Emirates Group Announces 26th Consecutive Year of Profit

 

§  Group records AED 4.1 billion (US$ 1.1 billion)  profit; makes largest-ever investment in the business at AED 22.0 billion (US$ 6.0 billion)

 

§  Emirates makes profit of AED 3.3 billion (US$ 887 million), as revenue increases 13% to AED 82.6 billion (US$ 22.5 billion)

·         Largest-ever capacity increase of 5.9 billion ATKM in airline’s history

 

§  dnata makes profit of AED 829 million (US$ 226 million), as revenue increases 14% to AED 7.6 billion (US$ 2.1 billion)

·         dnata invests a record AED 850 million(US$ 232 million)

 

The Emirates Group today announced its 26th consecutive year of profit and company-wide growth, ending the year in a strong position despite competitive pressure and a global economic environment that is only slowly recovering. The financial year ending 31 March 2014 also marked an unprecedented level of investment across the Group, continued expansion of its global footprint, and the achievement of new capacity milestones.  

Released today in its 2013-14 Annual Report, the Emirates Group posted an AED 4.1 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) profit, up 32% from last year. The Group’s revenue reached AED 87.8 billion (US$ 23.9 billion), an increase of 13% over last year’s results, and the Group’s cash balance remained strong at AED 19.0 billion (US$ 5.2 billion).

 

“Achieving our 26th consecutive year of profit in a financial year marked by record increases in capacity and significant business investments across the Group, is testimony to the strength of our brands and our business fundamentals,” said His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

 

“Throughout 2013-14 the Group has collectively invested over AED 22.0 billion (US$ 6.0 billion), the highest amount ever in one financial year. We know that to be a sustainable and profitable business we have to keep adding value to our stakeholders, our customers, partners and employees. To do this, we need efficient new aircraft, quality products and services, and cutting-edge facilities. Every dirham invested has been carefully considered against short and long-term goals - be it enhancing our capabilities, improving our product, or expanding our business footprint.”  

 

The Group also continued to invest in and expand on its employee base, increasing its overall staff count by 11% to over 75,000-strong representing over 160 different nationalities, across its more than 80 subsidiaries and companies. Revenue per airline employee increased by 4% to AED 1.9 million (US$ 0.5 million).

“We are moving into the new financial year with confidence, and a strong foundation for continued profitability with our strong balance sheet, solid track record, diverse global portfolio and international talent pool,” said Sheikh Ahmed. “Operating in a dynamic and highly-competitive environment means we have to stay agile, and work even harder to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. With the help of our 75,000 strong multicultural workforce, we have no doubt that we will be able to capitalise on the opportunities in the year ahead.” Similar to the last financial year, the Group declared a dividend of AED1 billion (US$ 280 million) to the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

 

Emirates performance

In 2013-14, Emirates increased capacity by 5.9 billion Available Tonne Kilometres (ATKMs), the largest capacity increase in the airline's history in a single year. This brings Emirates’ total passenger and cargo capacity to 46.8 billion ATKMs at the end of the financial year. The airline also marked a new record of over 1 million block hours in terms of fleet production. 

 

Emirates received 24 new aircraft during the year, including 16 A380s, six Boeing 777-300ERs and two Boeing 777Fs, bringing its total fleet count to 217. The airline remains the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 and A380 – both aircraft being amongst the most modern and efficient wide-bodied jets in the sky today. With the delivery of new aircraft, Emirates launched nine new destinations: Boston, Clark, Conakry, Haneda, Kabul, Kiev, Sialkot, Stockholm and Taipei, as well as a new service between Milan and New York. 

 

Emirates revenue for the first time surpassed AED 80 billion, at a new record of AED 82.6 billion (US$ 22.5 billion). While the average price of jet fuel remained high, it was slightly lower compared to last year and has supported Emirates’ bottom line improvement.

 

Emirates’ fuel bill increased by 10% over last year to reach AED 30.7 billion (US$ 8.4 billion). Total operating costs increased by 12%, compared to a revenue increase of 13% over the 2012-13 financial year. The airline successfully managed increased competitive pressure across all markets to record a profit of AED 3.3 billion (US$ 887 million), an increase of 43% over last year’s results, and a healthy profit margin of 3.9%.  

 

Carrying a record 44.5 million passengers, up 13% from last year, Emirates maintained a robust Passenger Seat Factor at 79.4%, nearly consistent with last year’s results in spite of a 15% increase in seat capacity by Available Seat Kilometres (ASKMs). This highlights the strong consumer desire to fly on Emirates’ state-of-the-art aircraft. Passenger yield remained steady at 30.4 fils (8.3 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM). 

