Background
I was invited by Emirates to join their inaugural A380 flight from Sydney to Auckland and back on the same day. I am particularly keen on photographing their splendid and luxurious cabin and compare with Singapore and Qantas A380 which I have flown and toured previously.
Emirates have invited about 20-30 airport officials, business and media on the day to sample the A380 across the Tasman in First and Business class, product demo on the A380, a local New Zealand wine yard visit and return Limo transfer to and from home.
02 Feb 2009
I started the day by having a quick hot shower at 05:30 and the limo (a Holden Caprice. The last time I travelled with Emirates I scored a nice BMW 745 series) is waiting by 05:50 and arrived Sydney airport at 06:30 for the 08:30 departure flight on EK412. (Inbound from Dubai and continue to Auckland)
Emirates use the Western end of Int’l Terminal (T1) at Sydney Int’l. There were 2 separate areas for check in, one for First and Business and another whole row for Economy. Check in was a breeze and I received boarding pass, lounge invitation and Fast Track Immigration. Emirates have invited Sydney Symphony for music entertainment at the check in lounge.
The Emirates Lounge in Sydney is situated on the lower ground floor near Gate 59. It is the best lounge in Sydney Airport in my opinion. When I step in the lounge, I received the official invitation envelope and card for the day’s A380 demo event. At the same time, A6-EDD just taxied past the window after arrival and certainly attracted all eyes in the lounge.
Emirates have set up a small stage to celebrate the A380 flight to Sydney, hosted by the VP of Australia, Stephen Pearse and Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, East Asia & Australasia. The NSW Minister for Tourism also attended the event.
Above Photo: Emirates VP of Australia, Stephen Pearse made welcome speech to the guest and media.
Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, East Asia & Australasia presents an Emirates A380 model to the Tourism Minister of NSW.
After the ceremony, I have a quick bite in the dining area and there are many cocktails, champagne and canapés flowing around for guests and passengers.
I also have the pleasure to meet Isabelle Chu in the lounge, a very famous A380 inaugural flyers in the lounge. Isabelle is a director/partner of a Corporate Travel Agent in Perth, Australia and an enthusiast in grand scale, she had flown the inaugural SQ A345 to LA/NY, SQ A380 to Sydney and London (and Paris soon). She had also flown the inaugural Qantas A380 from MEL to LAX and Emirates A380 from DXB to JFK.