Emirates Celebrates Its Commitment to South Africa With Historic A380 Flypast
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has once again demonstrated its strong commitment to South Africa by performing the country’s first-ever A380 flypast. This low-level aerial display, which took place over Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, marked the airline’s first flypast in Africa and a historic achievement as the first international airline to execute such a feat in South Africa.
The Emirates A380, took off from OR Tambo International Airport at precisely 16:00 and traveled at a speed of 140 knots. It reached the stadium at 16:58, just in time to coincide with the conclusion of the national anthems of South Africa and New Zealand.
This impressive aerial performance was the result of months of meticulous planning and collaboration among various teams, including Emirates, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Airports Company South Africa, Emirates pilots, Flight Operation Managers, and Air Traffic Controllers. The teams carefully coordinated every detail, taking into consideration air traffic patterns, weather conditions, and other factors to ensure the success of the flypast.
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The flight was commanded by UAE National Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri, an experienced pilot with 19 years of service at Emirates and over 7,200 hours of flying time in the A380. He was joined by Captain Khalid Binsultan, Captain Abdalla Al Hammadi, and Captain Richard Fiess, all seasoned pilots with extensive experience in flying the Airbus A380.
Captain Mubarak has previously led similar flypasts for Emirates, including those for UAE National Day celebrations and the Dubai Air Show. His expertise was evident in this latest display, which showcased the technical prowess of Emirates.
Pieter Burger, Managing Director of Ellis Park Stadium, expressed his excitement about the event, noting, “The flyover has become a key part of the pre-match entertainment at Ellis Park. It was an incredible experience for fans, both in the stadium and watching at home. We are deeply grateful to Emirates and all the partners involved in making this unforgettable moment possible.”
The flypast also coincides with the return of Emirates’ second A380 service on the Dubai-Johannesburg route, providing passengers with more travel options and the opportunity to experience the airline’s world-class onboard products and services. The flight, EK761, departs Dubai at 04:05 and lands in Johannesburg at 10:15, while the return flight, EK762, departs Johannesburg at 13:25 and arrives in Dubai at 23:45, offering seamless connections to destinations across the far East, Europe, and the Middle East.