Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to deploy Airbus A380 aircraft on services to Manchester in the northern UK.

It will replace Boeing 777 aircraft which currently perform the EK017 and EK018 flights between Manchester and Dubai.

Daily operations using the 517-seat aircraft are set to begin on 1 September.

"Manchester has been one of the strongest performers in our growing network of regional gateways, not only in the UK but globally as well," says Emirates Airline president Tim Clark.

Emirates has served Manchester since 1990 and the carrier introduced a twice-daily flight in 2003.

Manchester Airport's operator describes the decision to bring the A380 onto the route as a "historic moment", adding that it has invested some £10 million ($15 million) in modernisation to accommodate the type.

Emirates is taking 58 A380s and the airline uses the type on routes to London Heathrow, Paris, Sydney, Auckland, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok and Jeddah.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news