For the first time in the airport’s history, on July 19 2016 Emirates will fly one of its flagship A380 aircraft into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Emirates has been invited by O’Hare International Airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the City of Chicago to test the gate, operations and significant infrastructure improvements that have been implemented to accommodate A380 service.
Emirates is the world’s largest operator of A380 aircraft, the world’s largest commercial jet, with 81 of this aircraft type flying customers in comfort across the globe - including to 4 cities in the USA.
“Chicago has welcomed us from the day Emirates commenced daily flights from Dubai in 2014, and we are honored to work alongside the City, airport, and department of aviation, to bring the A380 for a test flight to this exciting and progressive city,” said Rob Gurney, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of The Americas. “Over the last two years, Emirates flights have carried over 160,000 passengers from Chicago to Dubai and beyond for both business and leisure travel and have carried more than 60,000 tons of cargo, supporting tourism, business and exporters. Many of our customers from Chicago and surrounding areas have already experienced the Emirates A380 seamless and convenient connections from our hub in Dubai to more than 40 destinations across our network, including the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East.”
“The arrival of Emirates’ A380 plane to O’Hare International Airport is exciting for the city of Chicago,” said CDA Commissioner Ginger S. Evans. “The improvement we’ve made at O’Hare to accommodate the A380 is one of many projects underway that will make Chicago more competitive and attractive for passengers and businesses. I want to thank Emirates for its commitment to Chicago.”
Emirates’ existing Boeing 777 service to Chicago provides USD $383 million in annual economic benefit, contributes over USD $153 million in annual spending by visitors, and helps to support over 3000 U.S jobs, according to Campbell-Hill Aviation Group 1
The Emirates A380 Experience
In addition to highlighting O’Hare’s significant investment and infrastructure developments, Emirates will be showcasing its flagship double-decker A380 product. The 489-seat Emirates A380 features 14 First Class Private Suites, 76 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 399 spacious seats in Economy Class. All upper deck premium passengers can socialize at 40,000 feet in the popular Onboard Lounge, which offers hors d'oeuvres and five-star delicacies prepared by some of the world’s leading chefs, as well as premium spirits and wines carefully chosen by sommeliers. Bar staff begin mixing and serving drinks as soon as the aircraft reaches cruising altitude and are on-hand all the way until descent.
Additionally, passengers onboard Emirates’ A380 aircraft will enjoy over 2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment ranging from films, TV shows, music, games, podcasts and live sports through ice, the airline’s multi-award winning in-flight entertainment system. Onboard passengers also experience regionally inspired gourmet cuisine and Emirates’ renowned inflight service from the airline’s multi-national cabin crew comprised of over 135 nationalities. The Emirates A380 aircraft features Emirates flat-bed seats in First Class and Business Class and those in premium seating can enjoy Emirates Onboard Lounge. First Class passengers can unwind in their very own Private Suite and arrive refreshed at their destination following a visit to the Emirates A380 Shower Spa. First Class and Business Class passengers can travel to and from the airport with the convenience of Emirates’ complimentary Chauffeur-drive service as well as enjoy Emirates exclusive lounge.
Take A 360-Video Tour of the A380
Before boarding, passengers can take a 360-video tour of the A380 flight deck along with taking a virtual walk through the Emirates A380, as it appears on Google Street View.
Emirates and the U.S.
Founded in 1985, Emirates is a global connector of people, places and economies. Based in Dubai, the airline’s global network serves 154 destinations in 81 countries across six continents. Its luxurious amenities, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine, award-winning in-flight entertainment system – ice – and unmatched hospitality provided by its iconic multilingual Cabin Crew have made Emirates one of the world’s most recognized airline brands.
Emirates has carried more than 11 million passengers on U.S. flights since launching services to New York in 2004. The airline currently serves 10 U.S. gateways – Orlando (MCO), Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Washington (IAD) and New York (JFK), as well as operating a trans-Atlantic route between JFK and Milan and freighter services to Atlanta and Columbus. Emirates SkyCargo transports up to 650 tons of U.S. exports each week – including auto parts from New York, apples and cherries from Seattle, and oil and gas equipment from Houston – stimulating trade and opening new markets for American businesses across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
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