Dubai,  Emirates, launched its new Dallas/Fort Worth service today. It is the fifth gateway for Emirates in the United States, and the fourth new route to join the airline’s international network so far in 2012.

Emirates will serve Dallas/Fort Worth daily with a Boeing 777 aircraft, including private suites in First Class and lie-flat beds in Business Class. EK221 leaves Dubai daily at 0245hrs, arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth at 0905hrs. The return sector, EK 222, leaves Dallas/Fort Worth at 1150hrs, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 1220hrs the following day.
 
“The United Arab Emirates is the single largest export market for American goods in the Middle East and trade continues to grow sharply, up more than 20 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous 12 months,” said Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States.
 
“The U.S. is on target to surpass its pre-downturn 2008 record of $14.4 billion in total exports to the U.A.E. and this new Emirates route will spur hundreds of millions more in local economic activity.  It will also attract more U.A.E. investment to Texas and more Texas investment in the U.A.E.,” added Al Otaiba.
 
“Emirates’ newest U.S. destination is a thriving and dynamic metroplex, which is home to one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies in the country,” said Nigel Page, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, The Americas. “A direct link with Dubai will open new vistas for North Texas, with key trading and business centres in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent now just one stop away.”
 
The new Emirates daily service to Dubai is a monumental development for DFW Airport, because it opens up a key region of the world for the citizens of Dallas/Fort Worth," said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "We are very pleased to have Emirates, one of the world's most highly regarded airlines, connecting DFW and Dubai, two of the world's top airport hubs."

“This daily flight is a big deal for both North Texas and our partners in the U.A.E.,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “Our world is getting smaller, and it’s crucial that we take advantage of every opportunity to expand our global business and tourism presence. This connection certainly does that. Fort Worth is excited about the doors that will open thanks to this daily connection with our partners in Dubai.”
 
On board today’s inaugural flight from Dubai were Nigel Page, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, The Americas, Ali bin Salem Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economics Department, and John Podgore, President, American Business Council. Upon landing, the Emirates delegation was met by over 100 business leaders from the Dallas/Fort Worth region.
 
Dallas/Fort Worth becomes Emirates’ 121st global destination. Customers flying Emirates from Dallas/Fort Worth will be able to connect to points across the Far and Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Africa via the airline’s state-of-the-art hub in Dubai.

“Not only does our new Emirates service offer the fastest commercial journey times between North Texas and the Middle East, but also the most comfortable and entertaining experience in the sky,” added Mr Page.

Source Emirates Airlines