Emirates to Provide NZ-Spain Link

See following new release issued for Emirates Airline:

News Release, 7 January 2010

Emirates to Provide NZ-Spain Link

Emirates, the international airline of the United Arab Emirates, is to start flights from Dubai to Madrid, providing direct links between New Zealand and Spain.

The daily, non-stop service begins from August 1, making the Spanish capital the carrier's 25th destination in Europe. It is the third new Europe destination announced recently by Emirates, following on disclosure that the airline will this year also start services to Amsterdam (May 1) and Prague (July 1).

All Emirates’ daily flights from Auckland and Christchurch will provide direct connections at Dubai to Amsterdam, Prague and Madrid.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, said: "The new Madrid route is particularly significant because we will provide the only scheduled passenger service between Dubai and Spain. If there is one route that we have been repeatedly asked about in recent years, it is Spain, so I believe we will make a lot of people very happy with this announcement."

EK flight 141 will depart Dubai at 7.25am and arrive in Madrid at 1.20pm local time. The route will be served by an A330-200, offering 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 183 in Economy.

There are already strong trade links between Spain and Dubai, particularly in the field of fashion, supported by Emirates' SkyCargo, which flies to the Spanish city of Zaragoza. The UAE has been listed as a priority fashion market by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), and the list of Spanish brands found in Dubai's shopping malls is extensive.

Spain, with a population of more than 45 million, is one of the most visited countries in the world. In 2007, nearly 60 million tourists arrived in Spain, making the country the second destination for world tourism, according to Spanish government figures.

ENDS

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