David Eyre 
The aircraft had been en-route from Dubai to Sydney was forced to divert to Perth Airport at 6am, after a female passenger was thought to have suffered a stroke (later found to be a virus). This was the second visit by an A380 (first was a promotional visit by VH-OQA of Qantas on 14 October 2008) and the first by an Emirates A380. The Airbus departed for Sydney at 4:37 pm.
Photo © John Krepp
16 December 2014
Emirates has today formally announced the planned introduction of the Airbus A380 on services between Dubai and Perth, with the aircraft replacing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the evening EK420/421 service from 1 May 2015.
The EK424/425 early morning service and midday EK422/423 service will continue to use a mix of Boeing 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft.
The A380 will provide an additional 1,834 seats on the route each week, less than 12 months since Qantas ceased providing regular international services from Perth.
The A380 is popular with passengers, who prefer its quieter and more spacious interior. The A380 has a 10-abreast seating configuration as used in the Boeing 777, but the 777 is narrower, making it somewhat less comfortable. The A380 features private first class suites, fully flat beds for business class (compared to the angled lie-flat seats in the Boeing 777), inflight showers and a bar (for first and business class passengers).
EK420 departs Dubai at 2:55am local time, arriving at Perth by 5:35pm. It then departs Perth as EK421 at 10:10pm, arriving in Dubai at 5:25am the following morning.
Perth Airport’s runway and taxiways have been capable of taking A380s for a number of years. Emirates had been waiting for progress on Perth Airport’s $700 million redevelopment program, including the construction of A380-capable dual split-level aerobridges, upgrades to the arrival and departure facilities and a new Emirates Lounge.
The first of the A380 aerobridges was constructed at Bay 51, at the southern end of Terminal 1 (International). It was planned to be completed in June 2013, but delays during construction and technical issues postponed its opening until December 2013. A second A380 aerobridge is also being constructed on the new Virgin Australia International/Domestic Pier, which is currently under construction for completion in January 2015.
Emirates is also building a new, much larger lounge at Perth, located under Emirates’ current lounge. Construction will start in January 2015, for completion by 31 May 2015.
The first A380 to visit Perth was a special promotional (non-revenue) flight by Qantas’ A380 VH-OQA on 14 October 2008. A number of A380s have visited since then, but only because of medical emergency diversions – six from Emirates (A6-EDE, A6-EDA, A6-EEH, A6-EEO, A6-EDP and A6-EEU) and two from Qantas (VH-OQB and VH-OQG). These aircraft were all headed to or from Eastern States cities.
Media reports in June 2013 stated that the start date was to be March 2014, and air traffic slot allocations showed a start date of 29 March 2014. However, Emirates made no official announcement at that time. Emirates crews were being advised of a potential 1 July 2014 start date, but this too did not eventuate, even when the midday EK422/423 service was temporarily suspended due to runway works at Dubai.
Emirates has 56 A380s in service, with another 84 on order. The airline is pushing Airbus to develop new versions of the aircraft, with newer, more fuel efficient engines, as well as a larger version.
I am booked to fly Emirates from Perth to London on the 28th April 2015 but would put off going until May if what i have been told by my Travel Agent that the A380 service would be starting early May 2015 from Perth.
Hello David…. Andy updated news on the Emirates A380 into Perth daily yet? I am booked for January 1st 2015. Regards Andy
Hi Andy,
No further information yet.
Regards,
David
Hi David. We are flying to Spain in a months time. Any chance the A380 Emirates services will have commenced from Perth by then? Fingers crossed!!
I doubt that the A380s will have commenced Perth services by then, but the airline is reportedly soon to announce the start date.
You could try contacting the airline if you wish to confirm.
Regards,
David
We are travelling from Perth to Dubai, Fri August 29th – any chance that we might get an A380 by then?
It is very unlikely that you will get an A380.
Unfortunately, you will be in one of their Boeing 777s.
Regards,
David
Thanks for your well-informed comment David. We are heading to Europe for Christmas, so will book EK420/421 on the hope of conversion to A380.
