Soekarno-Hatta Set to Welcome Emirates' Giant A380

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, operated under InJourney Airports (PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia), is set to welcome the inaugural landing of Emirates Airlines' Airbus A380-800, which will operate flight EK358 from Dubai (DXB) to Jakarta (CGK).

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport General Manager Heru Karyadi stated that the world's largest passenger airliner is scheduled to touch down in Jakarta on August 8, 2026, at 10:25 p.m. Jakarta time (WIB) before making its return journey to Dubai as flight EK359 on August 9, 2026, at 12:45 a.m. WIB.

"The arrival of the Airbus A380-800 is a major milestone in expanding Indonesia's international air connectivity," Heru said on Friday, July 31, 2026.

He added that the service confirms Soekarno-Hatta Airport's operational capability to accommodate ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code 4F (Code F) aircraft. "Thorough preparations have been carried out alongside regulators, airline partners, and aviation stakeholders to guarantee a safe, seamless, and best experience for passengers," Heru said.

Furthermore, Heru emphasized that welcoming Emirates' flagship A380-800 represents a pivotal moment for the airport.

Airport management has aligned all operational facets, ranging from airside and landside infrastructure, service protocols, and inter-agency coordination with regulators, AirNav Indonesia, ground handlers, and key partners, in a bid to ensure optimal readiness. "This also reflects the confidence of international airlines in Soekarno-Hatta Airport's infrastructure and service quality," Heru added.

As Indonesia's largest and busiest aviation hub, Heru noted, Soekarno-Hatta operates three active runways to support flight operations. Two of those runways, measuring 3,660 meters by 60 meters and 3,600 meters by 60 meters, fully satisfy the technical criteria to handle ICAO Code F super wide-body aircraft.

"This infrastructure is supported by a network of parallel taxiways, aprons, and specialized terminal facilities engineered to support double-deck wide-body jets, including the Airbus A380-800," Heru explained.

The airport's readiness is further backed by Pavement Classification Rating (PCR) values that meet the heavy load-bearing requirements of the A380-800. Runway 07R/25L boasts a PCR rating of 1290/R/D/X/T, while Runway 07L/25R carries a rating of 1290/R/D/X/U.

Meanwhile, Terminal 3's Apron G holds a PCR rating of 1010/R/B/X/T, with parking stands G26, G29, and G33 designated specifically for Code F aircraft. These stands feature Advanced Visual Docking Guidance Systems (A-VDGS), dual-jetway passenger boarding bridges, and specialized ground support equipment conforming to international aviation standards.

To guarantee seamless execution for the inaugural flight, Soekarno-Hatta management collaborated with Emirates, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, AirNav Indonesia, ground handlers, and Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine (CIQ) agencies to conduct joint coordination sessions, technical verifications, and full-scale operational simulations.

"These measures were taken to ensure that every stage of service—from touchdown and passenger-baggage handling to turnaround departure—runs safely, smoothly, and efficiently," Heru said.

For its inaugural arrival, the Emirates A380-800 will dock at Terminal 3's Contact Stand G26, which is equipped specifically for Code F wide-body aircraft.

Ground operations are further bolstered by specialized Ground Support Equipment (GSE), including heavy-duty A380 pushback tractors, high-lift loaders, belt conveyors, container dollies, and pallet dollies, to streamline turnarounds.

The Airbus A380-800 is the world's largest commercial passenger jet with a full double-deck cabin configuration. Featuring a wingspan of 79.75 meters and a fuselage length of 72.7 meters, the aircraft can accommodate over 600 passengers depending on the airline's seating layout.

"The arrival of the Airbus A380-800 is not only a major operational achievement for Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, but is also expected to further strengthen Indonesia's connectivity with various international destinations, driving growth across tourism, trade, investment, and the national economy," Heru concluded.

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