Emirates Celebrates Launch of Services to Cochin

Emirates has celebrated the launch of its three times weekly services between Dubai and Cochin with a glittering gala event in the Southern Indian city, attended by government ministers, dignitaries and members of the travel trade from across India.

Emirates’ Cargo Director Ram Menen hosted the gala on 21st January, which was also attended by top Dubai-based, Indian businessmen and the UAE Ambassador to India, His Excellency Dr. Saeed M. Al-Shamsi.

Emirates’ senior management included Keith Longstaff, Senior General Manager Commercial Operations (West Asia, Pacific Rim) and Nabil Sultan, General Manager India & Nepal.

Mr Menen welcomed the guests who included senior ministers representing the Government of Kerala: P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and Information; Ganesh Kumar K.B., Minister for Surface Transport; Professor K.V. Thomas, Minister for Tourism & Fisheries; Dr Muneer M.K., Minister for PWD; and M.M. Hassan, Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs.

“Since the start of operations on 2nd December 2002, I am pleased to say that our services between Cochin and Dubai have been very successful both in terms of passenger numbers and cargo uplift,” he said.

“We believe that Cochin will prove to be an important route - not only for Emirates but also for Kerala - as our flights will connnect the state to Dubai and to points beyond in the Middle East, Europe and the African continent.

“We are confident that our new services will help to promote your tourism industry further and provide the air links to more markets for your business community.”

Guests were later entertained by Boogie Nights, the smash-hit Seventies musical show from London’s West End, and the evening culminated in a raffle draw for Emirates’ return tickets to Dubai.

The Emirates office in Cochin is managed by Pradeep Suvarna, Emirates’ Sales Manager for Kerala state, working closely with Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ General Manager India & Nepal, who is based in Mumbai.

Emirates flies three times a week, non-stop, between Dubai and Cochin, operating an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a three-cabin service offering 18 First Class, 42 Business Class and 183 Economy Class seats.

National carrier Air India codeshares the flights, giving its customers the opportunity to book seats on the Emirates service.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Emirates’ flight EK530 departs Dubai at 0350hrs, arriving in Cochin at 0900hrs.

The return flight, EK531, leaves Cochin later in the morning at 1025hrs, touching down in Dubai at 1300hrs. All times are local. 

Cochin is the 64th destination on the Emirates network, which covers 45 countries on four continents. The network will be further expanded next year when the airline starts services to Lagos on 31st March (subject to government approval), Moscow on 1st July and Shanghai on 2nd August. Emirates is also planning to start operations to North America in 2003, with the delivery of the long-range Airbus A340-500 aircraft.