Emirates is joining the growing list of airlines that are offering scenic “flights to nowhere.” This particular flight, however, is being put on to celebrate the UAE’s vaccination program success as well as highlight Emirates’ progress in vaccinating its employees. With tickets available for purchase, let’s look at the details of this special event and how eligible members of the public can get onboard.
Emirates said the following as part of a public statement:
“The one-off flight EK2021 is a unique event that not only celebrates the success of the UAE’s vaccination programme to date, but also highlights Emirates’ progress in vaccinating its staff and in particular its pilots and cabin crew.”
The airline goes on to say that the UAE is one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to administered vaccinations for citizens and residents. The country has made four COVID-19 vaccines available for free to everyone.
Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.
Emirates’ special scenic flight details
Taking place on April 10th, this special celebratory scenic flight will depart and return from Dubai International Airport (DXB) using an Airbus A380 with flight number EK2021. The aircraft is scheduled to depart at 12:00 local for a flight time of two and a half hours and will “cruise over various areas across the UAE.” The superjumbo will finally land back at DXB at 14:30.
Eligibility: Tickets for flight EK2021 will be available to UAE citizens and residents who have completed the two-week period after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. UAE ID or passports, as well as vaccination certificates, are required.
Pricing: Tickets are priced at AED 1,000 ($272) per person in economy and AED 2,000 ($544) in business class*. All fares collected on this special flight will go to support Emirates Airline Foundation initiatives.
All customers traveling on EK2021 will be provided pre-departure rapid COVID-19 testing, free of charge. Masks and physical distancing policies are in effect throughout the event.
*Premium economy pricing was not mentioned in the press material. Simple Flying has inquired with Emirates regarding this cabin class. However, no response was received at the time of publication.
The full Emirates experience – without traveling
With international travel restrictions still in effect around the world, those of us who would prefer not to quarantine for two weeks on each end for an international trip are left with few options when it comes to experiencing the joy of flight.
Emirates’ flight EK2021 offers passengers the opportunity to get a taste of international travel without actually having to travel. Emirates notes that customers will get to experience Dubai International Airport’s services and amenities on the ground before boarding.
Additionally, Emirates notes that customers can also experience the latest measures to help travelers “enjoy a safe and smooth journey, including the new biometric and contactless technology which Emirates has recently implemented at the check-in areas and boarding gates at Dubai airport.”
More important than experiencing DXB’s services and biometric metric technology, passengers will have the opportunity to experience Emirates’ newest A380 aircraft. The key difference for this jet is that it features the airline’s brand-new premium economy cabin. Furthermore, the jet also has refreshed cabin interiors across all cabin classes.
“From a full-course gourmet meal in all classes to the friendly Emirates cabin crew, flyers can expect the full Emirates experience onboard this special flight.” -Emirates
Still interested? The airline says tickets can be purchased from the Emirates contact center, Emirates’ UAE sales offices, as well as local travel agents. Potential customers can visit the website for more information as well as special terms and conditions.
If you had the chance to purchase tickets for this scenic flight, would you go for it? Let us know in the comments.