A380 to BCN (one-off x 2)
 

Emirates on 24FEB13 and 01MAR13 is to operate Airbus A380 service on Dubai – Barcelona route

Emirates S13 Operation Changes
 

Dubai – Accra – Abidjan 01MAR13 – 30APR13 Regular First Class 777-300ER replaces First Class Suite
Dubai – Athens 31MAR13 – 31MAY13 Airbus A340-500 replaces 777-300; Temporary introduction of First Class Suite service
Dubai – Bangkok EK372/373 2-class 777-300ER replaced by
01MAR13 – 31MAY13 3-class 777-300ER, Regular First Class
eff 01JUN13 3-class 777-300ER, First Class Suite

Dubai – Dhaka eff 31MAR13 Service increases from 19 to 21 weekly
Dubai – Ho Chi Minh eff 01SEP13 2-class Boeing 777-200ER replaces -300ER
Dubai – Kuala Lumpur
eff 31MAR13 Service increases from 26 weekly to 28 weekly
eff 30SEP13 EK346/347 38M service operates with 517-seater on daily basis (Currently 38L operates on Day 45; 38M Day x45)

Dubai – London Heathrow 31MAR13 – 31AUG13 EK029/030 38L replaces 38M on daily basis
Dubai – Manchester 01MAY13 – 31MAY13 EK017/018 38L replaces 38M
Dubai – Milan Malpensa eff 01SEP13 EK093/094 3-class 777-300ER with First Class Suite replaces 3-class -300; Launch of First Class Suite service to MXP
Dubai – Paris CDG eff 31MAR13 Service increases from 19 to 20 weekly
Dubai – Phuket eff 31MAR13 Airbus A340-300 replaces A330-200
Dubai – Rio de Janeiro – Buenos Aires eff 01OCT13 Boeing 777-300ER operating once again, replacing -200LR
Dubai – St. Petersburg Boeing 777-300 replaced by
31MAR13 – 30APR13 Airbus A340-500
eff 01MAY13 Airbus A330-200

Dubai – Venice eff 01OCT13 EK137/138 operates with A330-200, replaces A340-500; end of First Class Suite service to VCE

http://airlineroute.net/2012/12/23/ek-s13update1/

Interesting set of changes for S13. Its a shame they couldn't have included at least one 380 upgrade to get us excited.

Dubai - Phuket is a 343 already, despite having originally planed to launch as a 332.

I wonder what long haul route EK will launch with the available 77Ls from 01OCT13? Or will these aircraft be used to restart EK217/218 (DXB-LAX)?

A380
 

True, afaik there are only the second flights to Paris and JFK announced, beginning January 1. How many A380 will EK get next year ?

A little birdie told me the answer last night.....its a southern state

The capacity reductions to LED, SGN, BKK and VCE are more interesting! I hope the 2nd daily VCE flight will get a B77W, the other DXB-BKK flight a A380, LED a second daily and maybe we'll see a new HAN or PNH flight with a link to SGN or a new daily BKK-SGN?

I think the B77L from GIG-EZE will be used for 2nd daily LAX or IAH cause I hope EK will launch ORD and BOS before 1st October ;) MIA would also makes sence with B77L.

EK announced 2nd daily A380 flights to JFK and CDG from 1st January; only on 24th February and 1st March DXB-BCN. A380 to GRU, SFO, PER and returning to JNB should be on the cards.


But nice to see EK finally released first changes for the upcoming summer.

Then it would probably be Miami, if not Atlanta, but I bet Miami comes first and October is the perfect month to launch, as it's the month before peak travel starts.

Anyone know when DUB will get a second 777 flight or an upgrade to A380. EK say last May they expected to increase to 2 daily by late 2013. With EY almost doubling there capacity from July 13 I'm sure EK will respond in some way.

You chose wisely my son...:)

With the B77L coming off the IAD, LAX and ultimately GIG-EZE routes, there is actually plenty of capacity to open up at least 2 new routes to the Americas. LIS and HAM are only temporary deployments for these aircraft. We may well see both BOS and MIA come online.

I wouldn't hold your breath for an A380 at DUB - they'll increase frequency first. Hopefully soon as it is hard enough to get a seat on the 777!

Question about consistency of using the said equipment on the route. Currently 77L serves DXB-GIG-EZE route (EK247/248). I am monitoring this particular flight during Rio's carnival period. Flights are sold out alredy. However EK sometimes opens the booking, and I think allows overselling. This on-off is happening since Sept. So, when the time comes, will they swap the equipment to 77W to accommodate more pax? Still, they would need to bump off few pax off, and mostly likely those originating at DXB? Swap would also mess up pre-selected seating me thinks.

Correct

Will EK ever launch a DXB-MEX? TK is introducing IST-MEX now that would make things interesting.

A343 Deployment
 

The latest schedule updates confirm continued deployment of A343 equipment throughout S13:

EK378/379 HKT - 7 weekly
EK745/746 TIP - 4 weekly
EK770/771 CPT - 7 weekly
EK772/773 CPT - 7 weekly
EK797/798 DKR - 4 weekly

It seems therefore that EK will hold on to at least 5 out of 8 A343s throughout the entire S13 season. Previously, these aircraft had all be slated for withdrawal by the end of March.