Emirates to operate A380 to Tehran ... for one day only

Emirates, is to operate a one-off Airbus A380 service to Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran, on 30th September 2014, in celebration of the launch of the fourth daily flight between the two cities which began on 1st September 2014.
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Emirates began flights to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1990 and now operates four daily, non-stop flights between Dubai and Tehran.
The one-off A380 flight will operate as EK979 and will depart Dubai at 1415hrs, arriving at Imam Khomeini International Airport at 1600hrs. On the return flight EK980 will depart Imam Khomeini International Airport at 1905hrs arriving in Dubai at 2150hrs.
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre, said, “Emirates began flights to Tehran in the Islamic Republic of Iran when the airline was only five years old, and now it has become the latest airport on our network to welcome our flagship A380.
Analyst Saj Ahmad said:”
Sending an A380 to Tehran by Emirates is no fortuitous an event. Emirates and Dubai have long had a massive bond with Iran through commerce and trade and with a significant Iranian presence in Dubai itself, as well as the wider UAE, one may well translate this one-off A380 service to Tehran as a possible sign of things to come.
Given the inherent weakness through sanctions on Iranian carriers, large swathes of business and premium traffic out of Iran relies on Emirates and also its sister airline in Flydubai.
As part of its newly launched 4th daily flight to the capital, Tehran provides Emirates access to one of the worlds most underrated and most active aviation markets that has immense pent up demand just itching to be tapped into. While the one off A380 flight will be a great way to symbolise the Dubai-Tehran links, if this service with the world's biggest jet becomes a regular sight, then that will simply reinforce the health of the Iranian travel market.”