Emirates airline to begin flying Airbus A380 to Houston IAH and San Francisco in Dec.

Emirates airline is adding passenger and cargo capacity in San Francisco and Houston on December 1st and 3rd respectively when it switches from operating the routes with a Boeing 777-300ER to its iconic double-decker Airbus A380.

The A380 will offer an additional 135 seats to San Francisco and 137 to Houston, representing a 38 percent increase in overall passenger capacity, and 80 percent more seats across the premium cabins. In addition to offering a choice of 14 First Class Private Suites and 76 lie-flat Business Class seats, the aircraft offers 399 spacious Economy Class seats to San Francisco and 401 to Houston.

San Francisco and Houston will be Emirates’ 4th and 5th U.S. gateways serviced by an A380, joining New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas/Fort Worth which is due to commence on October 1st. This latest announcement means that by December, Emirates will be serving both its Texan destinations with an A380 service.

Onboard passengers in all three cabins can enjoy over 1,800 channels of entertainment on ice, Emirates’ multi award-winning in-flight information, entertainment and communication system, while enjoying specially created gourmet cuisine with a regional flavour and specially selected beverages whilst being served by Emirates multi-lingual cabin crew.

The entire upper deck of an Emirates A380 is dedicated to its premium First Class and Business Class cabins, creating a relaxed and exclusive space. Even at 40,000 feet the two First Class Shower Spas allow passengers to arrive feeling refreshed. First Class and Business Class passengers connect in the popular A380 Onboard Lounge to relax, socialise and network over fine wines and cocktails while enjoying canapés prepared by five-star chefs. Whether discussing innovations in technology on flights from San Francisco or the energy and oil & gas business on Houston routes, the Onboard Lounge provides a unique way for people from all places to connect during their Emirates journey.

Economy Class passengers are also well catered for with comfortable ergonomically designed seats with adjustable headrest and personal 12.1 inch touch screen TV’s, showing the latest in entertainment. Each seat features a laptop power supply and USB port, wi-fi access and mobile phone connectivity allowing passengers to stay connected throughout the flight.

Emirates started flying to Houston in December 2007, directly connecting the city with the energy sector hubs in Dubai and the Middle East. Since then, Emirates has seen steady growth in business and leisure travellers, thanks to the city’s strong international community and corporate industries and last year connected around 190,000 people and over 7,900 tonnes of cargo from a range of industries including the construction and automotive sectors.

San Francisco is a city which Emirates has served since December 2008. As a world-renowned corporate and tourism destination, it offers global travellers access to incredible culture and cuisine from Napa Valley to Silicon Valley. Emirates’ ties to the City by the Bay extend beyond the airport, as a proud supporter of the San Francisco Symphony orchestra.

San Francisco and Houston will be the 31st and 32nd destinations on Emirates network serviced by the A380. Tickets for these routes are available for purchase through customers’ preferred travel agency, Emirates’ ticket offices or online at www.emirates.com