Emirates launches Dubai-Auckland non-stop service

The maiden UAE448 flight from Dubai to Auckland took 14 hours, 40 minutes

Emirates has launched a daily non-stop service between Dubai and Auckland bringing 39 destinations in Europe and another 38 in Africa and the Middle East within just one stop of New Zealand. The inaugural service was operated with an Emirates A380 in place of the Emirates Boeing 777-200LR that will operate the route daily.

Emirates has completed the first flights on its 8833-mi (14215-km) new route between Dubai and Auckland New Zealand which is believed to be the longest scheduled commercial route in the world.
The maiden UAE448 flight took off from Dubai on Tuesday at 22:18 local time and landed in Auckland 10:33 local time some 14 hours 40 minutes later.  The first UAE449 return leg of the journey took off from Auckland at 22:20 local time and landed in Dubai at 05:46 local time. With a flight time of 16 hours 26 minutes.

The A380 used for the maiden flight was received with a traditional water canon salute after touchdown in Auckland

In celebration of the new route both legs were operated with a double-decker Airbus A380 as opposed to the Boeing 777-200LR that will typically be used. The Boeings can carry up to 266 passengers and are designed for such ultra-long-haul flights.

The video below shows the maiden UAE448 flight landing in Auckland.



source: gizmag