Emirates to fly mega-sized plane out of Houston's IAH

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Emirates the latest airline to bring the Airbus A380 to the Bayou City, signaling that Houston's economy isn't slowing down.

Bob Pertierra with the Greater Houston Partnership says the number of international airline passengers coming through Houston has increased by 60 percent over the last 10 years.

The Emirates A380 is the latest addition to IAH.

"I think this upgrade in service of Emirates is a great sign that the growth in Houston is continuing and that Houston continues to rise in prominence as a global city, as one of the top global cities in the world," Pertierra said.

He says the new emirates flight to Dubai is proof the demand from Houstonians is greater than ever.

The two-story plane features 14 first-class private suites, equipped with two shower spas. The plane carries 491 passengers altogether. If you want to ride in luxury, though, be prepared to pay.

A round trip first class ticket from Houston to Dubai on this plane will cost more than $26,000. If you can do without the private suite, you're looking at about $9,000 for business class and just over $1,000 for economy.

Hobby Airport is on track to open an international terminal next year, adding even more possibilities for Houstonians looking to travel abroad.