 

Emirates also improved its premium seat factor despite lingering economic uncertainty and strong competition in many markets. Premium and overall seat factor for the airline’s flagship A380 aircraft outperformed the network, underscoring the popularity of Emirates’ premium and A380 product amongst passengers.  

 

Over 18 million passengers had flown on an Emirates A380 when the airline marked its fifth anniversary of A380 operations in August 2013. In 2013-14, Emirates introduced A380 services to Barcelona, Brisbane, London-Gatwick, Los Angeles, Mauritius and Zurich, bringing to 27 the total number of destinations served by its popular flagship aircraft. Emirates’ Los Angeles service is also the world’s longest A380 flight at 16 hours and 20 minutes.   

 

Highlighting its sound financials and investor confidence, Emirates raised a total of AED 12.0 billion (US$ 3.3 billion) through a variety of financing structures, mainly to secure its ongoing fleet expansion. Further, eight of the aircraft delivered in the financial year were funded through two corporate bonds issued in early 2013 which raised AED 6.4 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) in funding.  

 

Significant financing milestones achieved during the year include the issue of a second Enhanced Equipment trust Certificate through a lessor, which tapped into the US capital market to fund four A380s. Another major landmark was achieved through the refinancing of two A380s through the first ever floating rate capital market bond backed by a COFACE (the French Export Credit Agency) guarantee. Emirates closed the financial year with a healthy AED 12.7 billion (US$ 3.4 billion) cash flow generated from operating activities.  

  

Revenue generated from across Emirates’ six regions continues to be well balanced, with no region contributing more than 30% of overall revenues. East Asia and Australasia remained the highest revenue contributing region with AED 23.8 billion (US$ 6.5 billion), up 14% from 2012-13. Gulf and Middle East revenue increased 17% to AED 8.3 billion (US$ 2.3 billion), and Europe revenue increased 16% to AED 23.4 billion (US$ 6.4 billion), reflecting new destinations as well as increased frequency and capacity to these regions. 

 

Across the rest of the globe Emirates saw strong revenue increases from Africa up 15% to AED 7.7 billion (US$ 2.1 billion), The Americas up 11% to AED 9.2 billion (US$ 2.5 billion) and West Asia and Indian Ocean with AED 8.3 billion (US$ 2.3 billion) in revenue, up 3%. 

Focusing on customer touch points, Emirates opened a new dedicated airport lounge in Rome, and upgraded its lounges in Paris Charles De Gaulle, London Gatwick and Bangkok. Emirates also announced plans for a new 300-seat contact centre in Budapest to support future growth and supplement its language and response capability, and continued to invest in its onboard product including the installation of Wi-Fi and “live” TV.  

 

In its first full year of operations, the newly commissioned Concourse A at Dubai airport for Emirates’ growing A380 fleet witnessed a significant passenger throughput with 37% or 8.2 million Emirates passengers departing Dubai enjoying the new state-of-the art facilities, spacious lounge areas to board 27,000 flights. 

 

Looking forward to 2014-15, Emirates has to date announced five new passenger routes including Abuja, Brussels, Chicago, Kano and Oslo. Defying the industry trend, the 2013-14 financial year has been a strong one for Emirates SkyCargo who for the first time reported a revenue over US$ 3 billion to reach AED 11.3 billion (US$ 3.1 billion) mark, a 9% increase over last year.  

 

Contributing 15% of the airline’s total transport revenue Emirates SkyCargo continues to play an integral role in the company’s expanding operations. Emirates SkyCargo’s tonnage strongly increased by 8% to reach a remarkable 2.3 million tonnes in a flat and challenging airfreight market, highlighting its ability to grow revenues against the industry norm. This year, freight yield per Freight Tonne Kilometre (FTKM) decreased by 1%.  

 

At the end of the financial year, the Emirates SkyCargo freighter fleet had grown to 12 aircraft – ten on operating lease and two on wet lease. Emirates’ Destination and Leisure Management including hotels recorded revenue of AED 623 million (US$ 170 million), an impressive increase of 35% over last year. This positive development was supported by the first full year of operation of the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai, the world’s tallest hotel. The second tower of the hotel will be fully operational later this year.   

 

dnata performance

 

In its 55 years of operation, 2013-14 has been dnata’s most successful yet, building on its very strong results in the previous year. dnata grew its revenue to AED 7.6 billion (US$ 2.1 billion), an increase of 14%, through organic growth and as well as strategic international acquisitions. For the first time in the company’s history, dnata’s international business accounted for 50% of its revenue.  

  

dnata also outperformed last year’s record profit to reach AED 829 million (US$ 226 million). 

 

In 2013-14, dnata invested a record AED 850 million (US$ 232 million) into its business, laying the foundations for future growth.  

