The "disappearance" of the A380 on Malpensa-New York: clarifications from Emirates
It aroused astonishment and some disappointment to hear the news a few days ago that pointed out that from next October 29, [...]
Emirates
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It has caused astonishment and some disappointment to hear the news of a few days ago which emphasized how From next Oct. 29, with the start of the Iata winter schedule., the fifth freedom flight Emirates' Milan Malpensa / New York Jfk turns out to be operated with the Boeing 777/300 and no longer the iconic A380.
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Except for a brief interlude during the pandemic, in fact, this route has always been operated with the giant of the skies to the delight of Italian travelers and all serial accumulators of points and miles.
The winter changeover with the 777-300
Goodbye A380 over Milan, then? Not necessarily, and it might even just be goodbye. But let's take a step back first.
In fact, following a reader's report, we verified through simulation that bookings for flights during the winter are expected to be made with the smallest aircraft in the Emirates fleet, namely the B777-300.
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Moreover, the most worrying thing is that with the return to the summer schedule in 2024, the flight is reported to be operated at all times with the Boeing 777/300. If this is the case, then, the likely rationale that would see Emirates opt for the 777 due to a capacity adjustment based on reduced demand in the off-season appears to be insufficient.
Thus, in this way, A380 presence would be halved in the Malpensa airport. Today Emirates is the only carrier to fly the made-in-Europe giant at this airport with its two daily flights from Dubai, one of which would continue in the direction of New York-Jfk and would be the one "sacrificed." The other flight, however, would continue with the A380.
Emirates' motivations
We then asked Emirates for confirmation of what was in the booking portal and any comment with respect to this "substitution."
The response of Flavio Ghiringhelli, Emirates Italy country manager, was immediate.
Flavio Ghiringhelli, Country Manager Emirates Italy
"Regarding the news that you published a few days ago about the fact that the A380 will not fly on the Milan-New York route, I feel obliged to make a clarification," stresses the manager, who specifies the carrier's choices, "In the coming months, a Boeing 777-300 ER will be used instead of the A380 on this route because part of the company's fleet is currently the subject of the modernization program".
In detail, according to Ghiringhelli, "We embarked on this path at a time when demand is physiologically lower so as to maintain high standards without compromising service. There will, in the future, be a Update based on the development of the work and, for this reason, as soon as we have certainty about the completion date we will make the necessary changes to the operative."Emirates' motivations, therefore, refer to the following To the process of aircraft restyling. and do not rule out the return of the A380 on this route.
