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“Stockholm is an important centre for business, industry and services in Scandinavia, with an average annual GDP growth of 3.5% forecast for the coming years,” said Hubert Frach.
“Emirates’ new service will play a significant role in supporting this growth by connecting Stockholm to well-established and emerging markets in the Far East, opening new conduits for trade, investment and tourism. Our home base of Dubai is a dynamic hub for global commerce and tourism. In fact, more than 5.5 million tourists visited Dubai in the first half of 2013. The city is poised to attract visitors from a range of source markets, including targeting a new generation of first-time travelers from emerging markets,” Frach added.
The inaugural flight was welcomed by Minister of Trade Sweden Ewa Björling, Swedavia President and CEO Torborg Chetkovich and Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Sweden Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi along with partners from the travel trade and local media.
“I am very pleased to have the honour to inaugurate the first direct flight from Stockholm to Dubai. This flight will have a great impact on our bilateral 
trade and cultural exchange,” said Swedish Minister Ewa Björling.
“I am particularly pleased to welcome a premier airline like Emirates to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Passenger travel between Stockholm and Dubai has grown by about 600% over the last 10 years and we see great opportunity for both business and leisure travel. Also, with this daily flight, Swedes will have easy access to popular destinations in Asia, India and Africa with just one stopover due to Emirates extensive network,” said Swedavia President and CEO Torborg Chetkovich.
The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating on the route is well-appointed with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and ample space for 216 customers in Economy Class. Locally sourced, fresh gourmet cuisine in all cabins is served by Emirates’ multinational cabin crew. The airline currently employs more than 140 Swedish nationals, including 50 cabin crew members and 64 flight deck crew.
Emirates’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system ice offers up to 1,500 channels showing the latest blockbuster films, TV programs and an extensive repertoire of music from around the world.
Customers on Emirates flights also enjoy extra baggage allowance of 30 kilograms for those travelling in Economy Class, 40 kilograms for Business Class and 50 kilograms for First Class.
In addition to passenger operations, Emirates SkyCargo offers 17 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity between the two cities. Popular commodities include pharmaceuticals, construction equipment, electronics, perishable food items, textiles, leather goods, plants and flowers.
Emirates flight EK157 departs Dubai at 0715hrs and lands in Stockholm at 1200hrs the same day. EK158 departs Stockholm at 1355hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2255hrs.
Emirates now operates services to 135 destinations in 77 countries from Dubai. Earlier this year, Emirates launched services to Warsaw, Algiers and Haneda. On 1 October, Emirates will launch services to Clark International Airport in the Philippines and on the same day will commence its transatlantic Milan-New York route. Emirates will launch a linked service to Conakry in Guinea from 27 October, Sialkot in Pakistan on 5 November, and will expand its presence in Eastern Europe with the launch of Kiev on 16 January 2014, followed by Taipei on 10 February 2014.