 

Its key investments included: the development of dnata City – a 20-acre cargo logistics centre at London Heathrow Airport, additional warehousing capacity at seven airports across the UK, and capacity expansion of Freight Gate 3 at Dubai airport. 

 

dnata's international growth continued with the addition of several new companies in its portfolio including the acquisition of Broadlex, an aircraft cleaning service provider in Australia, and Gold Medal Travel Group, one of the leading distributors of long-haul travel products in the UK. dnata also acquired Air Chefs in Italy, by taking over the remaining 50% stake from Servair.  

 

Revenue from dnata’s airport operations increased strongly by 15% to reach AED 2.8 billion (US$ 774 million). It remains dnata’s largest revenue stream. The year’s performance was primarily driven by strong volume growth in the UK and Dubai, including first time handling operations at Dubai World Central where commercial passenger flights began in October, and also in a number of dnata’s other global operations including new services from Broadlex. dnata today handles 250 airlines at 27 airports in nine countries and is the world’s largest ground handler of the A380.  

 

dnata’s cargo handling division grew revenue by 8% to AED 1.2 billion (US$ 318 million), on account of increasing business volumes in the UK and additional road feeder services between both airports in Dubai. Dubai World Central now accounts for 30% of dnata’s cargo handling activities in Dubai.  

 

dnata’s catering business accounted for AED 1.8 billion (US$ 478 million) of its total revenue, up 25%. The inflight catering business uplifted more than 41 million meals during the year, a sharp rise of 44% on account of dnata’s consolidated operation in Italy as well as its growth in the UK and Australia. 

 

Revenue from dnata’s travel services division also saw strong growth of 22% to reach AED 662 million (US$ 180 million). This is mainly attributed to business growth in the UK through Travel Republic and the newly integrated business of the Gold Medal Travel Group as of March. The underlying travel services related turnover, measured by net sales value, increased 10% to AED 5.9 billion (US$ 1.6 billion).  

 

In 2013-14, dnata’s operating costs increased by 15% to AED 6.7 billion (US$ 1.8 billion), reflecting the first months of integrating the newly acquired companies across its airport, catering and travel businesses.   

 

Similar to last year, dnata’s cash balance of AED 2.4 billion (US$ 663 million) remains strong and the business delivered a solid AED 1.1 billion (US$ 307 million) operating cash flow in 2013-14.  

 

dnata’s employee strength increased to 23,000, a 14% growth which includes employees from its newly acquired companies. The majority of dnata’s staff, 60%, are based in UAE.   

 

The full 2013-14 Annual Report of the Emirates Group – comprising Emirates, dnata and their subsidiaries – is available at: www.theemiratesgroup.com/annualreport

 

PICS: Harare International Airport - 04/13/14

 

LAM Mozambique (TM342) Bombardier Q400 arriving in Harare Int Airport from Maputo via Beira.

Emirates EK713 Airbus A340-300 arriving at Harare Int Airport from Dubai via Lusaka.

 

South African Airways (SA28) Boeing 737-800 readies for boarding while in the distance SA Express (XZ1613) CRJ200 and Kenya Airways (KQ780) Embraer 190 await departure. Although pretty hard to spot through the aerobridge glass is Egyptair Boeing 737-800 parked for the day awaiting its evening return flight to Cairo via Dar es Salaam. 

 

Special thanks to Paul Chikwanda for providing the pics.

Emirates reduces flights to 41 destinations for 80 day period, maintains services to all existing points

 

• Flight operations adjusted to accommodate necessary traffic reduction at Dubai International, no impact on customers booked to fly
• Estimated AED 1 billion hit to revenue
• Grounded aircraft allows operational flexibility for airline’s own “upgrading” projects 

Emirates, which flies daily from Harare to Lusaka and Dubai, will continue to serve all of its worldwide destinations during the 80 day period of runway upgrading works at Dubai International starting 1 May. However, it has had to reduce flights to over 40 destinations, and change timings on some of its flights.

 

These changes will not impact customers booked to fly between May and July, as the flight schedules have been planned and implemented months ahead of time. Customers or travel agents searching for flight options on Emirates will only see those flights that are available. “Customers who have booked to fly with us, or are considering to fly with us during this time, can be assured that it is business as usual. On routes where Emirates has had to reduce frequency, we have upgraded to bigger aircraft where possible to recover part of the capacity. We have done a lot of preparation work behind the scenes together with all airport stakeholders, to ensure that there will be as little inconvenience to our customers as possible, and we look forward to resuming our full schedule of flights in July,” said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

 

“As the biggest operator at Dubai International accounting for about 50% of traffic, of course we have had to take the biggest hit in reducing flights. There will be an impact on our revenues to the tune of approximately AED 1 billion. However, we understand the need for this upgrading work to be done, and we support it wholeheartedly. It will add much-needed capacity to the airport, and having world-class infrastructure ultimately means a better experience for customers. So we have to take the long-term view and manage the short term pain,” he added. Emirates will ground 20 aircraft in May, 22 in June, and 22 in July, as Dubai Airports launch a comprehensive runway upgrade project which will see both runways at Dubai International close alternatively for resurfacing and other enhancement works.