Hi Dave, the latest I heard was that Emirates replacing the 777-300ER with the 777-200LR who has less seats and I think it be very unlikely we ever will see a A380 here in Perth in the near future
Not quite correct – they are only replacing a few (not all) of the EK424/425 early morning services with 777-200LRs for a limited period. All other services will continue to use 777-300ER.
Emirates has repeatedly said that it will use A380s to Perth. There have been delays due to Perth Airport redevelopments in the international terminal departures and arrivals areas. The airline wants these to be fully completed before it starts using A380s to Perth. They usually keep things quiet in the media in order to be able to do a full public launch, so we won’t know for sure until they are ready to start.
Regards,
David Eyre
Saw an emirates a380 take off from perth yesterday
Hi Shane,
That was a Sydney to Dubai flight which was diverted to Perth due to an ill passenger.
A380s do not yet operate scheduled services to Perth.
Regards,
David Eyre
Any info regarding EK introduction of the A380 into Perth ,have travel plans for August hoping the A380 is here by then
Hi Ken,
Quoted from an article on news website WA Today, dated 23 June 2014:
An Emirates spokeswoman declined to say whether the airline still planned to bring an A380 to Perth.
“Emirates is continually in dialogue with airports around the world and is always assessing its operations, however there is nothing to announce at this stage regarding the possibility of operating an A380 to Perth,” she said.
Regards,
David Eyre
Interesting comment by Steve re the Qantas A380 for domestic services however the Perth domestic terminal is not setup for A380’s. Would have to go through the international terminal? Would welcome it with open arms but unfortunately couldn’t see it happening…….
any more updates on the a380??
No official updates on the start date, but inside sources are now saying that July 2014 is the likely start date. Subject to change, of course.
Regards,
David Eyre
And the tiniest whisper that QF might actually use the A380 for selected Per-Syd, Per Mel and Per BNE flights, a-la B747-400.
Maybe not as a regular fixture but when loadings warrant the extra capacity.
Hopefully they won’t sell off any A380’s at all.
My parents visit us in Perth from the UK and always fly Emirates. They can fly the Airbus A380 from Manchester to Dubai, 7 hour flight fantastic – Dubai – Perth , the longest leg of the trip at just on11 hours is only on the 777, and it’s getting too much for them. Roll on the 380 flying into Perth, they will be stoked !!!
Hi Cath,
The latest info I have is that it will be July 2014 at the earliest before Emirates introduce the A380 onto Perth services.
However, these things are always subject to change.
Regards,
David Eyre
My wife and I want to go to Greece, but we won’t go until we can fly the A380 business class out of Perth, please let us know if you hear any news.
Hi Paul,
We will keep the website updated with any developments.
Regards,
David Eyre
Hi David,
Any further updates you know of regarding Emirates’ a380 & Perth?
Wonder if they will have it servicing the Perth route for the June/July rush
Hi Yianni,
No further information available yet – sorry.
Will keep this page updated as soon as we hear anything.
Regards,
David Eyre
Just saw a Emirates A380 on approach from the north. Does that mean they have started or is it a diverted flight?
It is a diverted flight EK415 which was en route from Sydney to Dubai, but diverted to Perth.
Regards,
David
Hi David
Is it possible that EK will delay the introduction of the A380 to Perth until the Dubai runway works start on the 1st May and EK reduce from three 777 300ER flights a day to two flights a day until the end of July. The A380 will enable them to minimize the loss of capacity by the forced reduction of the 777 schedule
Hi Ian,
It is a possibility that various people have considered, as well as the completion of the Emirates Business Lounge at Perth Airport being a factor in the delayed start to A380 services.
We will have to wait until something is announced.
Regards,
David
Hi,
Any update on a380 services to Perth?
Cheers,
Andy.
Hi Andy,
As always, schedules are subject to change.
Although Emirates requested A380 slot allocations from 29 March 2014, it is not showing A380s on its booking system and I have checked through to the end of October 2014. There is still the possibility that A380 services will start before then. Sorry!
Regards,
David Eyre
on Travelweekly today (http://www.travelweekly.com.au/news/emirates-rejects-concern-over-qantas-plight)
“Banston also said the deployment of an A380 to Perth remained a consideration although there was no imminent plan.”
Disappointing!