KEY POINTS:
Options for flying the Tasman will increase from next February when Emirates launches a daily A380 super jumbo service from Auckland to Sydney.
Emirates will use the world's biggest commercial airliner on its Auckland route from February 1 to link up with the rest of the network.
The Airbus aircraft will have 489 seats; 14 in first class, 76 in business and 399 in economy.
A spokesman said fares had yet to be set but an extra 125 seats each way would be added to the existing service.
Emirates is the largest customer for the A380s with 58 on order and will take delivery of five of the double-decker aircraft this year.
Other configurations in the A380 fleet will feature a medium-range three-class 517-seater; and a medium-range two-class aircraft with 604 seats.
Emirates is scheduled to operate its A380s non-stop from Dubai to New York on October 1 and London Heathrow on December 1.
The airline's president Tim Clark said: "Our A380s will take to the skies in late [northern] summer, signalling an end to our long wait and ushering in a new era for Emirates.
"We have played an integral role during the design and development stage to tow the aircraft from the drawing board to the production line, and we look forward to bringing them into commercial service."
Auckland Airport general manager aeronautical, Tony Gollin, says the airport is ready for the aircraft.
The airport had spent $37 million to upgrade and widen the runway, and was due to complete a second pier in October that has two contact gates able to take A380s, as well as other wide-bodied and smaller aircraft.
With the opening of the $40 million second pier, the airport will be able to handle two A380s at a time.
Airlines servicing Auckland that have A380s on order are Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Thai Airways and Korean Airlines.
Qantas takes delivery of the first of 20 A380s in August this year with the first service - planned to be Melbourne to Los Angeles - operating in October.
A spokesman yesterday said there were no plans to operate the A380 to New Zealand.
Although Air New Zealand had no comment on the Emirates announcement yesterday, the airline has complained the Dubai-based airline was dumping seats on the route.
Singapore Airlines was the first airline to fly the A380 commercially. Its Singapore-Sydney service carries 471 passengers.
JUMBO SIZED
Passengers
Boeing 747-400 - 416
Airbus 380-800 - 600-plus
Wingspan
Boeing 747-400 - 64.4m
Airbus 380-800 - 79.8m
Max weight
Boeing 747-400 - 396,000kg
Airbus 380-800 - 560,000kg
