Emirates President Tim Clark Celebrates with Canada
The excitement was definitely - and literally - in the air - as hundreds gathered at Toronto Pearson for the arrival of the first scheduled Emirates A380 flight on Canadian soil. VIPs and countless media outlets gathered to welcome the largest passenger aircraft in the world to Toronto. The inaugural anticipation grew with each passing minute and a hush fell over the crowd when the impressive double-decker aircraft emerged from the clouds.
I stood at the gate, poised with my Tom Ford aviators on and chic silk scarf, ready to meet Mr. Big. I took a sip of champagne and glanced sideways at the broadcast media scrum awaiting the behemoth's arrival. And then I saw it. And nearly dropped my flute. The A380 is absolutely enormous - a monolith in the sky. Camera shutters started stirring and then going snap mad! For most, it was the first time they had seen an Airbus A380 in person, and Toronto is currently the only city in the Americas where the Emirates routes the plane. Quite a prestigious honour and a world-class designation. Captain Dave Heino, from Burlington, piloted Emirates’ luxurious aircraft into Toronto Pearson yesterday and was given a hero’s welcome as he entered the terminal building.
"We are extremely pleased to provide the A380 for our Dubai-Toronto service, which has had consistently strong demand since the three-times weekly route was launched in October, 2007," said Emirates President Tim Clark. "In fact, the demand has been so high it will only allow Emirates to address some of the unmet need of the Toronto market."
"The launch of the Dubai-Toronto A380 service means we will continue to invest in Canada, one of our most important markets. Our inaugural A380 flight to Toronto comes just after the hiring of Emirates' 500th Canadian employee. Our Canadian employees are in Canada and Dubai in positions ranging from management to pilots to cabin crew and engineers," Mr. Clark continued.
"Despite the current economic difficulties, this is good news for the Canadian economy. We believe you need a long-term view. By adding this new ultra-efficient aircraft to Toronto, we are increasing trade and tourism capacity, but the three flights a week restriction remains a disappointment. We believe Toronto needs a daily A380 service and progressively, a second daily service with an aircraft like the 777," he concluded.
Dubai has been one of Canada's fastest growing export markets in recent years and Emirates has been lobbying for additional access to Toronto for a decade. Emirates has also indicated its interest in providing direct flights from Dubai to Calgary and Vancouver given the serious potential it sees for those markets.
The airline remains hopeful that the Canadian government will allow additional service to Canada to meet the demand for passenger and cargo traffic. This request is consistent with the government's Blue Sky policy on air liberalization, supported by several provincial and municipal governments and dozens of business and tourism stakeholders across Canada.
For the public officials gathered, the enthusiasm also came with some plucky promotional grandstanding. "What a day this is. To see that beautiful big bird come out of the sky and land at the Mississauga International Airport," joked Mayor Hazel McCallion, one of the officials in attendance. But all in good humour and celebration.
WOMAN.ca had the opportunity to explore the aircraft's luxury interior firsthand, which felt more like a luxury real estate site inspection! This is no ordinary aircraft. The entire upper level contains the premium seats: fourteen enclosed first-class suites and seventy-six business-class seats.
The Emirates A380 promises customers in all classes an unparalleled travel experience. Designed to transport passengers on long-haul journeys in unmatched comfort, the Emirates A380 boasts First Class Shower Spas, a spacious onboard Lounge, and our award-winning ice inflight entertainment system offering over 1,000 channels of movies, music and games on-demand in all classes. Yes Ladies, for the first time in aviation history you can indulge in an invigorating shower at 43,000 feet!
Emirates A380 Private Suites - Retreat to the comfort and sanctuary in your own spacious private suite, equipped with an electrically operated sliding door, a personal mini-bar, adjustable ambient lighting, and its own vanity table, mirror and wardrobe. Every seat has a built-in massage system, with adjustable speed and intensity. The Emirates A380 crew will convert your seat to a fully flat bed with a mattress, so you can arrive at your destination relaxed and refreshed. Each suite in the A380 has a 23” television screen, allowing you to explore over 1000 on-demand video and audio channels of our award winning ice Digital Widescreen entertainment system.
Presently Emirates is restricted to 3 flight a week to Canada and would like to expand this with daily flight to Toronto with a possible second daily service with a 777 aircraft, along with an additional service from Dubai to Calgary.
The A380 aircraft is the most advanced, spacious and economic airliner in service. It is the largest civil wide-body aircraft ever made and offers a capacity of 525 passengers in three classes. With a fuel efficiency of less than three litres per 100 kilometers per passenger, the A380 is one of the most efficient passenger aircraft in service today.
Emirates began offering three weekly flights between Toronto and Dubai in October 2007. Adding the A380 to this service will add capacity to this popular route. There has been a consistently high demand on this route and now more passengers will be able to take advantage of the great service that Emirates offers.
By Si Si Penaloza, Editorial Director, WOMAN.ca
 Si Si, Editorial Director | |
| About the author: | |
Si Si Penaloza is the Editorial Director of WOMAN.ca.
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Si Si moved to Manhattan to study Film at New York University. Her strengths
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