Emirates to increase Paris flights

Wednesday, 28 December 2011 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, will add an additional five weekly flights to Paris in direct response to strong passenger demand on the route.

Effective 25 March, the current double-daily Charles de Gaulle service will be supplemented by an additional four frequencies, increasing to five extra weekly flights in the winter 2012 schedule.

The four extra flights from March will operate on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The new EK 071 will depart Dubai at 0355hrs and arrive in the French capital at 0905hrs. The return flight, EK072, leaves Paris at 1110hrs to land in Dubai at 1940hrs. Effective 30 October 2012, EK071 and EK 072 will also operate on a Tuesday.

The additional five frequencies, taking the total number of Emirates’ weekly flights to Paris to 19, will be operated with a 777-300ER. The aircraft offers eight First Class Private Suites, 42 lie-flat beds in Business Class and a spacious cabin in Economy Class with 310 seats.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy the latest version of the airline’s multi award-winning ice entertainment system, which brings over 1,200 channels of movies, TV shows and music, including French language content.

Paris is one of the Emirates’ routes served by the popular and partly French-built A380. The airline’s A380 orders will generate over 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in France.

“Demand to and from France, particularly from business travellers, is such that a third frequency has always been an objective for Emirates, said Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation, Emirates. “With these additional services, we will help to satisfy that demand, while providing more opportunities for travel between Paris, Dubai and beyond to our network of more than 100 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia,” added Obaidalla.

France became part of the Emirates’ route network in 1992 and now two gateways are served; Paris and Nice. As passenger and belly-hold cargo services have increased, so has the contribution to the multi-billion dollar trade relationship between France and the UAE.

French investment in the UAE has traditionally focused on oil and gas, however the free trade zones have attracted companies such as L’Oreal, Chanel and Schneider. Food, automotive parts, furniture and interior design products also contribute to the trade relationship.