Emirates To Launch First-Ever Non-Stop Flight From The Middle East To South America

Dubai-based airline to start six-weekly services to Sao Paulo, Brazil in October

Emirates, the fast-expanding international airline, today announced it would make its South American debut on October 1, 2007 with six-a-week, non-stop services to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The 14-hour and 40-minute flight will be the first-ever non-stop service between South America and the Middle East, providing travellers from Emirates' network of 14 cities in the Middle East, as well as from the Far East and Indian Subcontinent, with a new direct connection to South America via Dubai.

On the route, Emirates will fly its brand new Boeing 777-200 Long Range – the first of its 10 on order.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “We have been looking to expand our operations in the Americas for some time, and we are delighted to be able to launch our first South American destination when we receive our first Boeing 777-200LR later this year.

“Sao Paulo is the commercial heart of Brazil and a key financial and industrial centre in Latin America, and Dubai, the Middle East’s premium hub for business and tourism. We believe this new direct air link will stimulate more trade and tourism exchange between these two thriving economies, and we are confident our service would prove popular with both business and leisure travellers. We look forward to introducing the exciting new destination of Brazil to our customers around the globe.”

Emirates’ technologically-advanced 777-200LR will offer eight luxurious private suites in First class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business class, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy. The 777-200LR will also offer shippers up to 18 tonnes of cargo capacity.

Passengers in all classes will enjoy the meals prepared by gourmet chefs; award-winning service from its international cabin crew recruited from over 100 countries around the world; as well as Emirates’ cutting-edge ‘ice’ (information, communication, entertainment) system, which offers a selection of over 600 channels of entertainment on demand; as well as the ability to send and receive email and text messages from their personal in-seat entertainments systems.

Emirates four daily flights from New Zealand will connect with Sao Paulo departures from Dubai.

Flight details:
EK261 Departs Dubai at 09:30 hrs on all days except Thursday,
and arrives in Sao Paulo at 18:00hrs
EK262 Departs Sao Paulo at 01:25 hrs on all days except Friday,
and arrives in Dubai at 23:05 hrs

*All times indicated are local

ENDS