Photos by Trevor Cohen, Rayno Snyman and Emirates
In an emotional gesture that invoked memories of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final Emirates flew the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft over Emirates Airline Park, just before kick-off of the much-anticipated Springboks vs All Blacks test match. South Africa went on to win the game in a nail-bitingly close 31-27 victory.
In 1995 it was almost unthinkable that an aircraft the size of a Boeing 747 would fly low and slow over a packed stadium, this didn’t deter the team led by Laurie Kay having a message stencilled on the bottom of the wings and fuselage, flying over the packed Ellis Park Stadium to wish the Springboks well in the rugby world cup final.
The Emirates A380 took off from OR Tambo International Airport at 16:00, travelling at 140 knots, reaching the stadium at 16:58, perfectly timed to follow South Africa and New Zealand’s national anthems. The impressive aerial feat follows months of thorough and cross-functional planning between stakeholders including multiple teams at Emirates, South African Civil Aviation Authority, Airports Company South Africa, Emirates pilots, Flight Operation Managers and Air Traffic Controllers working with the Emirates Lions team. The teams worked together across every element of the aerial display, taking into account air traffic patterns at different times of the day with different weather and wind conditions.
UAE National Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri, A380 Deputy Chief Pilot commanded the flight, joined by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Abdalla Al Hammadi, both Technical Pilots for the Airbus A380 and Captain Richard Fiess, A380 Captain.
Captain Mubarak has been flying with Emirates for 19 years and has accumulated over 7,200 hours in the cockpit of the iconic aircraft. He has led similar flypasts for Emirates, such as the UAE National Day celebrations for the past four years and the main commercial aircraft flypast formation at the 2023 Dubai Air Show. He also participated in the memorable flight promoting Expo 2020, where an aircraft flew around an Emirates Cabin Crew at the top of the Burj Khalifa. Additionally, he was involved in the unprecedented formation flight with the Jetman team in 2015 and with the Red Arrows in 2022.
Afzal Parambil, Country Manager of Southern Africa, Emirates said, “Tonight’s record-setting flypast is a powerful display of our unwavering commitment to South Africa. It represents not just an achievement of technical excellence but encapsulates our ongoing partnership with key stakeholders in South Africa, including the Civil Aviation Authority, O.R. Tambo International Airport, Emirates Lions and, of course, the strong relationship we’ve built with our customers and travel partners here over the years. For almost three decades, we’ve unlocked an array of choices for our customers, by offering an outstanding on-ground and in-flight experience coupled with seamless global connectivity, and we’re not slowing down now. We look forward to the next 30 years, and beyond, of serving South Africa and spotlighting its many attractions to the world.”
“The flyover has become such a pre-match entertainment staple at the iconic Emirates Airline Park. First witnessed in 1995 at the final of the international rugby show-piece where the South African national rugby team was victorious, to have had this moment tonight against the very same opposition was a thrilling experience for fans watching at the stadium and at home.” said Pieter Burger, Ellis Park Stadium Managing Director “We are extremely grateful to our long-time partner Emirates who were pivotal towards the success of this project, together with all other role players involved. From a lasting memory perspective, this will certainly be up there for those who had the privilege to witness the moment.”
The flypast also signifies the reintroduction of Emirates' second daily service on the Dubai-Johannesburg route. This offers customers more choices and travel options, along with Emirates' renowned onboard products and excellent service. Flight EK765 departs Dubai at 04:05 and arrives in Johannesburg at 10:15. The return flight, EK766, leaves Johannesburg at 13:25 and lands in Dubai at 23:45, which is perfectly timed for onward connections to key destinations in the Far East, Europe, and the Middle East.
Emirates is a major supporter of rugby worldwide. In South Africa, Emirates is the title sponsor of the Emirates Lions rugby team and holds naming rights for the team's home stadium, Emirates Airline Park. The airline also sponsors the exciting Cape Town Sevens, which is a popular event in South Africa, often attracting over 100,000 spectators.
Globally, Emirates has been actively involved in rugby, sponsoring the Rugby World Cup since 2007. They are planning to have a significant presence at the upcoming 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Emirates has been a long-term partner of South African aviation, tourism, and trade for 29 years. The airline has connected over 20 million travellers to and from South Africa with more than 140 destinations on its global network via Dubai. It offers 42 weekly flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, and additional connectivity to regional points in the country through codeshare and interline partnerships with FlySafair, Airlink, Cemair, and South African Airways.
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