Emirates flew into Khartoum on Monday this
week (8th April 2002), marking the start of three-weekly, non-stop services
to the Sudanese capital.
HE Mohammed Khalfan Bin Kherbash, the UAE Minister of State for Finance &
Industry, led a delegation on the inaugural flight which numbered 70 VIPS,
including chairmen and members of the UAE Chambers of Commerce &
Industry, officials from different local government departments and leading UAE
businessmen.
The delegation included HE Mustafa Ismail, Sudans Foreign Minister and HE
Mohideen Salem, Sudans Ambassador to the UAE.
They were accompanied by a delegation of Emirates Group management led by
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates Commercial Operations Director, which included
Ismail Ali Albanna, Director Dnata Airport Services; Mohammed H.
Mattar, Deputy Director Emirates Airport Services; and Hamad Obaidalla, General
Manager GCC, Yemen & Iran; plus selected members of the media.
The delegations were welcomed at Khartoum International Airport by Sudanese
ministers and officials, in addition to senior Emirates management.
Before departing on the inaugural flight, Mr Al Ghaith said: We wish to
thank the government of Sudan and the Immigration and Police authorities for
the support given to Emirates in starting operations to Sudan. The
inauguration of this new service is a natural progression in our long-term
plans to connect both Dubai and the UAE with the international Arab
community and the world and to help contribute to their economic
development.
This high-level delegation of officials and businessmen from the UAE, who
are enthusiastic about our new service, is an indication of their interest
in seeking opportunities for investment and joint ventures and in promoting
bi-lateral trade.
Heading Emirates operations in Sudan as Area Manager for Sudan is UAE
National Ali Al Daboos, who will be based at the new Emirates office in East
Khartoum.
Emirates SkyCargo expects to transport meat and agricultural products from
Sudan to markets abroad, while general trade goods and personal effects are
expected to be the main types of cargo carried into the country due to the
large Sudanese expatriate community within Dubai.
Khartoum is Emirates 58th destination in 41 countries, and the three
weekly, non-stop flights are operated with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a
three-cabin service of 18 First, 42 Business and 183 Economy Class seats.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, EK732 will depart from Khartoum in the
early evening at 1930hrs, arriving in Dubai just after midnight at 0025hrs.
EK731 will depart from Dubai every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at
1500hrs, touching down in Khartoum at 1800hrs. All times are local.
Emirates began a three-weekly service to Moroccos commercial capital,
Casablanca, on 31st March and, in addition to the new service to Khartoum,
will start services this year to Perth in Western Australia, the Indian
Ocean island of Mauritius and Osaka in Japan. |
