the on-board lounge and shower spas in our premium cabins. It is a beautiful aircraft which we have packed full of the best inflight comforts and products. From an operator standpoint, the A380 is still one of the most fuel efficient aircraft per seat. It offers us some flexibility in range and also helps us to meet demand at slot-constrained airports,” said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

“Continuous improvements are being made to the A380, by the manufacturer as well as by Emirates in terms of our on-board product. For instance our latest A380s have been fitted with even bigger high definition LCD TV screens to enhance the inflight entertainment experience. We’ve also introduced new touch-screen tablets that allow passengers to control all their seat functions and movie selections with just one swipe. Small details, but all these add up to provide a great flying experience,” he added.

The 43rd and 44th Emirates A380s offer 14 seats in First Class, 76 seats in Business Class and 427 seats in Economy Class, and will be put into service starting 21 December, initially operating on flights to Mauritius and Munich.

Click here to take a virtual tour on-board Emirates’ A380 with Google Street View.

Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of A380s, flying one in three of these modern jets in the skies today. Emirates was the first airline to order the aircraft back in 2000, and it ordered another 50 more at the Dubai Air Show in November.  In 2013, Emirates received 13 A380 aircraft and it expects to receive another 13 in 2014. The airline still has 96 more A380s worth USD 43 billion on order, of which 71 are expected to be delivered over the next five years, before the end of 2018.

From its Dubai hub and dedicated A380 terminal, Emirates’ A380s crisscross the globe flying to 24 destinations spanning Los Angeles to Auckland. Illustrating the range of the A380, Emirates’ currently operates the world’s longest non-stop A380 service (13,414 kilometers), with its daily A380 flight between Dubai and Los Angeles, launched earlier this month.  Emirates’ shortest A380 flight is between Bangkok and Hong Kong, clocking 1,900 kilometers.

Emirates’ current A380 destinations are:  Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester, Mauritius, Melbourne, Moscow, Munich, New York JFK, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto, and Brisbane. 

Emirates will start operating scheduled A380 services to Zurich from January 2014.

Emirates announces world's largest-ever aircraft order

Emirates announces largest-ever aircraft order

-      150 Boeing 777X aircraft valued at US$ 76 billion, with additional 50 purchase rights.

-      50 additional Airbus A380 aircraft valued at US$ 23 billion.

 
Link to a video of the announcement -   http://youtu.be/WzKnbEuKnyQ


Emirates airline has again rewritten all records in civil aviation with an order for 150 Boeing 777X, comprising 35 Boeing 777-8Xs and 115 Boeing 777-9Xs, plus 50 purchase rights; and an additional 50 Airbus A380 aircraft.

 

Together, the Boeing and Airbus orders, excluding purchase rights, are worth an estimated US$ 99 billion at list prices. This is the largest ever aircraft order in civil aviation and also Emirates' largest order announced at any event to date.

The agreement was signed yesterday at the Dubai Air Show by His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, with Jim McNerney, Boeing Chairman, President and CEO, and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus' President and CEO. The signing was witnessed by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Emirates' Boeing 777X order is the single largest aircraft order by value in the history of U.S. commercial aviation, and the additional A380 order cements Emirates, already the largest operator of this aircraft type, as the principal customer for the A380 worldwide.

These latest orders bring Emirates' total firm order book to 385 aircraft (excluding options or purchase rights), comprising 214 Boeing 777s, 101 Airbus A380s, and 70 A350s, at a total estimated value of US$ 166 billion.

"Air transport is a key enabler of world trade, and we see that demand for aviation services will continue to grow globally. What we're announcing today is a continuation of our commitment and vision to connect the world through our efficient hub in the Middle East. Emirates' aircraft orders today, with deliveries of the 777X scheduled to start in 2020, will take us to 2025 and beyond – replacing aircraft due for retirement and providing the foundation for future growth," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

"We are honoured by Emirates' commitment to the newly launched 777X and the significant long term boost this provides to U.S. exports and jobs," said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney.  "Emirates has been an integral part of the 777 success story for many years and today operates the largest fleet of 777s anywhere in the world. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Emirates and continuing to support Dubai's expansion into a global aviation hub."

"By strategically placing the A380 at the centre of its business, Emirates is maximizing its leading position with each day of operations. Emirates has understood from the start the A380's advantages in terms of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort. It has been a true crowd-puller and contributor to the rapid development of Emirates and its Dubai hub," said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus CEO and President. "We value our partnership with Emirates airline and are pleased to see this getting stronger each day with their A380s flying."

