MUSCAT: Emirates announced that from July 1st it will fly two A380s a day from its base in Dubai, UAE, to Muscat. The airline will operate EK 862/863 and EK 864/865 on two daily return routes to Oman’s port capital.

The airline’s scheduling of the regular route is significant. It comes exactly a year after a one-off A380 flight between the two countries. The inaugural flight was arranged to commemorate 25 years of Emirates’ operations to Oman.

The company’s decision to up its game is part of a worldwide strategy. It hopes to entice more customers from its nearest neighbours to travel on ‘all 380’ journeys around the world. Omani passengers will now be able to travel from Muscat and interchange at Dubai for international destinations served by the A380.

The Dubai-Muscat route will be Emirates’s ‘shortest scheduled A380 flight’. The distance between the two cities is just 211 miles (340 kilometres).

Each flight is allocated 65-70 minutes. But the actual flight time can be as short as 40 minutes out and 35 back, according to One Mile at a Time.

Before Muscat, Emirates’ nearest airport destination from Dubai was Doha, Qatar, just over 235 miles away. But in 2017, Emirates cut its flights to Doha.

It’s likely that the one-off flight in 2018 was not only undertaken as a celebration. It was also a way for Emirates to determine Muscat’s logistical suitability for the type. Today’s launch of the twice-daily A380 flights reaffirms the airline’s belief in the ability of the airport to handle big aircraft operations.

Emirates quotes Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports as saying:

“Muscat International Airport has demonstrated its readiness for this extraordinary event. The arrival of these scheduled flights for this giant aircraft is a gain to prove the large airport capacity to accommodate an aircraft of this size.”

Although the route is short, passengers are promised the same level of comfort as that afforded to its passengers on long-haul flights.

Both A380s flying to Muscat will be operated in a three-class configuration. There will be 429 economy class seats on the lower deck. Business class will include 76 flat-bed seats, and the upper deck will include their amazing first class private suites.

Dubai-Muscat passengers are promised the same level of comfort as that afforded to its passengers on long-haul flights. Photo: Emirates

Divisional Senior Vice President Sheikh Majid Al Mualla said of the move:

“The introduction of the A380 services to Muscat means more of our customers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading products on board, and will also enhance choice and travel preferences as they plan their journeys.”