Emirates introduces first nonstop service to Lisbon

Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, has further extended its European reach today by starting its first daily nonstop service to Lisbon. This comes just six days after launching flights to Barcelona in neighboring Spain. The VIP delegation aboard the inaugural flight to Lisbon included Thierry Antinori, Emirates' EVP passenger sales worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' SVP, commercial operations, Europe & Russian Federation; Pradeep Kumar, SVP cargo revenue optimization and systems; Jaime Leita, Portugal's ambassador to the UAE, Hamad Bin Mejrin, executive director business tourism, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; and Khalid Mohammed Al-Ghazal, Emirates' Boeing 777 captain, in addition to representatives from local and regional media. "Emirates has become the only carrier in the Middle East operating into Portugal with a daily nonstop service, doing more than just transporting passengers from one point to another, but also opening trade opportunities that didn't exist before," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' EVP passenger sales worldwide. "Our broad network of 20 points in the Far East and Australasia, 17 across the Middle East and over 180 flights to India every week, will offer travelers from Lisbon and beyond easier access to a vast range of worldwide destinations. This is coupled with an unparalleled experience in the air with on-board features like ice, our award-winning in-flight entertainment system, world-class service and gourmet cuisine." In Lisbon, a welcoming reception for the first flight was attended by Rui Veres, member of the board administration Lisbon Airport (ANA), Antonio Costa, the Mayor of Lisbon, and partners from the travel trade. "Our most recent partner, Emirates, is a recognized and admired company for the excellence of its service. It is with great pleasure that we are here today, at the moment when the Lisbon-Dubai connection officially opens," said Veres. Emirates will serve Lisbon with a Boeing 777-200ER offering 274 seats in a three-class configuration. From arabnews