Emirates, the trend-setting airline that operates four weekly flights from Dubai to Larnaca and on to Malta, has launched direct transatlantic flights from Milan to New York with a flight time of just 9 hours and 20 minutes.
Jaber Mohamed, Area Manager Cyprus for one of the fastest-growing airlines, said that the company is excited about how Dubai will host the World Expo 2020 and sees this as an opportunity to promote all the business and leisure attractions the emirate has to offer, as well as is importance as a services and financial hub.
However, Mohamed said that company was not complacent about all these accolades, including record profits and a mega-fleet order at the recent air show.
“Our aim has always been and remains boosting the economy and tourism industry in Cyprus. From the chauffer drive service for our First and Business Class passengers, all the way to the services we buy from local comapnies and, of course, the big number of Cypriots we employ within teh Group, both in Cyprus and around the world,” he said.
The Area Manager, who is also in charge of the operations in Malta, said that the Emirates Group employs Cypriot captains and first officers, cabin crew; engineers and cargo managers, airport services personnel and administrative staff in Nicosia and internal communications officer at the head office in Dubai.
“The airline provides opportunities to business and leisure travelers in Cyprus to seamlessly connect daily to our worldwide network, particularly to eastbound destinations, including the Middle East and Australia, which also accounts for the highest percentage of inbound traffic to Cyprus.”
Travelers from Cyprus receive exclusive access to the VIP Business Lounge at Larnaca airport and any of Emirates’ 35 exclusive lounges worldwide, including Terminal 3 in Dubai.
Emirates operates the Cyprus-Malta flights with a Boeing 777-200ER with a three class configuration, while the Group’s freight division, Emirates SkyCargo, carries 17 tons of cargo per flight in and out of Cyprus, including cars, live animals, pharmaceuticals, valuable cargo, and refrigerated goods including fish, flowers, and vegetables.
Jaber Mohamed said the direct transatlantic service between Milan and New York was introduced in October and that through strategic agreements with JetBlue in the U.S and with Easyjet in Europe, customers can easily connect onto flights serving the U.S. Economy class customers can check in 30kg, Business passengers 40kg and 50kg in First.
“We have recently introduced a new scheme for businesses in Cyprus called Business Rewards with travel benefits tailored to meet the needs of all SMEs and similar-sized organisations,” he said.
Each time employees book their Emirates flight through Business Rewards, the employer business or organisation earns Business Rewards Miles, while the individual traveller continues to earn Miles from frequent flying programme Skywards.
Mohamed said that Australia is one of the top three destinations in the Emirates network, popular with our business and leisure travelers alike, especially due to the big Cypriot community Down Under.
A new partnership with Qantas launched in April of this year now links travellers from Cyprus to the Australian and New Zealand domestic network of more than 55 destinations.
“Our Group president Tim Clark recently announced that Emirates expects to fly 70 mln passengers in 2020. The airline together with its partners in Dubai is already progressing on plans to ensure the right infrastructures are in place to support and capitalise on this growth.”
“Our aim has always been to connect travellers from around the world to Dubai, and other destinations with just a single stop via our hub,” Jaber Mohamed concluded.
