Emirates will deploy the big superjumbo Airbus A380 on its San Francisco and Houston routes in December this year.
Currently the Dubai based Arabian gulf airline flies a Boeing 777-300ER every day to both US cities. Upgrading the aircraft type will result in an extra 135 seats to San Francisco and 137 to Houston. This represents a 38 per cent increase in passenger capacity, including 80 per cent more seats in premium cabins.
Emirates' A380 comes in a three-class configuration, with 14 first class suites, 76 business seats and 399 seats in economy.
Flight EK226 departs San Francisco at 1530 and arrives in Dubai the following day at 1925. Return service EK225 takes off from Dubai at 0850 and lands in San Francisco at 1250 the same day. Flight EK211 to Houston departs Dubai at 0930 and arrives at 1605. Return service EK212 takes off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 1825 and lands in Dubai at 1905 the next day.
Emirates senior vice president Hubert Frach said: "Since 2007, we have carried over 2.3 million passengers on the San Francisco and Houston routes, and our flagship A380 will allow us to connect even more people and facilitate trade between these important US cities and the Middle East, India, Africa and beyond."