EMIRATES FLIES SEVENS TEAMS DIRECT FROM DUBAI TO DURBAN

A milestone in Durban's history was reached this week, when an Emirates A330 landed at Durban International Airport for the first time. The airline, which is title sponsor of the Emirates Durban Sevens, diverted their scheduled flight to Johannesburg via Durban, to bring 13 of the 16 teams participating in the tournament direct to the host city.

The Emirates Durban Sevens forms part of the International Rugby Board's World Sevens Series. The Emirates Airline Durban Sevens will take place at the Absa Stadium in Durban from 16-18 November.

Following on from the hugely successful Dubai Rugby 7s, Emirates, the award winning international airline, organised a flight direct from Dubai to Durban to take the competing teams to the South African event which is billed as "Fast Furious Fun!".

Gary Chapman, Emirates' Chief Director Support and Development, said: "After the massive success of the Dubai Rugby 7s, we are looking forward to another great weekend of rugby, this time in Durban. Emirates is pleased to extend its support of rugby 7s to South Africa and to have been able to provide a direct link for the teams travelling to the Durban event. I believe that Pete Martin from Dubai FM will be in South Africa, so rugby fans will be able to tune in and keep up to date with all the action."

Ten of the 13 teams arriving in Durban participated in the Dubai Rugby 7s, where New Zealand defeated South Africa 45-7 in the final to take the title.

This weekend's tournament will see the two teams up against each other again, but they will face stiff competition from Australia and Fiji, who are among the teams taking part in the Emirates Durban Sevens.

Emirates operates daily flights to Johannesburg from its hub in Dubai. From December, Emirates will increase from seven to ten the weekly frequency of flights between these two points.