Dubai,  Emirates Airlines will add an additional weekly 2,000 seating capacity on the Newcastle route with the Boeinbg-777-300ER starting 1st September 2012.

A 428-seat configured Boeing 777-300ER,  will replace the current 278-seat configured Airbus A330-200 on the route; an equivalent capacity increase of over 50 per cent. Since the service launched on 1st September, 2007,  approximately 700,000 passengers traveled and carried more than 10 million kilos of cargo on Emirates Newcastle route. Emirates Boeing 777-300ER fleet consist of 65 in service and 86 on order.

"Our Newcastle service has come of age and with demand continuing to increase, this is the right time for Emirates to be expanding its capacity from the North East," said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation. “With the introduction of this larger aircraft, we will offer almost 6,000 seats every week to and from Newcastle. Since we commenced services, more than 175,000 overseas passengers have travelled with Emirates to Newcastle from across our global network, boosting tourism and business in the North East,” Obaidalla added.

Emirates’ main destinations for UK's north east travelers include Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Perth, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Mauritius.

Dave Laws, the airport's chief executive, said: “This is a very significant announcement for Newcastle International. We are absolutely delighted Emirates will begin operating a larger Boeing 777-300ER from the airport on its fifth anniversary year at the airport.

“Despite challenging economic times, the daily service to Dubai has flourished. The growth of this global brand at the airport will bring employment opportunities and increased cargo carrying capabilities. This in turn will bring economic benefit, trade and investment to the region.

“It’s very much a sign of confidence in both the North East and in the airport. Delivering access to Dubai and beyond onto a global network has had an incredibly positive impact on the business community. It has improved access to markets as well as import and export operations. Since Emirates began operating from Newcastle Airport, trade from the North East to Australasia has increased by more than 65%,” he added.

“The airport currently employs approximately 3,000 people onsite and a further 5,000 from across the North East. This investment and growth from Emirates is testament to the successful partnership with our seven Local Authority shareholders and business stakeholders in the region.”

Source: Emirates Airlines