South Africa participated in a historic one-off Emirates A380 flight that set a Guinness World Record for having the greatest variety of nationalities on one flight.
The Emirates A380 flight welcomed people of different races, cultures and religions as well as those with special needs.
The flights marked the 48th UAE National Day and the airline attempted to welcome as many nationalities as possible, with passengers encouraged to wear their national dress, as part of a celebration of tolerance.
Flight EK2019 flew across all seven emirates and passengers, who were selected from 30,000 people who wanted to take part in the event, could write their names and wishes for the Year of Tolerance on a special message wall.
Just before the descent, an official from Guinness World Records who was onboard verifying nationality counts announced the new world record title for most nationalities on a single aircraft.
As passengers disembarked, they were handed certificates of participation and a group photo with all 541 passengers was taken in front of the Emirates ‘Year of Tolerance’ A380.
The 22 cabin crew on flight EK 2019 hailed from 18 countries (on an average flight, Emirates cabin crew represent up to 15 nationalities) and the flight was commanded by UAE Nationals Captain Abbas Shaban and Captain Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, and First Officer Karin Arning from Germany.
‘The UAE has become a remarkable symbol of tolerance and coexistence, welcoming people from over 200 nationalities and backgrounds, all living together in solidarity and harmony. It is, in fact, the diversity of the citizens and residents of the UAE that unite us and make us stronger through mutual respect and opening bridges of common dialogue, and today’s flight is a celebration of that spirit which is very much a part of our everyday lives here in the UAE,’ said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.
Image: supplied
