Emirates' A380 Soars Over South Africa in Milestone Flypast

Emirates' A380 Wows South Africa

Emirates is celebrating its long-standing commitment to South Africa with the country's first-ever flypast. This low-level aerial showcase also marks Emirates' first flypast in Africa and makes it the first international airline to do so in South Africa.

Emirates celebrated its love for rugby by flying the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft over Emirates Airline Park before the Springboks vs All Blacks test match. The iconic Emirates double-decker aircraft flew just 500 feet above the ground, saluting rugby and aviation fans in its latest signature livery, with over 62,000 enthusiastic spectators.

The Emirates plane took off from O.R. Tambo International Airport at 4:00 PM local time, flying at 140 knots. It arrived at the stadium at 4:58 PM, perfectly timed to coincide with the national anthems of South Africa and New Zealand. This impressive aerial accomplishment was the result of extensive planning and collaboration between multiple teams at Emirates, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Airports Company South Africa, Emirates pilots, Flight Operation Managers, and Air Traffic Controllers, who worked together with the Emirates Lions team. They carefully coordinated the aerial display, considering air traffic patterns at different times of the day and various weather and wind conditions.

Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri, a UAE National and Deputy Chief Pilot, commanded the flight. He was joined by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Abdalla Al Hammadi, who are both Technical Pilots for the Airbus. Also on board was Captain Richard Fiess. Captain Mubarak has been with Emirates for 19 years and has clocked over 7,200 hours in the cockpit of the iconic aircraft. He has led similar flypasts for Emirates, including UAE National Day celebrations for the past four years and headlining the commercial aircraft flypast formation at the 2023 Dubai Air Show. He also took part in the iconic flight promoting Expo 2020, where an aircraft flew around an Emirates Cabin Crew at the very top of the Burj Khalifa. Additionally, he participated in the unprecedented formation flight with the Jetman team back in 2015 and flew with the Red Arrows in 2022.

Afzal Parambil, the Country Manager of Southern Africa for Emirates, stated, "The record-setting flypast tonight is a powerful display of our unwavering commitment to South Africa. It not only showcases technical excellence but also represents our ongoing partnership with key stakeholders in South Africa, including the Civil Aviation Authority, O.R. Tambo International Airport, Emirates Lions, and, of course, the strong relationships we've built with our customers and travel partners here over the years. For nearly three decades, we have been providing our customers with a wide range of choices by offering exceptional on-ground and in-flight experiences, along with seamless global connectivity. We are not slowing down now and are looking forward to continuing to serve South Africa and showcase its many attractions to the world for the next 30 years and beyond."

Ellis Park Stadium's Managing Director, Pieter Burger, stated, "The flyover has become a pre-match entertainment tradition at the iconic Emirates Airline Park. It was first witnessed in 1995 at the final of the international rugby event, where the South African national rugby team emerged victorious. To have had this moment tonight against the very same opposition was a thrilling experience for fans watching at the stadium and home."

"We are very grateful to our long-time partner, Emirates, who played a crucial role in the success of this project, along with all other stakeholders involved. This will certainly be a lasting memory for those who had the privilege to witness the moment."

The flypast also signifies the reintroduction of Emirates' second flight on the Dubai-Johannesburg route, providing customers with more choices and travel options. Emirates offers its renowned onboard products and world-class service on this route. Flight EK761 departs Dubai at 04:05 and arrives in Johannesburg at 10:15. The return flight, EK762, leaves Johannesburg at 13:25 and lands in Dubai at 23:45, conveniently timed for connecting flights to major destinations in the Far East, Europe, and the Middle East.

Emirates is a major supporter of rugby worldwide and a significant investor in the sport in South Africa. They are the title sponsor of the Emirates Lions and have naming rights to the team's home stadium, Emirates Airline Park. The airline also sponsors the Cape Town Sevens, a popular event in South Africa that regularly attracts over 100,000 spectators. Emirates has been a key player in rugby at all levels, sponsoring the Rugby World Cup since 2007 and aiming for a strong presence at the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Emirates has been a longstanding partner in South African aviation, tourism, and trade for 29 years. The airline has connected over 20 million travellers to and from South Africa with more than 140 destinations worldwide via Dubai. It operates 42 weekly flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban and provides additional connectivity to regional points in South Africa through its codeshare and interline partners, including South African Airways, Airlink, Cemair, and FlySafair.