Today, Emirates announced it would be using its A380 to operate daily flights from Dubai to Bahrain. The flight is just over one hour long. Usually, this route was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER. This will be the first time an A380 operates regularly scheduled flights to Bahrain.
The reasoning behind the decision is to accommodate the growing demand between Dubai and Bahrain over the summer months. The double-decker A380 can carry 507 passengers, including 14 first class Suites. In comparison, Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is configured to hold a maximum of just 442.
The A380 will operate the daily afternoon flight EK827 that leaves Dubai at 15:30 local time, arriving in Bahrain at 15:50 local time. The flight time is just one hour 15 minutes. The return flight EK80 will depart Bahrain at 17:50 local time, landing back in Dubai at 20:00. That’s one hour 10 minutes in the sky.
However, if you’re hoping to enjoy some A380 luxury, make sure you don’t book the morning service. The airline will still use its Boeing 777-300ER on this service. And you’ll need to be quick; according to the Emirates website, the A380 will only operate this route during June. Come July, the Boeing 777 is scheduled on all routes.
UAE and Bahrain
According to Emirates, this is the first time an A380 will regularly serve Bahrain. In a statement, the airline said the decision “demonstrates the operational readiness of the new airport to provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate for an A380 service.”
This means that passengers traveling from Dubai to Bahrain on this service will get to experience the A380 followed by the brand new US$1.1 Billion airport terminal in Bahrain. Certainly, a very luxurious experience for a one-hour flight.
In addition, to encourage travel between the two nations, and no doubt to fill up the A380, Bahrainis can book a special ticket price. Bahrainis can book a ticket to Dubai starting from BHD 108 ($287) for an economy seat. People traveling from Bahrain can also get especially low prices on tickets connecting through Dubai on routes to the Maldives and Istanbul.
The UAE recently loosened travel restrictions so people arriving in Dubai from Bahrain would not need to quarantine upon arrival.
Emirates and the A380
The flight to Bahrain is certainly a short time in which to enjoy the luxury of Emirates flagship aircraft. Usually, the A380 is deployed on much longer routes. Currently, the airline is using its A380 on flights to New York JFK, Paris, Jeddah, Amman, Cairo, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Moscow. Soon, Los Angeles will also be served by the A380 starting in July.
While airlines worldwide have grounded most of their widebody fleets, Emirates’ decision to deploy an A380 on such a short route seems to contradict current trends. Moreover, the inefficiency of the aircraft and low demand makes this an unusual choice. But, for people flying to Bahrain from Dubai in June, it’ll certainly be an interesting flight.
Will you be flying on one of the A380 flights in June? We’d love to hear your opinion on this decision, so get and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
