Emirates Adds Fifth U.S. Gateway with New Service to Dallas/Fort Worth

DALLAS, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW AIRPORT -- Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, launched its new service from Dallas/Fort Worth to Dubai today. It is the fifth gateway for Emirates in the United States, and the fourth new route to join the airline's international network in 2012.

Emirates will serve Dallas/Fort Worth daily with a Boeing 777 aircraft offering the highest standards of passenger comfort, including private suites in First Class, lie-flat beds in Business Class and generously-sized Economy Class seats. EK221 leaves Dubai daily at 0245hrs, arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth at 0905hrs. The return sector, EK222, leaves Dallas/Fort Worth at 1150hrs, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 1220hrs the following day.

"Emirates' newest U.S. destination is a thriving and dynamic metroplex, which is home to one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies in the country," said Nigel Page, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Americas. "A direct link with Dubai will open new vistas for North Texas, with key trading and business centers in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent now just one stop away."

"The new Emirates daily service to Dubai is a monumental development for DFW Airport, because it opens up a key region of the world for the citizens of Dallas/Fort Worth," said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "We are very pleased to have Emirates, one of the world's most highly regarded airlines, connecting DFW and Dubai, two of the world's top airport hubs."

"This daily flight is a big deal for both North Texas and our partners in the U.A.E.," said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. "Our world is getting smaller, and it's crucial that we take advantage of every opportunity to expand our global business and tourism presence. This connection certainly does that. Fort Worth is excited about the doors that will open thanks to this daily connection with our partners in Dubai."

"The direct flight creates a bridge between our two cultures and opens up endless economic opportunities for our region and the cities within it," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. "And it comes at the perfect time, as our economy rebounds and exports climb upwards. Dallas continues to be a multinational city that the world is coming to and we welcome Emirates to DFW Airport."

"The United Arab Emirates is the single largest export market for American goods in the Middle East and trade continues to grow sharply, up more than 20 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous 12 months," said His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States.

"The U.S. is on target to surpass its pre-downturn 2008 record of $14.4 billion in total exports to the U.A.E. and this new Emirates route will spur hundreds of millions more in local economic activity. It will also attract more U.A.E. investment to Texas and more Texas investment in the U.A.E.," added His Excellency Mr. Al Otaiba.

On board today's inaugural flight from Dubai were Nigel Page, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Americas, and John Podgore, President, American Business Council. Upon landing, the Emirates delegation was met by over 100 business leaders from the Dallas/Fort Worth region.

Dallas/Fort Worth becomes Emirates' 121st global destination. Customers flying Emirates from Dallas/Fort Worth will be able to connect seamlessly to points across the Far and Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Africa via the airline's state-of-the-art hub in Dubai.

"Not only does our new Emirates service offer the fastest commercial journey times between North Texas and the Middle East, but also the most comfortable and entertaining experience in the sky," added Mr. Page.

Adding to the ease of travel, passengers can use emirates.com to book great rates for hotel and car rentals. Whether looking for a holiday at Disney properties, or an exclusive trip to Atlantis in either the Bahamas or Dubai, Emirates has access to over 23,000 hotels worldwide to meet every traveller's need. Hotel and cars can be simply added to an existing Emirates flight booking, through the airline's Manage a Booking section, or arranged without booking a flight at all.

Emirates Holidays, Emirates' tour operating arm, will feature Dallas/Fort Worth in its 2012 A World of Choice brochure. The annual brochure features over 100 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Indian Ocean, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Americas. Three hotels and resorts in Dallas/Fort Worth will be included in the brochure, as well as additional properties available on request.

Emirates will continue to expand its network over the coming months. In addition to the new Dallas/Fort Worth service, flights to Lusaka and Harare started yesterday; Seattle will launch on March 1st, Ho Chi Minh Cityon June 4th and Barcelona on July 3rd.

About Emirates

Emirates currently serves 121 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of 162 wide-bodied aircraft that are equipped with industry-leading comforts in the air.

Additionally, Emirates has 241 wide-bodied aircraft on order, worth more than US$84 billion, and is the leading customer of the Airbus A380, with 19 in its fleet and 71 on order.

Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both on board and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious awards, most recently including Air Transport World's 2011 "Airline of the Year" award and Frommer's selection of the Emirates Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as one of the 2011 "Top Airport Lounges in North America."

Media Contact: Marvin Singleton
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Tel: (214) 363-3990
[email protected]

SOURCE Emirates Airline