If you want to be in the lap of luxury 43,000 feet above sea level, you have reached the right destination. Emirates today launched the country’s first commercial A-380 flight, from Dubai to New Delhi, that touched down at the airport’s new Terminal-3.
And for those who had the privilege of experiencing the class comforts, it is set to redefine the concept of travelling in aviation history.
The first thing which strikes you about this giant aircraft waiting to take off from Dubai’s swanky terminal, the largest airport in the world, are the two aerobridges — one which connects to the business and first class passengers and the lower aerobridge meant for the economy class.
As you board the upper deck business class, a new world opens up — 76 fully flat seats, each having mini bar and aisle access stacked with soft drinks and juices. However, if you want a shot of alcohol, you need to spend more money to travel first class.
The extra space you get is reflected in the fact that unlike other business class travel, where you have a seven-seat configuration, each row in this aircraft offers only four seats.
For those planning a long haul flight, you would experience the comfort of your bedroom — the seats can be converted to a two-metre flat bed with a small store underneath to place your shoes. To revitalise your body, you have access to a massage parlour at your finger tips — the seat doubles up as your massage parlour at the push of a button offering you options of zigzag, pulse, high-intensity and normal massage and for as long as you wish to.
The only problem for someone like me – someone with a more than average waistline – is the food tray. When you try to pull the tray placed in the side table, the extended midriff invariably comes in the way and the passenger would have no other option but to have his food served on the side table.
Movie buffs like me could not have asked for more. You have a 17-inch screen (23-inch in the first class), much bigger than the ones you see in other business class travel, and a choice of 1,200 channels.
There is an array of choices through which you can control your programmes on the screen – just tap the screen or use the traditional wired control that doubles up as a phone. There is one other option which makes life much easier — a wireless control centre fixed to your side table. This gadget, that looks like a gaming device, can be used to control everything — from getting a massage, converting the seat to a flat bed, to call the airhostess and of course to make a choice of movies.
For those who want to socialise over a drink, the giant aircraft offers a lounge and a bar stocked with the best wines and whisky from across the world. You can also nibble some delicacies like a salmon sandwich, among other specialities. The stewardess operating the bar informed that it has the capacity to handle 26 passengers at a given time. A giant TV set completes the set-up of the extravagant lounge.
To use the shower spas, the first class passengers need to take an appointment to experince the pleasure, prepared by a well-trained hostess.
The overall length of the aircraft is 73 metres, the cabin length is 50.68 metres and the maximum cabin width is 6.58 metres. It can accomodate 517 passengers and the 26-member crew.
The crew is fluent in 10 languages including Hindi, French, Korean, Thai and Afrikaans. Only a select few across the world are chosen by Emirates for the coveted job, based on their record and performance.
Now the bad news: The A-380 will not be a regular flight to India, at least in this financial year, and you might have to wait a while before Emirates brings it into India. Majid Al Mualla, the senior vice president of Emirates Airlines, said the decision would depend on bilateral negotiations and the growth of the market.
The newly inaugurated T3, which brought India on the airport map of the world, also needs to get over its teething problems. As we disembarked, the aerobridge took time to get adjusted to the cabin door, giving a lot of people some anxious moments.
However, the immigration counter with suited officers and smiling faces, was a relief, as we whizzed past within minutes.
The next big bottleneck was at the luggage section – a special arrangement made for the A-380 – where business class passengers had to wait for over half-an-hour.