Emirates' Boeing 777X

"The announcement yesterday includes the purchase of 300 GE9X engines from General Electric, to power the 150 Boeing 777X aircraft ordered. Taking into account the U.S. Government jobs multiplier (every $1 billion in US aerospace exports supports 5,747 American jobs), today's historic order will protect and support over 436,000 jobs in U.S. aerospace manufacturing – not only at Boeing and GE facilities, but with hundreds of other suppliers," said Sheikh Ahmed.

Emirates' 777-8X and 777-9X will be a combination of two and three-class configurations, with the 777-8X potentially seating 342 passengers in 3 classes, and the 777-9X seating over 440 passengers in 2 classes.

"Emirates today operates more than one in every 10 Boeing 777 aircraft built. It is the workhorse of our fleet. What the 777X does, is offer us a flying range comparable with the 200LRs and 300ERs, but with more passenger capacity at potentially up to 18% more fuel efficiency," said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

Emirates' unwavering commitment to the Boeing 777 dates back to 1996. Today, Emirates is already the largest operator of the 777 with 131 in operation, and the only airline to fly all variants in the 777 family. At the 2011 Dubai Air Show, Emirates ordered 50 Boeing 777-300ERs with options for 20 more at a total value of US$ 26 billion (AED 95.4 billion). It was then a record breaking aircraft order– the single largest by any airline with Boeing in dollar value.

Emirates' Airbus A380s

Emirates currently operates the world's largest fleet of A380s with 39 in service.

Its order for 50 additional A380 aircraft today brings Emirates' total A380 order book to 101 aircraft, worth US$ 45 billion.  A combination of two and three-class cabin configuration, the first 25 of these latest A380 aircraft orders are scheduled to be delivered before the first quarter of 2018.

"The A380 continues to be the flagship of our fleet, and after five years in operation it remains highly popular with our passengers," said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. "It is still one of the most efficient aircraft to operate today in terms of fuel burn and emissions per passenger, and it gives us the flexibility in some cases to meet passenger demand in slot-constrained markets. This latest order will help us meet both fleet expansion and fleet replacement needs."

Emirates has been associated with Europe's largest passenger aircraft since April 2000 when it became the first airline to announce plans to purchase the super jumbo. As the largest customer for the A380, Emirates is therefore the largest supporter of European aerospace manufacturing jobs tied to the A380 programme which is spread across Airbus' manufacturing centres in France, Germany, England and Spain.

Video: http://youtu.be/WzKnbEuKnyQ

 

Photo Captions:


Emirates and Boeing caption - Left to right: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs of UAE; James McNerney, Boeing Chairman, President and CEO; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group; His Excellency Ali Sharif Amadi Qatar Minster of Finance and Chairman of Qatar Airways; Akbar Al Baker, CEO Qatar Airways and David Joyce, CEO GE Aviation.

 

Airbus caption - Left to Right: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO; Tom Enders, Chief Executive EADS; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

Etihad Flight Report

Flight report Date: October 18.
Seat 23H
Flight EY461 Etihad from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi

Etihad A340

I suppose it is inevitable that comparisons will be made between this flight and the Emirates 777 economy service to Dubai. Having done both now I would say they are fairly level pegging apart from the fact that Etihad uses an A340 600 with a 2 4 2 configuration – much preferable to Emirates 3 4 3 for couples.

A340 Seat Plan

The A340 is very quiet and surprisingly comfortable – even on a 14 hour leg. Clients wanting to stopover will prefer Dubai – you can head to Abu Dhabi and then take the bus – but why? Sure Abu Dhabi also has shopping and attractions like Ferrari World – but Dubai city is something straight out of a science fiction movie – you just have to see it. The shopping malls are also out of this world.

While boarding was orderly and relaxed, the experience was spoiled a little at check-in. I had booked through Virgin Australia using points and pay - and assumed travel on a major partner airline would be seamless. No such luck. First the check-in guy had to call Virgin - then the airport duty manager got involved and eventually phoned Abu Dhabi for approval.

