What are the differences between the A380 and Emirates' 777

In recent days we published the news that Emirates will suspend, at least through the winter period, The use of A380s on the fifth freedom route between Milan and New York.. The giant of the skies, flagship of the Dubai-based company's fleet will be replaced by the Boeing 777/300, the only other aircraft in the fleet at present.

The reason, according to Ghiringhelli's statement, is that the fleet is being restyled and that therefore the planes will be grounded for maintenance.

EK 205/206 flights are among the most popular in Italy, since it is the only A380-operated link between Italy and the United States and is also one of the most sought-after flights in the world by serial accumulators of points and miles.

But what are the differences between these two aircraft in the Emirates fleet? Here are the main ones

Size and capacity

Contrary to what you might think, the B777/300 is longer than the A380, there is almost a meter difference between the two giants measuring 73.90m and 73m respectively. However, the A380 wins in all other measurements: height, fuselage diameter, wing length and wing area just to name a few.

The A380 also has twice as many planes as the 777 and can carry many more passengers as a result. In the different configurations of the EK fleet. the A380 accommodates a minimum of 338 to a maximum of 557 passengers. The Boeings, on the other hand, carry in the three classes a minimum of 264 passengers up to a maximum of 310. As can be seen then the most capacious of the 777s still carries fewer passengers than the least capacious A380.

What changes on the ground

Flying aboard a 777 has a noticeable impact on the ground as well. For the company it means fewer staff, less maintenance, lower airport costs. Things also change for passengers, starting with the fact that we will all board from the main deck, and with fewer seats, there will be less queuing at check-in and less crowding at the gate for boarding.

For us moochers thanks to award tickets, it also means fewer available seats, and that is not a good thing.

Differences in fittings

The first answer is obviously space, which is why it is a foregone conclusion to find fewer things aboard the largest Boeing currently on the market.

Economy has 10 seats per row, the same as on board the A380, but despite this and because of the much wider fuselage, there is much more room for the passenger. The fuselage diameter of the 777, is 6 meters and 20 centimeters, while that of the A380 measures 7 meters and 14 centimeters, which is almost an extra meter. That makes all the difference in the world to passengers and beyond.

Also noticeably different are the business class cabins.

On the 777 there is the old and very uncomfortable cabin configured with 7 seats per row, a 2-3-2 setup that really makes a flight on this plane, one of the worst in the world, very un-premium. Of course the service and benefits are identical, but at the end of the day those who pay for a business class do so primarily for the seat, not the beauty kit.

Less space means you have to sacrifice things, such as the bar. If you like the idea of dicking around with friends in the back of the cabin aboard the A380, you won't be able to do any of that if the flight is operated with "triple 7."

First class passengers, except for the lucky few who travel aboard the Gamechanger, have the same seats on the A380 as on the 777, what changes is the absence of the shower facilities at an altitude of 10 thousand meters because this option is not present on the least capacious of the planes in the EK fleet.

In conclusion

From the end of October, and for at least the entire 23/24 winter period, Emirates will not fly the A380 between Milan and New York. Just as Singapore did in May Emirates also removes its flagship From this route fifth freedom.

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