Emirates is set to fly the double-decker Airbus A380 as a one-off special flight next weekend from its home at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the Indonesian capital. On August 8, the A380 will fly to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK), as one of its two daily flights to the city is upgraded from the usual Boeing 777-300ER.

For Jakarta, this is the first time in several years that the world’s largest passenger aircraft will arrive at the airport, and the charter service is being deployed specifically to transport a select group of European football clubs to Indonesia as part of a pre-season tour. This one-off special flight is the only service to Jakarta that is flown by the A380. Those wanting to capture a glimpse of the superjumbo will need to be up late, with the plane arriving and departing in the cover of darkness.

Flying The Airbus A380 As A One-Off Special Flight To Jakarta

Credit: Flickr

While Emirates serves the popular tourist island of Ngurah Rai (Bali) International Airport (DPS) with the A380, its flights to Jakarta are usually flown with the 777-300ER, so the airport is preparing to welcome the double-decker to the airport. The facilities at Jakarta are capable of handling the superjumbo, with three runways and specialized, capable gates and other necessary facilities.

This charter flight with European football teams coincides with the upcoming Indonesia Super Cup 2026, which includes a special pre-season match between Premier League Chelsea and the Italian Serie A club AC Milan. This game will be played at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium next Saturday. As reported by the Indonesian News Agency Antara, InJourney Airports Corporate Secretary Group Head Arie Ahsanurrohim confirmed details around the special A380 flight:

“The Emirates Airbus A380-800 flight to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport will take place on a one-off basis on August 8, 2026. There are no additional scheduled flights for this aircraft type following this arrival.”

Credit: GCMap

Emirates decision to upscale the aircraft is significant as it represents an increase in demand for the special flight, which is to operate as a charter carrying the Premier League teams. Their nonstop flight from Dubai to attend the Indonesia Super Cup will support them in arriving for the game in Jakarta, which is set to be broadcast to more than 70 countries globally.

The double-decker will operate as EK358 on Saturday, covering the distance of 4,070 miles (6,550 km) in just over eight hours. For the return flight, this will leave Jakarta as EK359 on Sunday, arriving back in Dubai early morning. A full schedule of these flights is detailed in the table below with information from Aeroroutes:

Both of these flights to and from Jakarta are timed perfectly for the Premier League teams to connect onto the airline’s wider international network to their respective home cities (London and Milan).

A Unique Opportunity To Catch A Glimpse Of The Emirates A380

Credit: Flickr

While the A380 is in Jakarta for one night only, the airport actually has a robust network of flights to and from the Middle East, with Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Saudia to various destinations. Emirates is the only airline that connects Jakarta with Dubai.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the superjumbo, with more than 100 in active service, alongside more than 100 777-300ER, 10 777-200LR, and 25 A350-900. For the Dubai-based airline, it has focused its A380 flights to Bali in Indonesia, leaving the capital with the 777-300ER double-daily service.

This unique opportunity to capture a glimpse of the A380 at Jakarta airport will be for one night only on Saturday, and while it will be arriving and departing in darkness, it’s the only scheduled service with the plane to the capital in many years.