 

During this time, Emirates has plans for its own upgrading projects, taking advantage of its “grounded fleet” to perform engineering maintenance and onboard enhancements, ensuring its award-winning fleet operates at top form. These works include phased upgrades to its GCS (Global Communications Suite), an initiative that requires approximately 2,200 man hours of mechanical and avionic work per aircraft. The parked aircraft also provides operational flexibility for an ongoing fleet-wide inflight entertainment system and cabin maintenance improvement campaign. In addition, the Emirates Engineering team will carry out its first-ever landing gear change to a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the start of a programme which will eventually involve over 70 other Boeing 777s. The landing gear change work occurs once every 10 years in the aircraft’s lifespan.

 

All Emirates passenger flights will continue to operate from Dubai International Airport (DXB) during the runway upgrading period from 1 May – 20 July, while its freighter operations will move to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) on 1 May as planned.

Emirates EK713 Arriving at Harare International Airport - 18FEB14

Special thanks to RwandAn Flyer for the pic

Emirates to connect Oslo to its global network

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, March 14, 2014: Emirates, a global enabler of business and trade, will expand its European network with a new daily flight to Oslo, Norway, from 2nd September 2014 marking its third Scandinavian gateway. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the daily service will offer three cabin classes with eight seats in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class and 310 seats in Economy Class. Emirates’ customers in Norway will enjoy the convenience of a non-stop connection to Dubai, one of the world’s most exciting destinations for business and tourism, and convenient onward flight schedules to reach over 21 passenger destinations in the Far East and Australasia, 15 destinations in West Asia, 3 destinations in the Indian Ocean and 10 destinations in the Middle East. Among the most popular destinations for Norwegians include Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.  Customers will also be able to experience the Emirates’ flagship A380, connecting to 11 destinations in the Far East, Australasia and Indian Ocean.

 

“Norway’s resilient economy is built on strong foundations including its dynamic oil, gas,

fishing, telecom and maritime sectors. We believe that Emirates’ new Oslo service will stimulate further growth via trade, tourism and investment flows into the country, by providing critical air transport links with emerging markets in the Middle East, Far East, West Asia and Africa.  We also look forward to introducing new audiences to Oslo and drawing in visitors from a host of points across the global network including the UAE and destinations further East such as India, Pakistan, Thailand, China and Vietnam,” said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

 

Oslo ranks as the fastest-growing capital in Europe, and is home to diverse ethnic communities from Pakistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Afghanistan and China. Norway is Europe's largest oil producer, the world's second largest natural gas exporter, and is an important supplier of both oil and natural gas to other European countries. The country ranks fourth in natural gas production globally, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The country also is the world’s second largest seafood exporter, with over 2.1 million tonnes of seafood shipped globally in 2013.

 

The country is also known for its strong shipping sector, and has the fourth largest shipping fleet in the world. Oslo is at the centre of its maritime industry. The city boasts almost 2,000 maritime companies, and has also become a flourishing cruise hub, with more than 588,000 cruise passengers visiting Norway in 2012. Emirates’ new daily service between Dubai and Oslo is expected to strengthen the trade ties which have grown between the UAE and Norway in recent years. Trade volumes between two countries totaled over US $277 million in 2011 according to the UAE Ministry of Trade.  The UAE Ministry of Economy recently reported that there are 17 Norwegian registered trade companies, 38 trade agencies and 244 registered trademarks currently operating and contributing to the growing trade volumes between the two countries.  

 

Emirates employs 28 Norwegian nationals, including 17 pilots.  As one of the most admired airline brands in the industry, and possessing a strong business model that has delivered consistent growth and profits, it is no surprise that Emirates attracts the best talent from over 160 countries.  In 2013, Emirates received over 76,000 employment applications from Europe alone, across all disciplines. In addition to passenger operations, Emirates SkyCargo will offer 23 tonnes of cargo capacity between the two cities. Popular commodities are expected to be; oil and gas equipment, maritime and ship spares, pharmaceuticals, seafood, chemicals, electronics, telecommunication equipment, machinery, dairy products and fruits and vegetables bound for markets like Vietnam, China and Taiwan.

