SYDNEYSIDERS will be treated to a spectacular show this weekend when a Qantas and an Emirates plane fly in formation over the city in what is believed to be a world-first.

The two A380s will soar above the harbour on Sunday morning to launch the groundbreaking new partnership between the two airlines.

It is believed to be the first time anywhere in the world that two A380's have flown in a formation.

"We also believe it is the first time two separate airlines have flown together in formation,'' a Qantas spokesman said.

Approval had to be granted by safety regulators in Australia and the United Arab Emirates for the event.

Pilots from both airlines have conducted dozens of special simulator training sessions since January to prepare.

Emirates pilots came to Australia earlier this month to conduct joint sessions in Qantas' A380 simulator in Sydney.

Pilots from both airlines will undergo final training sessions in Sydney this weekend.

The planes will take off from Sydney Airport at 9.20am and fly north to Longreef before turning and flying to Watson's Bay.

They will fly over the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 10.30am towards the Gladesville Bridge before turning around.

The Qantas plane will lead the formation at a height of 1500ft with the Emirates aircraft to the right and higher.

The aircraft will operate under a joint special callsign "Seismic'' whilst in formation, so called because Emirates president Tim Clark said the partnership will cause a seismic shift in global aviation.

Qantas's first flights to Dubai will leave from Melbourne and Sydney on Sunday afternoon.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and a number of celebrities will be on board the flight from Sydney, which departs at 5pm.

The partnership got the eleventh hour go ahead from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Wednesday.

The move means Qantas passengers will get "one-stop'' access via Dubai to 33 European destinations including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona, as well as destinations in the Middle East and North Africa.

Before the five-year partnership, approved after a six-month review process, Qantas passengers flew to London via Singapore under the Australian carrier's longstanding partnership with British Airways.

That deal has ended under the new arrangement, with the British carrier forming a codeshare agreement with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific instead.

Under the new deal Qantas Frequent Flyer members and Emirates Skywards members will be able to earn points or miles on all flights on the joint network worldwide.

They will also be eligible for lounge access with both airlines, except in the Americas, New Zealand and South Africa.

Qantas is also boosting its baggage allowance for economy passengers to 30kg and removing rules about the number of bags on international flights to everywhere except America to bring it into line with Emirates.

