Emirates Airline launches non-stop service to Japan

Emirates Airline on Monday celebrated the start of its daily, non-stop service from Dubai to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) with the launch of its inaugural flight. "We value our partnership with Tokyo International Airport; it is one that helps to connect two global hubs of development and growth - Japan and the UAE. We know that Haneda will play an integral role in our route network and the launch of services demonstrates Emirates' commitment to Japan," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide, in a press release. "Since the commencement of Emirates' flights to Osaka in 2002, trade relations between Japan and UAE have flourished. According to JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation), two-way trade between UAE and Japan rose to $53.1 billion in 2012, up by 5.4 per cent compared to previous year," continued Antinori. "Haneda is our third gateway in Japan and we are confident that the demand in terms of both passengers and cargo is strong enough to warrant Emirates operating non-stop, daily flights to both of Tokyo's airports, offering our passengers more flexibility on the route to Dubai and onwards to over 70 destinations in the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and Europe," concluded Antinori. On board Emirates' first flight to Haneda was Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operation Far East '&' Australasia; His Excellency Daisuke Matsunaga, Consul General of Japan; Ravishankar Mirle, Emirates' Vice President Cargo Commercial; media representatives from the United Arab Emirates and connecting passengers from 17 destinations on Emirates' global network. In the cockpit of the Boeing 777-200LR was Captain Ahmad Alshamsi from the UAE and First Officers Tsuyoshi Mikami from Japan and Hermes Guzman from the USA. With the new daily flight to Haneda, Emirates SkyCargo is able to add about 23 tonnes per flight, which accounts for about 160 tonnes of additional cargo capacity per week, further supporting Japanese exports of mechanical components, electronic goods and automobile parts, and its imports of gas and oil products. Dubai is an important hub for the re-export of Japanese manufactured products to the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Together with the new Haneda flight service, Emirates has launched a complimentary airport transfer services for its passengers from Haneda Airport directly to a location of their choice in the Greater Tokyo area. This service is available to First Class and Business Class passengers traveling on Emirates flight EK312 (Dubai to Haneda) or EK313 (Haneda to Dubai). Emirates' flight EK312 departs Dubai at 0935hrs, touching down at Haneda 0001hrs the following day. The return flight, EK313, departs Haneda at 0130hrs and arrives at Dubai at 0705hrs the same day. The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating the route is equipped with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy, along with gourmet cuisine in all cabins which has been tailored to Japanese passengers, served by Emirates' multinational cabin crew. The aircraft also features ice, Emirates' award-winning inflight entertainment system which offers over 1,400 channels showing the latest Japanese blockbusters, subtitled Hollywood films and Japanese music and TV. Emirates now operates services to 134 destinations in 77 countries from Dubai, earlier this year Emirates launched services to Warsaw and Algiers. In addition to Haneda, Emirates has announced plans to launch services to Stockholm starting 4 September, Clark International Airport (Philippines) beginning on 1 October; the same day as it begins its transatlantic route between Milan and New York. Emirates' longstanding partnership with Japan Airlines has been expanded to include a code share on the new Dubai-Haneda-Dubai services. The flights will be identified with the Emirates ?EK' code as well as with Japan Airlines ?JL' code Emirates Holidays, the airline's tour operating arm, offers holidays to Japan, with itineraries that highlight attractions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Emirates Holidays provides holiday options that take travelers from Tokyo - the modern capital city; to the majestic Mount Fuji and the natural beauty of Hakone; to Nagoya and Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan; and to Osaka, gateway to the Kansai region.