 

Emirates new daily flight to Oslo will depart Dubai as EK159 at 0700hrs* and arrives at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen at 1210hrs*. The return flight, EK160 will depart at 1355hrs* and arrives at Dubai International Airport at 2250hrs*. Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy over 1,600 channels of entertainment on demand on ice, the airline's award-winning in-flight entertainment system.  Passengers on all Emirates’ flights also have generous baggage allowances with 30 kilogrammes for those travelling in Economy Class, 40 kilogrammes for Business Class and 50 kilogrammes for First Class. Emirates’ launch of Oslo will follow the launch of Kano and Abuja in Nigeria on 1st  August and Chicago on 5th August.

 

*Flight times are as per summer scheduling

Emirates Offers Value for Money Fares Year Round

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, March 12, 2014: Emirates, a global connector or people and places, has emphasised its commitment to offering Zimbabwean travellers year round value for money fares to more than 30 destinations worldwide, while experiencing high quality service and comfort during travel to that dream destination. Economy and Business Class fares to selected cities including Guangzhou, New York, Dallas, Washington, Frankfurt, Dubai, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Geneva offer great value for money.

 

“The choice of travelling from Harare to Dubai and then onwards to some of our most popular destinations is an easy one to make,” said Emirates Country Manager for Zimbabwe Paulos Legesse. “The attractions and excitement of Dubai has always been a strong draw, and now we have made the option even more compelling with our value-for-money fares.”

 

Economy Class fares from Harare to Guangzhou, via Dubai, start from US$985 including taxes, while passengers can travel for less than they may think: to New York for just US$1,330 and Perth for US$1,645 including taxes. Business Class fares start from US$3,905 from Harare to Guangzhou and are just US$3,165 to Geneva. Passengers from Harare to Dublin can take advantage of fares from US$1,130 in Economy Class and US$3,615 in Business Class. Value for money fares and the opportunity to stopover in Dubai for shopping and leisure are particular attractions for passengers, with the 96-hour visa in Dubai making the journey even smoother.

 

Travelling with Emirates’ customers can experience award-winning service from its international cabin crew from more than 120 countries, gourmet cuisine and the airline’s renowned ice inflight entertainment system, which offers passengers hundreds of audio and visual channels on demand.  Customers travelling with Emirates benefit from a generous baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class. Passengers on Emirates flights can also stay in touch with SMS, email and phone connections in every seat.

 

Meanwhile, a stopover in Dubai is an experience in itself: as well as the world class shopping for which it is famed. Dubai has also become a global centre for sports events, concerts and an increasing number of cultural activities. The city is also home to an impressive display of modern architecture, contrasting with its natural beaches and magnificent desert landscapes – a rich backdrop for visitors and photography enthusiasts.

 

For enquiries and bookings, please contact your travel agent, visit www.emirates.com/zw or visit the Emirates office in Wakefield Road, Avondale, Harare.

Emirates Launches New Service to Boston

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, March 10, 2014: Emirates, which flies daily from Harare to Lusaka and Dubai, launched its daily non-stop service between Dubai and Boston today. Boston becomes the airline’s eighth US destination and the 142th on its global network which links key tourism and trading destinations across six continents. 

 

The inaugural flight EK237 departed from Terminal 3, Dubai International at 09:45 hours, carrying a delegation of senior airline executives including: Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline; Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer; Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West; and Hiran Perera, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Cargo Planning and Freighters.  

Also travelling on the inaugural flight was a VIP delegation from the UAE including: His Excellency Abdulrahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber; His Excellency Mohammad Khamis Bin Harib Al Muhairi, Director General, The National Council of Tourism and Antiquities; Rahul Agarwal, Manager of Recruiting, McKinsey & Co; Chadi Chahine, Chief Financial Officer, Smith Nephew. Emirates will operate daily flights between the two cities with a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a three-class configuration, offering eight seats in First Class, 42 in Business Class and 216 in Economy Class. 

“We are extremely upbeat about our new Boston service. From the moment we first announced plans to connect Massachusetts to our global network, we have received a strong and positive response from travellers and our business customers - not only in the US, but also in our home market of the UAE, and other major cities Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline. “Emirates’ inaugural flight today carries passengers from the UAE and 39 other destinations, illustrating the reach of our global network, and the potential tourism and trade opportunities of our daily service. We thank our friends in Boston and Massachusetts for the warm welcome and look forward to serving this exciting city and state.” 

In addition to passengers, Emirates SkyCargo will operate bellyhold cargo space to help transport goods to and from Boston - such electronics, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, machine parts, leather products, consumer commodities, as well as New England’s finest lobster. Emirates SkyCargo can carry up to 15 tonnes per day. “Massachusetts is increasingly becoming more competitive in the commercial and economic landscape,” Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick commented. “Emirates’ new Boston service will help the Commonwealth facilitate commerce and trade, allowing Massachusetts to be a strong force and have more access to a global market.” 

