Book now for Emirates' maiden A380 flight

Emirates Airline will make its first commercial flight using the Airbus A380 super jumbo on October 1 this year on a direct flight to New York.

A search on the airline’s own e-booking website reveals that the 8.30am flight, EK201 from Dubai to New York, will be an A380. The earlier flight that day, and the same flight on the previous day, are still listed as Boeing 777-300ER flights.

A first class ticket on the maiden flight, returning on October 8 also on an A380, will cost 24,590 UAE dirhams ($6,700), according to the airline’s website.

On the first ever A380 flight, which was made by Singapore Airlines, one passenger paid $100,000 for two first class tickets.

The Dubai to New York flight is currently on sale for 15,570 dirhams ($4242) in business class and a mere 5,260 dirhams ($1433) in economy.

Australia is expected to be the second country served by Emirates A380 flights in early 2009, according to industry sources.

The massive double-decker aircraft can be configured in an almost infinite number of ways, but Emirates is expected to fly with a three-cabin configuration with seating for a total of 490 passengers.

First class passengers will be able to enjoy a range of onboard facilities including the ability to take a shower, according to travel website etravelblackboard.com.

Currently, Emirates is the largest customer of Airbus A380s with 58 on order. The first plane is expected to be delivered in August.