HB-IWC

A number of aircraft changes have been loaded in the reservation system today:

Eff 01JUN - EK318/319 DXB NRT DXB changes from A388 to B77W. This changes coincides with the start of daily DXB HND operations, which will likely impact the demand for NRT flights. The A388 of the NRT has so far not yet be reallocated elsewhere in the network. The B77W change seems to be permanent as it has been loaded throughout W13.

Eff 01OCT - EK143/144 DXB MAD DXB changes from B77W to B77L. This is the second daily Madrid flight, which has been much less popular than the morning flight out of Dubai. The B77L aircraft is sourced from the DXB GIG EZE route, which upgauges to B77W on the same date. This change brings about a second freed up B77L frame in the system, which has not yet been allocated. It had been expected that the B77L from the EZE route would be used to start a MIA route, but with the reallocation to MAD at least that scenario is off the table. The spare B77L capacity could potentially be used for a new Europe route. B77Ls will be deployed to Geneva, Hamburg, Lisbon and Madrid in Europe and the only 2 ULH routes of the B77L schedule will be Seattle and Dallas. EK143/144 will revert to B77W in 01FEB14.

CaptainEKAirbus

Where do we think this frame will go, perhaps to upguage the JNB 761/762 route? Or will it be a European upgrade? Maybe maintenance?

So it sounds like both MIA and BOS are off the table for 2013 unless further changes take place. Unless of course either BOS or MIA are started thrice weekly, but I don't see that taking place unless EK is extremely desperate to start routes. I'll be interested to see how this MXP-JFK route pans out as it is also speculated to start 01OCT, which would mean the requirement of three 77W frames for those routes that day.

HB-IWC

The DXB MXP JFK rotation will only require one more aircraft as the proposed EK205/206 will replace the existing EK093/094, so the nett increase in deployed capacity is only for MXP JFK MXP, which requires just one aircraft.

delta154

Im going to hazard a guess that the displaced A380 will be deployed on either the EK19/20 at MAN given the current hi F/J loads on the particular flight (and was expected to be made an A380 around Oct time anyway), or the EK15/16 at LGW now they have an on-terminal A380 gate.

MucEKPer

The 380 is going onto the second nonstop SYD rotation- A380 on 414/415

Wonder how long it will take for MEL and BNE to get second daily directs with the QF partnership, seeing as I have some doubt that all the european pax from BNE are going to squish into the daily 77W.

CaptainEKAirbus

It amazes me that just a few years ago EK had trouble filling EK414 back when it was a 77L, now it'll be a 380. I guess the now 3 daily 380s and 1 daily 77W will compliment the 7 daily 380s to LHR!

I'm guessing that this aircraft was originally intended to be a PER upguage.

GBM.flights

+1. The growth of the network pays off I guess.
I had a quick look at EMEA flights arriving at DXB from 21:00 to 00:40. There are 37 flights (may have missed a couple) that would connect to EK414.
EK818 RUH
EK074 CDG
EK978 IKA
EK056 DUS
EK090 GVA
EK060 HAM
EK088 ZRH
EK046 FRA
EK078 NCE
EK094 MXP
EK726 DAR
EK050 MUC
EK152 CPH
EK134 DME
EK098 FCO
EK748 TUN
EK128 VIE
EK720 NBO
EK180 WAW
EK106 ATH
EK730 EBB
EK124 IST
EK950 EBL
EK904 AMM
EK724 ADD
EK162 DUB
EK176 LED
EK142 MAD
EK040 BHX
EK804 JED
EK136 VCE
EK036 NCL
EK028 GLA
EK924 CAI
EK018 MAN
EK016 LGW
EK002 LHR

SFore

Here's to continued hope that CPT gets an upgrade and/or JNB gets A388...have a trip planned next year and don't to have to back track from CPT to JNB to get a decent seat...

m3red

+1 so many people want this

NOIR

Well EK is going to do a one off 380 flight to LGW in March.

Seaforth

+2 ^^^

sadiqhassan

AFAIK, EK 415 was the bigger issue as it leaves SYD at a downright nasty time and arrives into DXB only in time for the late afternoon departure bank which isn't that big [yet].

HB-IWC

The afternoon departure bank from DXB has since become quite substantial. The 6 am departure time from SYD may still require some extra discounting for the A380 to fill up though.

All of this raises the question as to when MEL will get a second nonstop service again. I would fully expect EK408/409 to eventually revert to a nonstop operation.

MucEKPer

Would it not make more sense to make EK404/405 go direct seeing as with the new QF alliance, QF operates MEL-SIN but does not operate MEL-KUL. So you could maintain an extra destination in Asia and also increase dedicated SIN capacity.

Also what about BNE, seems to only have one daily direct 77W, and now with all the QF PAX (Who used to fill a 744) being dumped on EK there is going to be some full planes IMO.

HB-IWC

Making EK404/405 nonstop would mean having all 3 daily MEL nonstops leave DXB around the same time. I believe an extra nonstop would leave DXB around 2 am, which is when EK408 operates. That said, the remaining one stop flight may well be rerouted through KUL if EK-QF wants to keep an Australia - KUL connection alive.

It is clear that something will need to happen to BNE. I foresee either a third flight (EK or QF operated) or an upgauge to A380 of EK434/435.