Emirates Airline is to continue expanding around the world in 2016 with extra flights and upgrading aircraft throughout the year.
Since the start of January, it has announced new routes to the Philippines, increased and upgraded services to the US, more flights to Switzerland and Greece, and different aircraft for Africa and Australia.
From 30 March, Emirates will launch circular services to Cebu and Clark in the Philippines using a Boeing 777-300 Extended Range with up to 14 tonnes of cargo capacity. It is expected to carry perishables such as dairy products, fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, and electrical equipment.
For the US, Emirates will start using an Airbus A380 for flights to Washington D.C from 1 February, as United Airlines is planning to withdraw Washington – Dubai services after 25 January. Los Angeles will receive a second daily service using an A380-800 Ultra Long Range, in addition to its twice-weekly Boeing 777-200 Freighter flights. The airline says Los Angeles exports fruit and vegetables and it also transports garments, automobiles, machinery and agricultural cargo to the Middle East, and medical equipment onto India.
Emirates will increase services to Switzerland with a second daily flight to Geneva from 1 June using a 777-300ER. It says this will provide almost 20 tonnes of additional capacity a day for Swiss exports such as pharmaceuticals, automobile spare parts, chemicals and semi-conductors.
From 1 March, Emirates will do a second daily Dubai – Larnaca – Athens 777-300ER service, increasing cargo capacity by almost 20 tonnes. It says Greek exports include ship spares, fish, fur and leather goods, and pharmaceuticals.
African services to Zambia and Zimbabwe will see a 777-300ER replacing the existing Airbus A340-300 on the Dubai – Lusaka – Harare flight. Emirates says businesses will benefit from 23 tonnes of bellyhold capacity per flight for exports including vegetables and flowers, and imports of such as pharmaceuticals and mining equipment.
Australian flights to Perth will be upgraded to double daily A380 from 1 August, replacing the 777-300ER currently being operated.
