Emirates is by far the world's largest operator of the A380. The airline exclusively has 777s and A380s, so they operate huge planes on short routes (and also huge planes on long routes, obviously). As it stands, the airline operates the world's longest and shortest regularly scheduled A380 routes. The longest is their Dubai to…
Continue reading: Emirates Will Operate The World’s Shortest Scheduled A380 Flight Ever
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Pretty certain that Air France did this between Paris and London, 214 miles, about 10 years ago...
Yup. I’ve been on an af 380 lhr to cdg.
They still managed to serve everyone a snack and a cocktail.
I've actually done that flight in a "normal" sized passenger jet. Flying time is more like 20-25 minutes and altitude is so low that you can see the highway through the desert beautifully illuminated, but hardly any vehicles on the highway. May be quicker in a fast car when you take account of checking in and out of the airports!
@Alex Good call out re: "They still managed to serve everyone a snack and a cocktail." Two of my last three MCI-STL hops (237 miles) have gone like this. "Due to our very short flying time we will not offer beverage service today." On a 737. So typical US carrier attitude.
@Robert J Fahr - Exactly!
I'm left flabbergasted each every time it takes 30 mins to board a 737 in the USA, when I see JL board a full 777-300ER in 7-10 mins flat each time.
I truly wish there was some sort of education over the PA about boarding/deplaning prior to boarding.
Short flights in the US, have a gate agent give out a bottle of water and call it a day. This old antiquated service of a beverage cart with cans of sugar. Not needed. Water and a pretzel. Done.
@Jordan - I am not really sure why you are flabbergasted. It's mainly the US carriers with their 2,500 boarding groups that are the problem. No need for more than three groups: Premium seats, back of economy, front of economy. And if then the people would use overhead space near to their seat it all can be done in no time
Air France used to fly Paris to London with A380 when they started with this plane, to train the staff.
As per https://www.distancefromto.net/
Paris to London : 343.93 km
Dubai to Muscat : 365.36 km
I think even a shorter flight was Dhahran, KSA to Bahrain back in the 70 & 80's before the causeway was built. It took longer to board the plane than the actual flight.
Dhahran to Bahrain: 55.13 KM / 34.25 Miles