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maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 AUGUST 2018 11 BUSINESS www.creditinfo.com.mt info@creditinfo.com.mt Tel: 2131 2344 Your Local Partner for Credit Risk Management Solutions Supporting you all the way Emirates A380 continues to capture the imagination of travellers after 10 years of operations EMIRATES is celebrating 10 years of A380 operations. Since its first flight to New York from Dubai on 1 August 2008, the Emirates A380 has carried more than 105 million passen- gers, clocking in more than 1.5 billion kilometres on 115,000 flights, equivalent to 39,000 trips around the globe. Emirates is the world's larg- est operator of the A380 air- craft, with 104 double-decker aircraft flying to 49 cities on six continents on scheduled ser- vices with more than 80 daily departures from Dubai, the airline's hub. In addition to its 104-strong fleet, the airline has a further 58 A380s on order. Today, Emirates also operates the world's shortest A380 route from Dubai to Kuwait and the world's longest A380 non-stop route from Dubai to Auckland. The airline has also grown its scheduled services to major air- ports and has also successfully grown demand at regional air- ports such as Manchester, Bris- bane, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Prague, Kuwait, Mauritius, Jo- hannesburg and Sao Paulo. Sir Tim Clark, President Emir- ates Airline said: "It's been 10 extraordinary years since the first Emirates A380 flight took to the skies, and today it has become one of the most recog- nisable and admired aircraft in the world. Passengers love to fly it because of its spaciousness which provides more comfort across all classes, and its iconic products like the OnBoard Lounge, Shower Spa and First Class suites have redefined air travel. We remain committed to providing the best experience for our customers aboard our flagship aircraft, and introduc- ing new innovations that will continue to 'wow' them every time they fly with us. The Emirates A380 has also had a significant impact on the aerospace industry and its high- value supply chains, fuelling hundreds of thousands of jobs for skilled workers, and creating significant economic benefits in countries which have A380 pro- duction facilities. The aircraft continues to boost tourism and trade wherever it flies by stimulating further traffic and demand, and we hope that it continues to play an important role in the economies and soci- eties that it serves in the years to come." Aviation history making moments The Emirates A380 has been at the centre of a number of aviation firsts over the last decade, including the unprec- edented formation flight in 2015 with the Jetman Dubai duo. The stunning forma- tions were conducted over the Dubai skyline and the Palm Jumeirah, showcasing how far aviation has come. That same year, Emirates introduced the world's first 2-class A380, with capacity for 615 passengers. In 2017, the A380 took to the skies again at the Dubai Airshow with a special fly-past accompa- nied by the Boeing 777-300ER, closely followed by the UAE's air display team, Al Fursan. The Emirates A380 has also touched down in 73 airports for one-off and scheduled ser- vices, special commemorative flights, chartered flights, test flights and other operational deployments and the aircraft has been instrumental in max- imising efficiencies at slot con- strained airports. Inspiring a better customer experience From First Class to Economy Class, the Emirates A380 has been an industry step-change for passengers to experience new standards of in-flight com- fort. Emirates revolutionised the A380's cabin space design when it introduced its bespoke version of the aircraft in 2008, incorporating higher ceilings, mood-lighting as well as sig- nature, industry-first elements like its OnBoard Lounge, a so- cial area at 40,000 feet where jet-setters could meet in an ambient setting. In 2017, Emirates introduced the next generation of the On- Board Lounge featuring a sleek- er design, new colour palette, social seating arrangement and surround sound, among other touches. The popular Shower Spa has become a defining feature of the premium expe- rience on the Emirates A380's three-class configured aircraft, and over 80% of long-haul First Class customers have utilised it. Emirates' First Class experi- ence on its A380 provides pas- sengers with an unprecedented level of privacy and thoughtful touches of luxury with more than 1,400 A380 First Class suites flying today. Across all classes, over 120 million meals have been served on the A380 since 2008. First Class customers have con- sumed 2.7 million tins of cav- iar, and more than 3.5 million fresh flowers have been loaded on A380 flights. Emirates multi-award win- ning in-flight entrainment system, ice, offers unparalleled choice and quality when it comes to entertainment, with more than 3,500 channels. The Emirates A380 Economy Class seats feature among the widest individual in-seat screens in the industry, measuring in at 13.3 inches. Emirates also has 1,500 flight deck crew and over 20,000 cabin crew specially trained to operate its A380 fleet. Positive impact on societies and economies The Emirates A380 pro- gramme supports manufac- turing jobs across the global aircraft manufacturing supply chain, and Airbus estimates that Emirates' A380 orders support 41,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs in Europe alone. The estimated Europe- wide impact of Emirates' A380 investment contributes €3.4 billion to the GDP of the re- gion. In January 2018, Emirates or- dered a further 36 A380s worth US$16 billion, taking the air- line's commitment for the air- craft to 178 units, and further generating catalytic benefits for European economies with the airline's impending deliveries beyond 2020. Since 2013, the Emirates A380 has also conducted humanitar- ian ferry flights in partnership with the Airbus Foundation, transporting over 120 tonnes of food and vital emergency equipment to those in need. • Over 105 million passengers have experienced the Emirates A380 since 2008 • Over 1.5 billion kilometres travelled, equivalent of 39,000 trips around the globe • Aircraft is a customer favourite, playing a significant role in Emirates' growth and network expansion Emirates received its 100th A380 in November 2017. The 100th A380 pays tribute to the founding father of the UAE, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan