Emirates using A340-300 to KHI

[Zulfiqar]

I noticed that Emirates has added the A340-300 to the mix of aircraft it's using on the DXB-KHI route. This must be a recent development. I think it has replaced some of its 772 / 77W services with the Airbus.

[Pineapple]

Must be quite an impressive sight as A-340 is a rare visitor to KHI by any airline. Any photographers?

[KHI747]

Here you go:

EK607 (Afternoon service to DXB - Scheduled Time 1410)
Date: 18-Nov-2010









Because of the wind direction planes were arriving from the west into KHI at this time,which meant this aircraft took off in the direction of Malir,took a U-turn and then headed towards the Arabian sea.This all meant that by the time it over flew my home in DHA,it was much higher then usual explaining why despite my zoom on full the aircraft appears rather distant (so much for the A340-300 climb rate jokes )

I will attach,for the sake of comparison,the picture of another EK Flight-607 take off in the regular direction and its subsequent height right before crossing the coastline.Same camera - same setting.



By the way i just learnt about the introduction of the A343 to the KHI schedule last night.Interestingly on Thursdays,both the afternoon flights are being operated on the quad.At present this remains the only regular A340 service into KHI barring the few times EY and QR deploy it (A340-500 and A340-600) during the summer.In the past KHI has seen A340-300 service from CX,LX and SQ.I cant think of any other A340 services to KHI. Im sure Abbas can further confirm this.

[Pineapple]

Awesome pics

[asifmujahid]

TK has a 343 scheduled to operate IST-KHI starting Jan 2011 3x/week

[KHI747]

TK has a 343 scheduled to operate IST-KHI starting Jan 2011 3x/week

Are you sure about this?

If so,this will be absolutely fantastic news.

[Abbas Ali]

Thank you KHI747 for sharing Emirates Airbus A340 photos.

Here's November 8, 2010 news report about flights between Istanbul and Dhaka via Karachi planned by Turkish Airlines with Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft.

Posted 08/11/2010

Turkish Airlines from 26DEC10 launches service to Bangladesh, offering 4 weekly Istanbul - Karachi - Dhaka service on board Airbus A330 and A340-300.

For Karachi, this represents an increase of capacity as the service is currently operated by Boeing 737-800. Schedule below:

TK708 IST0030 - 0845KHI1000 - 1415DAC 330 1
TK708 IST0030 - 0845KHI1000 - 1415DAC 343 357

TK709 DAC2250 - 0115+1KHI0230+1 - 0550+1IST 330 1
TK709 DAC2250 - 0115+1KHI0230+1 - 0550+1IST 343 357

Source: www.routesonline.com

Abbas

[asifmujahid]

Schedule Load for Passenger flights between IST and KHI in Feb2011

Alliance Op Al Org Dst Stops Equip Seats Dprt Tm Arr Tm Op days
STAR TK IST KHI 0 343 271 0030 0845 ..3.5.7
STAR TK KHI IST 0 343 271 0230 0550 1..4.6.

[asifmujahid]

Sorry for the formatting but this says that TK will operate a 343 IST-KHI on days 3,5,7 and and KHI-IST on days 1,4,6.

1 = Monday.

[KHI747]

Thank you KHI747 for sharing Emirates Airbus A340 photos.

My pleasure Abbas.I just wish i could have checked the schedule earlier that way i could have captured EK601 which was also an A343 today - only had i known in time. And since it was a holiday on 18th Nov,it was my one and only chance to be at home on a Thursday afternoon to capture two A343 within 3 hours!

TK708 IST0030 - 0845KHI1000 - 1415DAC 330 1
TK708 IST0030 - 0845KHI1000 - 1415DAC 343 357

TK709 DAC2250 - 0115+1KHI0230+1 - 0550+1IST 330 1
TK709 DAC2250 - 0115+1KHI0230+1 - 0550+1IST 343 357

Wow this is amazing stuff guys.The inflight J product on the A330 is going to be quite an improvement over the atrocious product offered on their B738 to say the least.Im not sure if the inflight product on the TK A343's has been upgraded or it still features their old product.I think its still the old one but in anycase overall its a massive improvement on the B738 from a passenger stand point.

This should be very good for TK's growth from Pakistan and considering they advertise more then any other foreign airline in Pakistan (specially their bill boards in major points in KHI),im sure they will make it known what an improved product they will offer directly from KHI.

A couple of questions and comments:

1, Would TK have 5th freedom between KHI and DAC ?

2, TK708 IST0030 - 0845KHI1000 - 1415DAC
TK709 DAC2250 - 0115+1KHI0230+1 - 0550+1IST
--- Thats an awfully longtime for the aircraft to be sitting idle in DAC !

[asifmujahid]

The A343 is only until March 2011. Reverts back to 738 April onwards.

[hasan saleem]

Quite a few airlines flying between Karachi - Dhaka, PIA, Biman, GMG & additionally Turish will be flying.

[KHI747]

November 19th - Still a holiday and guess what - EK's brilliant online schedule told me that todays EK607 was also being operated by the A340-300.

Next step,i kept an eye on the timing of the flight through the "flight status" option and it was evident todays flight was going to be hour late due to late arrival of the incoming flight from DXB.

Anyhow at precisely 1515 (19th Nov 2010) (65 minutes behind schedule) an "oddity" of the EK fleet appeared through the skies.My Canon and i were already on stand by on the roof.

I say the effort was worth it today!











Next Stop: DXB

[Zulfiqar]

Thanks for the photos, good to see the A340 in KHI.

As the winds in Karachi change, I hope the other members there are also ready and waiting with their cameras.

[KHI747]

Quite a few airlines flying between Karachi - Dhaka, PIA, Biman, GMG & additionally Turish will be flying.

And if you recall,EK itself used to operate DXB-KHI-DAC up until early 2000's before that late night/early morning flight turned into a dedicated KHI service.EK also had full 5th freedom rights between KHI-DAC.

So as for TK,the questions remains - will it have 5th freedom between KHI-DAC and secondly when the service reverts back to the B738 in April 2011,will the flight again become a dedicated KHI service or will DAC remain as an add-on?