Emirates 1st A380 touches down at King Abdulaziz International Airport

Emirates has made its first A380 touchdown at Terminal 1 in Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), making it the first airline to operate the double-decker aircraft to the new airport. The flight was greeted with a water cannon salute.

For the inaugural A380 flight to the new terminal, Emirates deployed its latest aircraft featuring the premium economy seats, as well as signature enhancements across every cabin.

Mohammed Alnahari Alhashmi, VP, Commercial Operations, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said: “Moving to Terminal 1 represents a significant improvement in the customer experience. Emirates’ customers will have access to world-class amenities, including restaurants, retail outlets, airport lounges and much more.

“We would like to thank the General Civil Aviation Authority, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and the local authorities who have been providing their support and working closely with us to make this move a success and ensure that Emirates’ passengers arriving and departing from Terminal 1 enjoy a seamless airport experience as well as best-in-class services.”

Through its passenger and cargo operations, Emirates has been supporting the Kingdom’s pandemic response. The airline has also stepped up to support Saudi’s international trade links and has also been instrumental in transporting critical medical supplies, vaccines, PPE, food, and other supplies into the Kingdom throughout the pandemic.