Dubai’s flag carrier, Emirates has launched flights from Dubai to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. The two iconic South American cities will be served by the airline from 3rd January, 2012 with the Buenos Aires service extended from the Rio de Janeiro.
Emirates is set to expand its network in South America by offering daily, direct flights to Rio de Janeiro and extension to Buenos Aires. This new operation of the premier airline is going to commence from 3rd January 2012 and will connect these two big cities to Dubai and over 100 destinations worldwide.
“Both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are rightly renowned as world-class leisure destinations as well as important business and trading centres. Our research has shown that there is a high demand for these cities from across our network,” His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline Group, was quoted in the company’s press release.
“Brazil has been part of the Emirates network since 2007 when we began flights from Dubai to Sao Paulo. With the country playing host to both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil will be further catapulted into the world’s spotlight, and we will be in a prime position to transport sports enthusiasts to these renowned events. Meanwhile, our first service to Argentina is a much-anticipated addition to our network which will open important new markets for us,” Sheikh Ahmed was further quoted in the company’s website.
The airline plans to operate Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires service by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, offering eight first class private suites and more than 40 lie-flat seats for business class ticket holders. The aircraft also includes over 300 seats in economy travel for travellers who prefer tickets on affordable and cheap flights.
Emirates may not exactly be renowned for its cheap flights, however ticket buyers do not generally complain. Passengers on all cabin classes can enjoy airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ICE. Passengers can also have an on-board access to over 1,200 channels of entertainment.
Travellers flying with the airline from Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro will also be able to connect to Emirates’ extensive network across the Far East, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Africa andAustralia via its hub in Dubai.
Pedro Novaes, Minister of Tourism of Brazil was quoted in the press release as stating, “Emirates’ current service to Sao Paulo has been extremely popular since it was first introduced. The addition of Rio de Janeiro will serve to further increase the cultural ties between our two nations.”
The bellyhold capacity on the 777-300ER is likely to advance key imports and exports such as accessories, manufactured goods, automobile parts, fruit and vegetables, machinery and pharmaceutical products from Rio de Janeiro.
As far as Buenos Aires goes, key imports and exports include perishables, textiles and pharmaceuticals.
“Emirates’ plans to implement services from Dubai to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro will play an important role in increasing tourism, trade and investment between Argentina, Brazil and the UAE, in addition to the airline’s vast global network,” Carlos Enrique Meyer, Minister of Tourism of Argentina was also quoted in Emirates’ press release.
As per the airline’s website, the Emirates’ flight EK 247 will depart Dubai daily at 0705hrs from 3rd January 2012 and arrive at Rio’s Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 1535hrs. The flight will depart Rio at 1720hrs, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport at 1930hrs. From Buenos Aires, EK 248 departs at 2130hrs, arriving in Rio at 0120hrs the next day. The aircraft will depart Rio at 0255hours, arriving in Dubai at 2235hrs.