More than 50 Boston-based companies operate in the UAE, and in excess of 150 companies have operations throughout Central Asia. Considered a centre for education and research, the region around Boston has more 270 colleges and universities, and each year as many as 44,000 foreign students call New England home during the school term.  

One of the oldest cities in North America, Boston is also a popular tourist destination, with an abundance of cultural and historical landmarks. “Boston is one of the leading U.S. destinations for foreign and domestic tourists, and currently opens its doors to nearly 12 million visitors a year. Today we are happy to extend a special welcome to those travelling with Emirates,” John Barros, Chief of Economic Development for the City of Boston, said. “Emirates’ expansion into Boston underscores this city’s stature as a global cultural and business hub and we foresee many benefits to this new partnership.” 

Beginning today, EK237 will depart Dubai at 09:45 and arrive in Boston at 15:15. The return flight, EK238, will take off from Boston at 23:15 and land in Dubai at 19:30 the next day. Emirates began passenger services to America in 2004 with the launch of daily non-stop flights from New York JFK to Dubai, and now offers daily flights to Washington, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

 

Emirates A340-300 Landing at Harare International EK713

Emirates shares excitement of Dubai game-changer

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, February 24, 2014: Zimbabwe’s leading travel agents have been exploring the excitement of Dubai thanks to a special workshop in Harare hosted by Emirates, which flies daily from Harare to Lusaka and Dubai. Some 50 industry representatives gathered to hear more about the experiences on offer for Emirates passengers with a Dubai stopover.

 

Este McGalty from Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing was on hand to explain some of the many attractions, and the workshop was followed by an evening networking function for managers hosted by Emirates Country Manager Paulos Legesse. “Together, a flight with Emirates and a stopover in Dubai create an unbeatable game-changer. It is an experience that turns a journey into an adventure as you discover new cultures; fabulous food; and first-class service – in all classes,” Mr Legesse told the guests.

 

It is just over two years since Emirates added Harare to its global network, which now spans more than 140 destinations in 80 countries, connecting people and places through the airline’s hub in Dubai. A stopover in Dubai is an experience in itself: as well as the world class shopping for which it is famed. Dubai has also become a global centre for sports events, concerts and an increasing number of cultural activities.

 

The city is also home to an impressive display of modern architecture, contrasting with its natural beaches and magnificent desert landscapes–a rich backdrop for visitors and photography enthusiasts. Mr Legesse also outlined Emirates’ new service to Boston, USA, starting on March 10, talked about the airline’s growing fleet of A380 aircraft, and its sponsorship of the Rugby World Cup.

He also highlighted that Emirates fares offer real value for money. When flying with Emirates customers will experience its award-winning service and entertainment, on board comfort and modern aircraft. For enquiries and bookings, please contact your travel agent, visit www.emiratesholidays.com or visit the Emirates office in Wakefield Road, Avondale, Harare.

PICS: Harare International Airport

 

 

Emirates and Proflight Zambia Sign Global Ticketing Agreement

 

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, January 28, 2014: Emirates, a global connector of people and places, and Proflight Zambia, has signed an interline agreement that will make it easier for international passengers to reach domestic destinations throughout Zambia. Popular Zambian attractions such as the Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – can now be accessed with a single ticket purchase and smooth connections from any of Emirates destinations worldwide. Safari-goers for example will be able to book straight through to Mfuwe for the world renowned wildlife haven of South Luangwa National Park, while business customers can travel direct from Lusaka to the Copperbelt city of Ndola on scheduled Proflight services timed for smooth transfers with in-bound and out-bound Emirates flights in Lusaka.

 

“Our new partnership with Proflight Zambia opens up a wide range of Zambian destinations

for Emirates customers, making exploring Zambia more easy and convenient than ever before. What’s more customers will enjoy even better value for money when they purchase their Emirates and Proflight Zambia flights together,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice-President for Latin America, Central and Southern Africa. “Emirates is one of the most admired airlines in the world, with an extensive global network. This agreement will undoubtedly provide new travel opportunities for their customers, as well as put Proflight and Zambia firmly on the international aviation map,” said Captain Philip Lemba, Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs.

 

Under the new agreement, customers will be able to purchase joint Emirates-Proflight Zambia itineraries and will be issued with a single combined ticket. This will enable seamless connections to and from Proflight’s eight domestic destinations: Ndola, Livingstone, Mfuwe, Solwezi, Lower Zambezi, Chipata, Mansa, Kasama and Mongu, as well as the local airline’s two international routes, Lilongwe in Malawi and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, with Emirates’ daily Lusaka service. Customers will also enjoy a range of added benefits, including special fares to domestic destinations and the same baggage allowance for Proflight customers connecting from Emirates flights. 

