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INTERNATIONAL airline Emirates will for the first time in Indonesian aviation history operate an Airbus A380 aircraft on June 1, 2023 to Denpasar, Bali.
“We are working closely with the team from Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to ensure the smooth operation of this A380. We are grateful for the support provided by all authorities and our relevant partners in Indonesia,” Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said in a statement here on Friday.
Emirates’ A380 aircraft consisting of two classes will replace one of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft which has been running operations to Bali twice a day.
The A380 aircraft with flight number EK368 will depart from Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 03:25 and arrive at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) at 16:35. From Bali, EK369 is scheduled to depart at 19.40 and arrive in Dubai at 00.45. All schedules are based on local time.
For this flight, tickets can be purchased via www.emirates.com, Emirates app, Emirates sales offices, and travel agents both online and offline. Travelers are encouraged to visit the Emirates website for the latest travel requirements information.
Emirates’ A380 aircraft features 58 reclining business class seats and 557 well-spaced economy class seats. Customers traveling to and from Bali can enjoy Emirates’ spacious and comfortable cabin with best-in-air signature products such as the onboard lounge as well as a variety of local cuisine including Indonesian food.
“Emirates’ A380 aircraft is synonymous with our commitment to fly better with world-class products and services, and we are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with the opportunity to experience the uniqueness and incredible beauty of our flights to and from Bali,” Adnan said.
Today, he said, Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the network and a strategic market in Southeast Asia, so Emirates’ first A380 flight in Indonesia demonstrates the airline’s long-term commitment to Indonesia’s tourism sector.
“We look forward to opening more flights to Bali of course by offering a variety of options in connecting leisure and business travelers to Dubai and other cities in Europe and America through the vast global network of Emirates,” he said.
Meanwhile, PT Angkasa Pura I President Director Faik Fahmi ensured that Emirates’ Airbus A380 operational plan would be a historic moment for the Indonesian aviation world.
He added that the arrival of this wide-body aircraft is the result of coordination, synergy, and well-established cooperation between Angkasa Pura I as the airport operator, Emirates, and the Ministry of Transportation as the regulator.
“We welcome the Airbus A380 aircraft which will operate in early June, and are very proud to have the honor of being the first airport operator in Indonesia to serve regular commercial flights of Airbus A380 aircraft,” he said.
He also hopes that the arrival of the A380 to Bali can have a positive impact on the tourism and economic sectors, as well as open up opportunities for cooperation and investment in other aviation industry sectors to Indonesia.
Meanwhile, General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Handy Heryudhitiawan also stated the readiness of the arrival of the Airbus A380 aircraft with the presence of various supporting facilities ranging from the apron or aircraft parking lot to the use of gates or passenger waiting rooms in accordance with the specifications of aircraft needs.
“According to the information we got, especially for the administration, the flight approval has been issued,” Handy said.
Previously, Emirates had started daily flights from Dubai to Bali in 2015, to increase the number of scheduled flights to Indonesia, after an international route to Jakarta that began in 1992.
The airline has also operated 49,000 flights carrying more than 9 million passengers between Indonesia and Dubai. Emirates serves 28 flights a week to Bali and Jakarta, and adds more than 29 domestic destinations through partnerships with Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air. [antaranews/photo special]
