Emirates redeploys A380

Emirates Airline will redeploy the heavy-capacity airliner to other routes in light of the global recession.

Declining passenger levels have led to Emirates withdrawing the world's largest airliner from its New York route.

Emirates Airline said it will withdraw its A380s from its Dubai to New York service and will redeploy the heavy-capacity airliner to other routes in light of the global recession. The Dubai carrier, the biggest customer of the double-decker aeroplane, said the two A380s would begin serving its Toronto and Bangkok routes starting June 1. The news comes as the International Air Transport Association reported on Tuesday that first and business class travel, a highly important revenue segment for airlines, has fallen for Middle East flights to all regions including North America.

"As the global economy has affected international air travel, this aircraft redeployment was based solely on a change in capacity demands in these three markets," a spokesman for the Dubai airline said. The 489-seat A380 will help Emirates boost passenger numbers to Toronto after failing to obtain additional flying rights to Canada. Emirates is currently permitted to operate only three flights a week.

The second A380 will be used on one of the two daily Dubai to Bangkok services, while Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will fill the void on the New York JFK route. Emirates is also scheduled to receive another seven A380s this year for a total of 11 in its fleet. In all Emirates has ordered 58 A380s. [e-mail]