Jakarta (ANTARA) - International airline Emirates said operating its A380 fleet to Bali was an extension of its commitment to the growing Indonesian market with rising demand.
"The initial operation of the A380 in Indonesia also signifies an extension of our commitment to the Indonesian market as well as proof of stronger cooperation with the I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport authority and the local government," Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations Far East Emirates Orhan Abbas noted in a statement in Jakarta, Friday.
Abbas also ensured that arrival of the A380 fleet for the first time in Indonesia was the result of the work of the entire team for months, from the planning stage to slick execution through coordination with relevant stakeholders.
"We are ready to serve customers flying to and from Denpasar with the world-class Emirates A380 service as well as responding to the high demand for international travel with the Superjumbo aircraft, (which will) become one of the two daily services to the island of Bali," Abbas remarked.
Emirates Country Manager for Indonesia Mohammad Al Attar ensured that the flight of the world's largest wide-bodied aircraft could make a significant contribution to serving increased customer demand.
"We are pleased to achieve this milestone that will strengthen our operations in Indonesia as well as future commercial plans for the Indonesian market," Al Attar remarked.
Meanwhile, President Director of PT Angkasa Pura Faik Fahmi expressed optimism that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali would increase, with the arrival of the Emirates A380 aircraft for the first time at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar.
"Of course, this Emirates flight will increase the chances of more tourists coming to Bali using the large A380 aircraft," Fahmi stated.
According to Fahmi, the first landing was a historic moment for Bali as well as an important moment for the world of commercial aviation in Indonesia, which is useful for supporting the recovery of tourism in Indonesia after the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This first flight is a positive thing because it is in line with the recovery of tourism in Bali, in particular, and Indonesia, in general," Fahmi stated.
Earlier, Emirates' flagship A380 aircraft set a new milestone by landing at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, on Thursday (June 1), for the first time officially in Indonesia.
The commercial flight, with flight number EK368, departed from Dubai at 3:20 local time and arrived in Bali at 4:35 p.m. local time. From Bali, the A380, with flight number EK369, was scheduled to depart at 7:40 p.m. local time and arrived in Dubai at 00:45 local time.
