Emirates to Launch New Service to Washington, DC

Non-stop daily flights starting September 12th DUBAI - March 15th, 2012 - America’s capital city will soon enjoy enhanced international connections through a non-stop link to Emirates’ global network, after the airline announced that it would start flights to Washington Dulles International Airport from September 12th, 2012.

Emirates will operate a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft on its DC route, providing eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 304 seats in Economy Class.

“As Emirates’ seventh U.S. gateway and our third new American route to launch in 2012, Washington, DC is a significant next step as we continue to expand our services across the country,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. “This new route will provide further impetus to the vibrant trade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States, boosting exports and imports and increasing opportunities for business, industry and tourism.”

Trade between the United States and the United Arab Emirates reached a record-high of $18.34 billion in 2011 - an increase of over 40 per cent from 2010.  The U.A.E. was the 19th largest export destination for American goods in the world in 2011, with the total value of exports reaching a record high of almost $16 billion. The most exported items to the U.A.E. were transport equipment, computer and electronic products, non-electrical machinery, chemicals and fabricated metal products.  The greater Washington, DC area is highly diverse, with over 15 per cent of its population born outside the U.S. The region is home to more than 1,000 international institutions and over 1,000 foreign-owned companies from 50 countries.  Washington, DC is also a must-see destination for visitors to the United States. From learning about flight at the National Air and Space Museum to feeding tarantulas at the National History Museum’s Insect Zoo, America’s capital is packed with fascinating attractions, not to mention iconic landmarks such as The White House, The US Capitol and The Washington Monument.  Emirates’ network now encompasses 122 cities globally, with 22 destinations in Africa, 17 in the Middle East and 18 in the Far East and Australasia. The airline also operates over 200 flights each week to the Indian Subcontinent and Pakistan. Emirates' flights to Dubai provide conveniently timed connections to an extensive range of onward destinations,with Bangkok, Delhi, Manila, Johannesburg, Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi, Mumbai and Bangalore all connecting in under four hours.   Customers travelling to and from the United States can also benefit from Emirates’ partnerships with Jet Blue, American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. Passengers connecting on to Emirates’ services from these airlines enjoy a range of advantages, including one-stop check in and checked through baggage.  Winner of over 500 international awards, Emirates’ unique service offering includes complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers for premium customers, privacy suites in First Class, and an inflight entertainment system featuring over 1,200 channels of new release Hollywood movies, TV, music and games.   Starting September 12th, 2012, EK 231 will leave Dubai daily at 2:20 am and arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 08:50am. EK 232 will depart Dulles at 10:55 am arriving in Dubai at 8:00 am the following day. With a fleet of 170 aircraft, Emirates now flies to 122 destinations, having recently launched services to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lusaka and Harare. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City start on June 4th and Barcelona and Lisbon will join the Emirates’ network on July 3rd and July 9th respectively.