Meanwhile we went for a long walk - it was that or be stabbed in the back by the anxious horde waiting to be checked in. Finally all was fixed - but it took about 40 minutes. The bad news is this was not an isolated incidence - the res supervisor said and I quote: "This happens every time." Over to you, Mr Borghetti. The welcoming crew were bright and chatty and flight EY461 left Melbourne on time.

Note that the bins above the window seats are smaller than the centre aisle. Safety instructions are via animated video and crew demos. The entertainment screens are a good size and the touch system really easy and simple to use. Hot movie was Man of Steel – which my wife described as a bummer. There is plenty more though; 675 hours of entertainment. Emirates ICE is also great – but the touch controls don’t always work all that well.

About a half hour out hot paper towels were served and dinner started 40 minutes later. Fiona’s vegetarian ratatouille arrived –chickpea patty with sweet potato and beans served with warm bread and a crisp salad. I had Moroccan beef casserole in couscous – not the most appealing looking dish but quite tasty thanks mostly to the black olives.

I was pleased to see Australian products were used including Angas Park prunes, Bega cheese and Arnotts biscuits. The meals are medium in size – the other noteworthy point is that steel utensils are used. I had a glass of red wine – soft French style – and asked for another when the trays were taken but the bottle had gone. To her credit the hostie did fill my glass later. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with the lot – fine for me but Fiona’s vegetarian meal did not arrive.

We arrived a little early. To summarise: Apart from the hiccup at check-in, smooth, good value flying.

Etihad Airways Brings an Aerial Spectacular to Sydney Opera House's 40th Birthday

An Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 (registration A6-EHK)
performs an historic fly past of Sydney Opera House for the iconic venue's 40th birthday.

An Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 has performed a low-altitude aerial salute to Sydney Opera House as part of the iconic venue's 40th birthday celebrations.

The aircraft operating the commemorative flight - EY9240 - flew at approximately 2000 feet over the World Heritage-listed venue and along the Sydney Harbour foreshore at 10.50am (Australian Eastern Summer Time).

The fly past was watched by more than 10,000 who had gathered at Sydney Opera House for a special 'Cake and A Song' event to celebrate the venue's actual birthday.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer said: "As a partner of Sydney Opera House we are delighted to be part of its 40th birthday celebrations.

"On behalf of the Etihad Airways' 16,500 staff worldwide, I extend our best wishes to the Government of New South Wales, Sydney Opera House Trust, and the people of Sydney on this special occasion.

"We are immensely proud to be the official international airline of Sydney Opera House and to support its mission to create, produce and present the most acclaimed, imaginative and engaging performing arts experiences from Australia and around the world."

In command of the historic flight on A6-EHK (the aircraft registration) was chief pilot of the airline's A340/330 fleet, Captain Giorgio Evangelisti. He was joined in the cockpit by Captain Gregory McCarthy and First Officer John Redward.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is a major partner of the world-renowned performing arts venue which is famously located at Bennelong Point on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Its sponsorship of Sydney Opera House is the airline's most valuable and most significant arts and cultural investment worldwide.

Etihad Airways expands Australia operations

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has outlined a range of major changes to its Australian operations, including new aircraft, new routes, additional flights and new airport facilities.

The airline’s plans for Australia include the launch of the Airbus A380 on routes from Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi and the construction of premium lounges at Sydney and Melbourne Airports from 2014.

Additional flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi will also be launched, along with the commencement of non-stop flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways – considered the World’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards - is also increasing its equity in Virgin Australia, following recent approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board to increase from a ten per cent shareholding to 19.9 per cent.

“Virgin Australia is a key member of our ever-expanding airline equity alliance, and Etihad Airways is an active and long-term investor in Virgin,” explained Etihad chief executive James Hogan.

““We have a significant presence in Australia, with 28 weekly departures, annual expenditure of over $100 million, direct employment of 106 staff and engagement of 415 local contractors.

“The Virgin Australia partnership enables us to connect with 45 destinations in Australia, New Zealand and south-east Asia, while we reciprocate by providing connections via our Abu Dhabi hub to a wide range of destinations in Europe, UK, Ireland and Africa.”

Hogan said the Etihad Airways equity alliance – an alternative to legacy airline alliances – now had five members, following a deal last week to invest in Serbia’s national airline.

Etihad Airways is also awaiting regulatory approval for investment in a sixth airline, India’s Jet Airways, which gives the equity alliance a combined total of more than 420 destinations, 500 aircraft and more than 96 million passengers each year.