
Emirates continues to change its Airbus A380 network. The carrier has confirmed that it will not fly the superjumbo from
Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Glasgow, Hong Kong, Osaka Kansai, Perth, or Prague in the critical summer month of August.
All five routes currently do not see the double-decker. For most of them, the type was due to return in August, but that has been postponed again due to the ongoing war in Iran. The latest development was disclosed in Emirates’ schedule update to Cirium Diio, OAG, and other platforms over the weekend. Expect more adaptions in the coming weeks.
Emirates’ Postpones The A380’s Return To Five Destinations
The latest plan is for the five markets to see the superjumbo on September 1. However, it would not be surprising if the relaunch date is moved to October 1. Whether this happens largely depends on the war. Multiple routes saw the type again recently.
Notice
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in the following table. While Emirates’ A380s are still flown from DXB to HKG via
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), with fifth freedom rights between BKK and HKG, the equipment currently does not fly nonstop from DXB to HKG.
Emirates has scheduled three daily double-deckers to the Pearl of the Orient on October 1: two nonstop and one via BKK. Interestingly, the carrier’s schedule submission to Cirium shows that A380 frequency was last available in 2020.
A380 From DXB To… | When Is The Type Now Due To Operate?** | When Was The Type To Operate?*** | Planned Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
Glasgow International Airport (GLA) | September 1 | August 1 | Daily on the 519-seater |
HKG* | September 1 | August 1 | Daily to two daily nonstop. Daily on the 487-seater until September 30. Two daily from October 1: daily on the 487-seater and daily on the 517-seater. This is in addition to the daily DXB-BKK-HKG operation |
Osaka International Airport (KIX) | September 1 | August 1 | Daily on the 468-seater (until October 24) and 487-seater (from October 25) |
Perth International Airport (PER) | September 1 | July 27 | Daily on the 468-seater |
Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | September 1 | August 1 | Daily on the 487-seater (October 1-24 only^) and 569-seater^^ (the rest of the time) |
* Nonstop flights only | ** Known as of July 13 | *** Known until this weekend’s update | ^ Likely to change. ^^ 569-seater is the new three-class configuration, replacing the two-class, 615-seat layout |
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Emirates’ A380s Delayed To Glasgow (Again)
The Gulf giant has flown to GLA since April 2004. In the subsequent 22 years, the Airbus A330-200, A340-300, A350-900, A380, 777-200LR, and 777-300ER have all been deployed, although some of these aircraft were only seen briefly. Emirates previously had up to two daily flights to the Scottish airport, although that was last available in early 2020.
After a one-off service in 2014, the A380’s first regular operation to GLA was in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the type was not used properly again until 2023. In 2026, Flightradar24 shows that the superjumbo was last seen in GLA on March 12, which was not long after the war started. Since then, the route has been in the hands of the 312-seat A350-900 and 332-seat 777-300ER.
The A380 is due to return on September 1, but this is likely to be pushed back again. When it finally happens, the number of daily seats for sale will increase from 664 to 1,038. Capacity will jump by a considerable 56% in 24 hours. EK27 will leave DXB at 7:50 AM and get to Scotland at 12:40 PM local time. Returning, EK28 will depart GLA at 2:40 PM and return at 1:05 AM+1 local time. This schedule is driven by having the most connectivity across Asia-Pacific in particular.
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Emirates’ A380 Operations In September
Let’s assume that the five routes will see the A380 in September. If that happens, Emirates plans 82 daily departures from DXB on the equipment. It’ll account for more than a third of the Gulf airline’s total activity from its hub. The type will be flown to 53 destinations.
Perhaps unexpectedly, superjumbo services are due to rise from the 77 daily departures available last September. That is partly because the double-decker returned to
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in October 2025 and
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in February 2026. The A380 is down to fly to Delhi from October, so is not included.
It is also due to having more flights to BKK, Ngurah Rai (Bali) International Airport (DPS), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), and Zurich Airport (ZRH). However, compared to September 2025, A380 service has been reduced to Brisbane, Copenhagen, and London Gatwick.









