IAD and A380
 

Anyone know if Emirates is going to get an A380 for Washington Dulles airport (IAD). It is served by 777-300ER currently, I flew last year and it looked old and the Seats were flat.

I heard rumors that EK may bring the A380 early next year.

I think the 777 is enough capacity for IAD. WAS is so close to NYC it never took off as a global hub like JFK, ORD or even LAX has.

Also, with the fly america act in place all of the government travel to the ME has to take UA (or DL for the time being).

Smaller O/D market
More govt work / contractors
Domestic or Fly America travel
Too far to connect with QF (while DFW can connect with QF)

IF they ever bring the A 380 here, that will be wide open for awards at the last minute

I note that F class opens up 5 days ahead from DC (mostly empty loads in F, I think)

When I flew to IAD in September the plane was mostly empty! In Y every passenger had at least 3 seats to them self. Doubt an A380 would be feasible (at lest not at that time of the year anyway).

If they brought an a380 at all I have to think it would be a 2-class. I have a hard time believing IAD could support an additional 8 F seats over the current 777 - though the a380 2-class plane is likely wayyyyyy too much plane for IAD.

Seems more likely to be an early candidate for either 787-10 or a350-9 depending on which EK ultimately orders (assuming in either case J will feature lie-flats) which would match EY.

:( Z availability stinks. J is consistently full for weekend flights out of IAD. We are flying up to Boston to upgrade into J.

Agree
I think WAS is a loss for EK but it is a high profile market they will not leave
It is the same story to Asia on many routes they fly half empty planes.
I certainly prefer EK for the planes compared to EY which is slightly better than F on US carriers.

EK decided to go with large planes only and avoid smaller cities and planes
EY has almost 50% of the seats to India now with 9W
EK loses money on IAD with 777, while EY now flies a 787 on a thin route

I have done Z twice with short notice out of IAD
AND when I got on only 3 of 8 was full.
I think their revenue management sucks for awards

Same with EY
F6 on a 8 cabin 787 and no saver awards for partners even at 24 hrs!

:(

Yeah, didn't want to risk it though. I have been stalking Z availability T-minus 3, 7 days for the Saturday AM flight and it has been inconsistent at best. Bit of a pain in the butt to fly up to BOS (and no Emirates car) but hey, at least we burned our EK miles.

"If they brought an a380 at all I have to think it would be a 2-class."

I believe this will not happen; for such long flight, EK always use B777 and A380 with crew-rest area.....and the A380 2-class are without these.

I am surprised that EK is empty from IAD. I flew EK once in las December it was full. And also Qatar airways the previous summer in July. Full again. Both of these from IAD.

What days of the week the flights are mostly empty, if one has to fly in June/July to Dubai and to HYD eventually.