Emirates to launch A380 service to Washington airport

Emirates Airline said Monday it would boost capacity on its Washington service with an Airbus A380, picking up passenger slack after United Airlines abandoned the route.

Daily flights with the world's largest aircraft will begin on February 1 between Emirates's home base of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Dulles International Airport near the US capital, the company said.

Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said it was filling a void left by United Airlines which plans to stop service the route on January 25.

"Despite strong seat load factors, United has made the decision to withdraw from the route. The additional seats offered by our A380 will therefore restore capacity on the route, and ensure that American consumers and international travelers wishing to visit DC for business or leisure will continue to be served," Clark said in a statement.

Last year, US airlines heatedly protested against government subsidies for Emirates, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, alleging the unfair support was helping the so-called Gulf Three beat their US rivals in the market.

The complaints by the three major US carriers -- American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines -- led to investigations by the US departments of state, commerce and transportation, opened in April and still ongoing.

Emirates is the largest operator of the A380 and the Boeing 777. The move announced Monday will replace its Boeing 777-300ER, which has passenger capacity of more than 400, with the double-decker A380, which can seat double that number.

The airline serves more than 140 destinations from its hub at Dubai International Airport, ranked the world's busiest for international passengers in 2014.