UAE airline Emirates has launched new services to Sudan and Morocco, announced doubling of its daily frequencies to Frankfurt and is considering an increase in its schedule to Philippines.
The inaugural flight to Khartoum last month carried a 70-strong group of VIPs including Sudan's foreign minister Mustafa Ismail and the UAE minister of state for finance and industry, Mohammed Khalfan bin Kherbash. "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," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' commercial operations director. Khartoum became the Emirates' 58th destination in 41 countries, and the thrice-weekly, non-stop flights are operated with Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a three-cabin configuration of 18 first, 42 business and 183 economy class seats. EK731 leaves Dubai every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 3pm and arrives in Khartoum at 6pm. The return flight EK732 departs from Khartoum at 7.30pm and reaches Dubai just after midnight at 12.25am. On March 31, Emirates began a three-weekly service to Morocco's commercial capital, Casablanca. It will also start services this year to Perth in Western Australia, Mauritius and Osaka in Japan. * Emirates is launching on-line booking facility in Qatar. Passengers can book their tickets on the airline's website using their credit cards and the ticket will be delivered within 24 hours. Emirates to report profit - Page 47