Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to deploy the Airbus A380 on services to Moscow Domodedovo later this year.

It will operate the 517-seat aircraft on one of its two daily rotations from Dubai beginning on 1 December.

Domodedovo airport's operator, East Line Group, says the A380 will replace the Boeing 777-300ER on the route.

"Since the launch of flights to Moscow in 2003 the demand for our flights is continuously growing, and we are now ready to present the largest passenger aircraft to the largest country in the world," says Emirates.

East Line says it installed two-level passenger bridges in May, to serve the A380, and acquired suitable ground-service vehicles.

Domodedovo hosted the A380 in October 2009 during which the airport operator demonstrated its infrastructure could handle the type.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news