Emirates to expand network with The Seychelles, Seoul, Hamburg and Geneva

Emirates is to start passenger flights to another three cities in 2005, in Europe and the Far East.

When added to the airline's new three-weekly route to the Seychelles, due to start on 2 January as announced earlier, the new routes will expand the Emirates network to 81 destinations by the end of next year.

On 1 May Emirates will start operating daily flights to Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea.

Daily services to Hamburg will start on 30 October, making it the airline's fourth gateway to Germany, presently served by five daily flights to Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich.

On 1 December, Geneva will become the second Swiss city with daily Emirates services, besides Zurich.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates, said: "In 2005, Emirates will continue to grow and expand to new destinations where we know there is a demand for our services.

"In doing so we are putting our airline within reach of an ever-growing customer base, giving them more choices and an opportunity to experience first-hand the high quality of the Emirates product that has been the foundation of our success.

He added: "We constantly invest in advanced equipment and staff training to meet the highest passenger expectations and requirements. Our customers keep rewarding us for the high priority we give to providing them the best possible travel experience."

Seoul

Flying daily non-stop between Dubai and Seoul's ultra-modern Inchon International Airport, Emirates' new service to the South Korean megalopolis will meet increasing demand for business and leisure traffic between the two booming cities, starting on 1 May.

Emirates has selected the Airbus A340-300 in a three-class configuration for the route, with a capacity of 267 passengers and 13 tonnes of bellyhold space for cargo.

Flight EK306 will depart Dubai International Airport daily at 09:20hrs arriving at Inchon International Airport at 22:50hrs. Return flight EK307 departs the next morning at 07:50hrs, arriving in Dubai at 12:45hrs. Flight duration will be eight and a half hours from Dubai to Seoul and nine hours 55 minutes from Seoul to Dubai.

Emirates currently has nearly 200 Korean cabin crew, and plans to hire about 20 new staff members for its town and airport offices in Korea.

Hamburg

Emirates' daily services to Hamburg, its fourth German gateway, will start on 30 October. Hamburg is the country's second largest city and long-time centre for maritime commerce. 

The number of visitors from Germany to Dubai has been escalating rapidly - more than 160,000 in the first half of this year, representing an increase of 67 per cent vs the same period in 2003.

With an eye on the strengthening trade ties between Germany and Dubai, Emirates' services will cater to the growing demand from travellers as well as shippers looking for speedy air links between the huge port of Hamburg and Dubai, the Middle East's major trading hub.

Flights will depart daily from Dubai on an A330-200 in a three-class configuration, offering 237 seats and 13 tonnes bellyhold capacity. Flight EK059 will take off from Dubai International Airport at 08:55hrs arriving at Hamburg International Airport at 12:55hrs. Return flight EK060 will depart the same day at 15:35hrs, arriving Dubai at 00:45hrs the next morning.

Emirates currently flies once daily to Düsseldorf, and twice daily to Frankfurt and Munich. The airline has over 70 German flight crew, and intends to expand its staff in Germany to operate its new town and airport offices in Hamburg.

Geneva

Described sometimes as the "Capital of Peace", Geneva is headquarters to many international organisations, including several agencies of the United Nations. On 1 December next year it will become Emirates' second Swiss destination since Zurich services started in 1992.

Similarly to Germany, Switzerland has been contributing a rapidly growing number of visitors to Dubai - in excess of 19,000 in the first six months of this year, or 63 per cent more than during the same period of 2003.

Flights will depart daily from Dubai on an A330-200 in three-class configuration, offering 237 seat capacity and 13 tonnes. Flight EK085 will depart Dubai International Airport daily at 08:55hrs arriving at Geneva International Airport at 12:55hrs. Return flight EK086 departs the same day at 14:40hrs, arriving Dubai at 23:50hrs.

More than 40 Swiss nationals serve among Emirates' flight crew, and the airline's Swiss-based staff, presently 31 in Zurich, is set to grow even more with the launch of its Geneva operations.

The Seychelles

Emirates' thrice-a-week flights to the Seychelles starting January 2, will offer excellent connections for travellers from the Middle East, Europe and the Indian Sub-Continent.

Particularly attractive to the high-end leisure market, the Seychelles comprise over one hundred coral islands in the Indian Ocean that offer options from outdoor and water sport activities to rejuvenating spas. 

Emirates' A330-200 aircraft on this new route will carry 237 passengers in Business and Economy classes. The aircraft also will offer Seychelles' exporters 13 tonnes of cargo space for transporting fresh and frozen seafood products to Middle East markets and points beyond.

Flight EK705 will depart Dubai every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 02:10hrs and arrive in the Seychelles the same morning at 06:45hrs. Return flight EK 706 will operate on the same days, taking off from the Seychelles at 08:00hrs and arriving in Dubai at 12:30hrs.

Emirates flight crew includes four nationals of the Seychelles, and soon more will join the airline locally, to support its ground operations.

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