Emirates to Launch New Service to Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- America's capital will soon enjoy enhanced international connections through a non-stop link to Emirates' global network, after the airline announced that it would start flights to Washington Dulles International Airport beginning on September 12, 2012.

Emirates will operate the American manufactured Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft on its Washington, DC route, providing eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 304 seats in Coach.

"As Emirates' seventh U.S. gateway and our third new American route to launch in 2012, Washington, DC is a significant next step as we continue to expand our services across the country," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. "From opening new gateways and creating thousands of American jobs through our aircraft orders; boosting trade and creating U.S. export-related jobs by bridging America with key markets across the world; to enhancing the services our customers enjoy in the air and on the ground through continuously upgrading our product, services and fleet, Emirates is a committed supporter of U.S industry."

"The arrival of Emirates to Washington Dulles International Airport means travelers in the DC metropolitan area will have one more choice of international airlines and convenient access to Emirates' continuously expanding global network," said John E. Potter, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and Chief Executive Officer. "Emirates will provide an important economic boost by introducing the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to more markets for business, trade and tourism."

Emirates is a steadfast supporter of U.S. job creation and innovation, employing American suppliers for a wide range of goods and services, such as the design of the airline's First Class cabins, the manufacture of its window shades, aircraft wings and landing and runway technology.

One of the key job creation drivers is Emirates' Boeing 777 order book, which includes 85 777-300ERs and nine 777 Freighters. According to Boeing, this 94 airplane-backlog represents more than one year of 777 production. The airline's most recent order in November 2011 for 50 Boeing 777-300ERs fitted with American-made GE90 engines, plus options for 20 more aircraft is worth a total of $26 billion at list prices and will support over 100,000 skilled American jobs* in more than a dozen states.

Emirates currently employs over 700 Americans at operations throughout the world, and anticipates hiring more than 4,000 cabin crew and 500 pilots globally this year. In the first two months of 2012, the airline has recruited cabin crew in Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and Washington, DC. Emirates will also be holding pilot recruitment drives in the coming months.

"Virginia is now competing in the global marketplace for jobs, investments and opportunities and travelers from Virginia and throughout the U.S. will have new options for directly reaching overseas trade partners using this non-stop service from Dulles to Dubai, and then connecting to Emirates' network of more than 120 worldwide destinations," said the Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell. "This service represents the expansion of Virginia's global business connections, and will help the economies of Virginia and our nation to grow by making it easier to connect Virginia with some of the fastest growing economies in the world."

The greater Washington, DC region is highly diverse, with over 15 per cent of its population born outside the U.S. The region is home to more than 1,000 international institutions and over 1,000 foreign-owned companies from approximately 50 countries.

Emirates' network currently encompasses 122 cities globally, with 22 destinations in Africa, 17 in the Middle East and 18 in the Far East and Australasia. The airline also operates over 200 flights each week to the Indian Subcontinent and Pakistan. Emirates' flights to Dubai offer quick and convenient connections to an extensive range of destinations, with Bangkok, Delhi, Manila, Johannesburg, Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi, Mumbai and Bangalore all connecting in less than four hours.

Customers travelling to and from the United States can also benefit from Emirates' partnerships with Jet Blue, American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. Passengers connecting to or from Emirates' U.S. flights from these airlines will enjoy a range of benefits, including one-stop check in and checked through baggage.

Starting September 12th, EK 231 will leave Dubai daily at 2:20 am and arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 8:50 am. EK 232 will depart Dulles at 10:55 am arriving in Dubai at 8:00 am the following day.

Washington, DC will be Emirates' 11th new route to launch in 2012. So far this year, the airline has started services to Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dallas/Fort Worth, Seattle, Lusaka and Harare. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City start on June 4th and Barcelona and Lisbon will join the Emirates' network on July 3rd and July 9th respectively.

*Figure calculated using U.S. government job creation estimates for U.S. built aviation exports

About Emirates

Emirates currently serves 122 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of 170 wide-bodied aircraft that are equipped with industry-leading comforts in the air.

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) 686-0259
[email protected]

SOURCE Emirates Airline