 

EK 713 departs Dubai every day at 0925hrs, arriving in Lusaka at 1435hrs. The service departs Lusaka at 1605hrs, arriving in Harare at 1710hrs. The return flight leaves Harare at 1850hrs, arriving Lusaka at 1955hrs. It departs Lusaka at 2140hrs and lands in Dubai at 0650hrs the next day.

Emirates to Connect Fans to Rugby World Cups 2015 and 2019

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, January 27, 2014: Emirates, a global connector of people and places that flies daily from Harare, and Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), today announced a sponsorship agreement for Rugby World Cup 2015 and 2019 which will be held in England and Japan respectively. Emirates also extended its sponsorship of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) match officials until the end of 2019, which includes for the first time in Rugby World Cup (RWC) history the rights to brand the shirts of match officials on the field of play during the tournament. Since the inception of RWC in 1987, no brand has ever featured on the playing kits of players or match officials.

“Rugby is a core part of Emirates’ sports sponsorship portfolio. We’ve supported rugby around the world for more than 20 years, and we are glad to have helped connect hundreds of thousands of passionate rugby fans from around the globe through these events. Rugby is an international sport that reaches an international audience, many of whom are Emirates customers. The 2011 tournament in New Zealand was the most widely-broadcast Rugby World Cup ever, and we anticipate the next two Rugby World Cups will only be more spectacular. For Emirates, it was a natural decision to be the first Worldwide Partner of both the England and Japan tournaments, and as official airline we look forward to flying fans to experience the event for themselves,” said Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline. 

 

 "We are excited to be renewing our long-standing and highly-successful partnership with Emirates. Emirates is a strong champion of rugby worldwide and the reappointment of a globally renowned brand and a world leader in the airline industry further underscores the enormous prestige of Rugby World Cup in the global sporting and business marketplaces," said Brett Gosper, IRB Chief Executive and Rugby World Cup Limited Managing Director. "We look forward to building on our strong collaboration with Emirates to further enhance the promotion of rugby and the world's top referees as we build towards and beyond what promises to be an exceptional England 2015 tournament that will engage and inspire new fans and participants the length and breadth of the host nation and around the world," he added. 

In terms of the agreement, Emirates will be an official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World

Cup 2015 and 2019, as well as the official airline. The familiar ‘Fly Emirates’ logo will adorn the shirts of match officials, and Emirates will have its branding displayed around all stadiums in England and Japan where matches will be played during the six-week long tournaments. The announcement of Emirates as a Rugby World Cup Worldwide Partner has also been welcomed by the Rugby World Cup 2015 and Rugby World Cup 2019 organising bodies. Debbie Jevans, CEO of the Organising Committee for England 2015 added: “We are delighted to welcome Emirates as the official airline of Rugby World Cup, a company that has a longstanding partnership with the sport of rugby. We look forward to working closely with them in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2015.” "Rugby World Cup 2019 is a first for rugby in Japan and Asia. We are excited that Emirates will be official airline of the tournament. Rugby World Cup will contribute greatly to further develop and grow rugby in Japan, and with so many visitors expected it will also deliver significant tourism and trade benefits," said Kojo Tokumasu, Japan 2019 General Manager. RWC 2015 kicks off on 18 September at Twickenham Stadium in London; with hosts England taking on a yet-to-be decided qualifying national team from the Oceana 1 region. So far 13 countries have qualified for the tournament, with the remaining seven teams to make up the final 20 to be decided through qualifying matches over the coming months. Emirates is well positioned to connect fans to the host countries. It currently offers over 100 flights per week into the UK, of which 42 are serviced by its flagship A380 aircraft, while serving Japan with 21 weekly flights, once daily each to Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, and Osaka. 

PIC: British Airways Comair Arrival at Harare International Airport

British Airways Comair 737-300 arriving late on a rainy early evening at Harare International Airport. In the background, an Egypair 737-800 is parked awaiting its evening departure back to Cairo via Dar es Salaam while an Emirates Airbus A340-300 begins boarding for its return flight to Dubai via Lusaka.

 

 

Date: 16/12/2013

Emirates Launches a Daily A380 Service to Mauritius

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, December 16, 2013: Emirates, a global connector of people and places today launched its 24th A380 route, working with its partners in Mauritius to say “Hello A380” in style. At the airport ceremony to welcome the first daily A380 service, Emirates signed a new and enhanced 10 year commercial cooperation agreement with Air Mauritius, and a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. The A380 allows Emirates to bring an extra 153 passengers each day to the beautiful island set in middle of the Indian Ocean. It is the first airline in the world to operate an A380 service to a destination in the Indian Ocean. Travel demand to the island is growing, and Emirates in 2012 carried over 350,000 passengers and 6,000 tonnes of cargo between Mauritius and its global network of 130-plus destinations spanning 78 countries. 

