Improved Emirates.Com

A NEW upgraded version of www.emirates.com, the flagship Emirates airline website, has now taken off - and is all set to attract more users through a wider range of benefits and services.

The popular site already enjoys twice as many visits as it did in October when a previous package of improvements to it was unveiled.

Now better links for members of Skywards, the Emirates/SriLankan Airlines frequent flyer programme, online bookings for customers in Singapore, the UK and the UAE, simpler user navigation and a greater focus on Dubai have been introduced too.

Advantages for surfers wanting to know what the airlines offer include details of inflight products, stop-overs and seating, and two virtual tours - one of Emirates' business class seat and another around the new lounges at Dubai International Airport.

And to promote the upgraded site, Skywards members in Singapore, UK and UAE who book on line by the end of March will receive double miles on their trip.

Mike Simon, Emirates' Director of Corporate Communications, said: "We expect online booking to be particularly popular in the UK, where we now fly six times a day. Better coverage of the airport and of local events will interest business and leisure travellers to, from and through Dubai, and help us improve service to customers.

"We're also planning a host of other innovations, including online newsletters, an Arabic language site, and upgraded services for our Skywards frequent flyers."

The site will be the springboard for future on-line marketing and e-commerce, including on-line booking in more countries, special offers and e-recruitment. "Flash" technology allows customers to plan their trip by navigating Emirates' route map, zooming in on specific cities and clicking to obtain up-to-date information. They can also check the status of their flight, and whether it is on time, or obtain up-to-the-minute Emirates news and information from a new on-line media centre.