Emirates flies to Seattle; Etihad begins Abu Dhabi-Shanghai flights

Published Thursday, March 01, 2012
Dubai-based Emirates airline launched the first direct air bridge between the Middle East and America's Northwest on Thursday as its inaugural service from Dubai departed for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

With two dynamic and fast-growing regions now more closely linked, Emirate's Seattle service will generate a host of economic benefits; from boosting imports and exports to creating new markets for business and tourism.

Emirates' recent order for an additional 50 Boeing 777-300ERs fitted with American-made GE90 engines, plus options for 20 more aircraft worth a total of $26 billion at list prices, will support over 100,000 skilled American jobs in more than a dozen US states.

"Emirates has looked forward to the day when we would connect Seattle to our home hub in Dubai, on flights operated by state-of-the-art, Seattle-built aircraft," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group.

"This new service is the latest step in Emirates' strategic programme of expansion across the United States, and we are confident that it will support the burgeoning trade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Seattle metropolitan region," said Sheikh Ahmed.

"Emirates highly values its partnerships with American business and industry, and we look forward to strengthening these links as we invest in growing our presence across the country."

On board inaugural flight from Dubai were Sheikh Ahmed, Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi - UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; Major General Mohamed Abdulrahim Al Ali - Deputy Minister, UAE Ministry of Defence; Hamad Buamim - Director General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Justin Siberell - US Consul General, US Consulate General of Dubai; Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline; Adel Al Redha, Executive Vice President - Engineering & Operations; and Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Executive Vice President - Chairman's Office and Facilities Management.

Emirates is already the world's largest customer of the Boeing 777 and operates the aircraft to each of its six United States gateways: New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and now Seattle.

A number of other Washington State suppliers contribute to the airline's unprecedented aircraft order book.  The Smart Landing and Smart Runway technology fitted in Emirates' fleet is designed in Honeywell Aerospace's Redmond, W.A. facility; while Zodiac Aerospace manufactures Emirates' aircraft stowage compartments at their Washington plant.

"This new service will serve as a gateway to an important part of the world that is essential to creating jobs, new business and tourism opportunities in our state," said Gael Tarleton, Port of Seattle Commission President.  "This direct service connects the Puget Sound region to an entire new continent of economic possibilities."

"Emirates' non-stop flights will support Seattle's thriving export trade through a 15-ton freight capacity that will serve one of the largest cargo hubs in the world at Dubai International Airport," said Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo. "Emirates will carry goods including software, technology and telecommunications equipment to markets across the Middle and Far East".

Etihad begins Abu Dhabi-Shanghai flights
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has commenced scheduled flights between its hub in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, China.

The airline will initially operate five weekly Airbus A330-300 services to Shanghai's main international airport - Pudong (PVG) - with commitments to a daily schedule from April 15.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said the new route had special significance as the first non-stop commercial passenger flight between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

"The new Shanghai route adds much more than just another destination to the Etihad Airways global network.

It brings the capital of the UAE and the commercial and financial centre of mainland China closer together and creates new opportunities for government, trade, tourism and cultural exchange". Hogan said.

Shanghai is today the most populous city in China with an estimated 23 million inhabitants and is a powerhouse economy with a total GDP in excess of US$256.3 billion. It's also building an ambitious future in which it will be the world's epicentre of financial and international trade, he noted.

"Our entry into the Shanghai market is timed to take advantage of these opportunities. We have great confidence that the Shanghai route will contribute to a sustainable future for our passenger and cargo business in China", Hogan added.

The schedule provides full connectivity to key destinations and offers passengers from the Shanghai catchment greater choice and travel convenience. The Abu Dhabi-Shanghai route was the only one in Etihad Airways' China network to offer the luxury and prestige of a three-class aircraft with first, business and economy cabins, Hogan noted.

© Emirates 24|7 2012