 

The inaugural A380 daily service arrived at Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International

Airport with over 500 passengers and VIP delegation from Emirates, including: Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer; Adnan Kazim, Divisional Senior Vice President, Planning, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs; Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre (GCC, Middle East, Iran & West Asia) and Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Latin America, Central & Southern Africa). It was met on landing by the Hon. Michael Sik Yuen, Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Republic of Mauritius; Andre Viljoen, CEO Air Mauritius; Anand Kinnoo, Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Republic of Mauritius and Rohit Ramnawaz, Chairman, Airport of Mauritius. 

 “Since August 2008 Emirates has served over 18 million passengers on our A380s. Our customers love it, and we continue to see a big demand to fly on the aircraft,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline. “Our A380 service to Mauritius means passengers from key markets such as London, Paris, Moscow and Shanghai, flying via our hub in Dubai, now have the chance to experience a seamless Emirates A380 experience including the world-class service and product across First Class, Business Class and Economy Class for which the airline is renowned. The larger aircraft also means we will be able to bring 153 more passengers each day to this beautiful island destination, thus further strengthening our support for the country’s tourism industry and trade sectors”. 

Mauritius is renowned for its world-class beaches and local hospitality. To showcase those attributes and to celebrate the arrival of the A380, Emirates worked with 100 local Pirogue fishermen to create a Mauritian-style “Hello A380” greeting to all global travellers. This was orchestrated in the stunning setting of Blue Bay Reserve Marine Park, located in the south-east of the island. The A380 will operate as flight EK 701 departing from Dubai International Airport at 03.10 hours and arriving in Mauritius at 09.40. The return flight EK 702 will depart at 18.20 hours and arrives in Dubai at 01.10 the next day. Emirates also operates a second daily flight to the country using a Boeing 777-300. 

Mauritius  joins an illustrious list of global destinations Emirates operates its flagship aircraft to: Dubai, Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Manchester, Melbourne, Moscow, Munich, New York JFK, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto and most recently Los Angeles which launched earlier this month.

Emirates is the largest operator of the A380 in the world with a fleet of 42 and 98 more on order.

For further details about Emirates or to book your flights to Mauritius, please visit: www.emirates.com or contact your preferred travel agent. 

Emirates Heads to Harare Shopping Malls

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, November 16, 2013: Emirates, which flies daily from Harare to Lusaka and Dubai, will be on the ground meeting shoppers in Harare this weekend and next to share the excitement of flying and visiting Dubai.

 

Visitors to Westgate Mall on November 16 and 17, and to Sam’s Levy on November 23 and 24, stand a chance of winning two Economy Class tickets to Dubai with the airline’s raffle draw. Entrants will be asked to answer three simple questions about the airline, and their answers will be entered into a prize draw for the tickets. The Emirates team will also be talking about what Dubai has to offer as a leading leisure and business destination that has something to offer everyone. They will also explain the benefits of the airline’s Skywards frequent flyer programme, which offers lounge, ticket and shopping benefits. Visitors to the stand will be able to sign up for Skywards on the spot, as well as book tickets for travel they are planning.

 

Joining Emirates Skywards is free and members receive benefits every time they fly.  There are four membership tiers – Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  Benefits for Skywards members include travel and lifestyle rewards, priority check-in, lounge access, extra baggage allowance and bonus Miles, depending on the membership tier. Members earn Skywards Miles when they fly on Emirates and partner airlines and through a wide range of leisure and lifestyle partners. Skywards Miles can then be redeemed for a range of rewards such as flights on Emirates and other partner airlines including Qantas, easyJet, TAP, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, and for flight upgrades, hotel accommodation, excursions with Arabian Adventures, and car rentals.

 

Miles can be used for tickets to major sporting event and concerts. Members can also choose to donate their Miles to a range of charity partners including The Emirates Airline Foundation and Sightsavers.  Redemption opportunities are consistently being expanded. The airline flies to more than 130 destinations in 77 countries through its Dubai gateway.More than a third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight from Dubai, and two-thirds are within an eight-hour flight. Today, Emirates operates nearly 3,200 flights globally per week to 137 destinations in 77 countries. Since January 2012, it has launched new services to over 20 destinations, adding air transport connections that will benefit trade and tourism to Dubai and beyond.  Most recently it started services to Conakry on October 27, and Sialkot on November 5, with Kabul scheduled to begin service on December 4.

Emirates Airbus A340-300 Arrival at Harare International Airport