In the last few months, Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies have spread tentacles beyond its usual destinations to world economies such as Iran and Orlando, in an expansion drive that appears the airline would soon cover the entire globe.
Last week, it extended its reach further into Iran by linking Dubai with Mashhad, adding a second passenger gateway into the country after Tehran.
Emirates Airline’s new non-stop daily flight service to Orlando, Florida also began on September 1, 2015.
The route is Emirate’s 10th to the United States and guarantees expansive business opportunities as well as cultural exchange in Orlando, Dubai, and beyond.
To celebrate the inaugural flight and the launch of the new service, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council was pleased to participate in a special Gala event at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and hosted by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Group.
Central Florida is currently ranked second for job creation in the United States, and is home to around 150 international companies.
Tourism, entertainment, technology, education, construction, and medicine are one of the few reasons why Orlando received over 60 million visitors in 2014.
Knowing this, Emirates has provided Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, direct access to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East using U.S.-built Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft.
As Emirates continues its commitment to high quality passenger service and contribution to the U.S. economy, Emirates’ latest purchase of 150 Boeing 777s worth $76 billion will support 400,000 US jobs.
According to Frank Kruppenbacher, Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the estimated economic impact of the new daily flight to the city of Orlando is upwards of $100 million annually and will immediately generate 1,400 new jobs.
In addition to the inaugural flight, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, along with Emirates, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, sponsored the Florida Dubai Link Exhibition and Trade Mission, hosted by Orb International and C7 International.
This trade mission brought together, a host of U.S. companies, including but not limited to Florida Hospital, Coldwell Banker, Hilton, American Regional Center Group, and Valencia College to the U.A.E. to discuss business expansion between the two cities, medical and health tourism, immigration, real estate, and taxation.
Commenting on the launch, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre for Emirates, said: “The new service to Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city and one if its most economically vibrant centres will not only enhance trade ties with the UAE, but will also introduce travellers to Emirates’ vast route network, opening up new opportunities to connect efficiently with destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and West Asia through our world-class Dubai hub. By boosting air transport links from Mashhad to the increasingly connected world economy, we are contributing to the growth of international trade, tourism and investment.”
On board the inaugural flight were Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre for Emirates Airline; Khalid Al Hinai – Vice President Cargo Commercial for the Middle East, GCC and Iran; Mohammad Reza Fayyaz, Iranian Ambassador to the UAE ; Mohamad Hosein Moghadam Taghizadeh, General Manager of the Iranian Hospital; and Naser Hamidi Khah, Managing Director of the Iranian Club .
In ran last week, upon arrival at Mashhad International Airport, the aircraft was met by a senior delegation from the airport, headed by Ali Gasem Zedeh, Chief exdecutive officer of Mashhad Airport.
The inaugural event was followed by a welcome reception and gift exchange ceremony.
Emirates’ five weekly flights, operated by a combination of a three class and two class configured A330-200, will help further stimulate the vital trade ties between the UAE and Iran.
The UAE is Iran’s biggest non-oil trading partner. It is also Iran’s biggest source of imported goods, worth more than AED 93.5 billion in 2014.
In turn, Iran exports goods to the UAE valued at AED 3.8 billion, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy.
In addition to passenger operations, Emirates SkyCargo will offer up to 150 tonnes of cargo capacity per week between Dubai and Mashhad on the A330-200.
Popular commodities to be exported out of Mashhad are fruits, vegetables, handmade carpets, saffron and nuts. Imports such as meat, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, machinery and automobile parts will also be vital to the trade exchange.
Emirates commenced services to Iran in 1990 with two flights a week to Tehran. It now operates four daily flights to the capital city. Since then, Emirates has carried 7 million passengers in and out of Iran.
U.S visitors continue to visit Dubai – Emirates’ home and hub – in their thousands.
In 2014 over 500,000 U.S citizens stayed in Dubai to conduct business and explore the emirate’s array of leisure opportunities. Emirates’ flight, the first direct service from Florida to Dubai, will connect well with many of the airline’s services to and from the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East and Africa, giving passengers from those regions seamless connectivity to the “Sunshine State” as Florida is known.
Orlando is famous for its world-class theme parks, family entertainment and year round sunshine which bring in over 59 million visitors each year. It also has a strong business base with thriving industries in Advanced Technology, Film and Digital Media production, Aerospace and Life Sciences.
Emirates customers can also connect seamlessly onto many destinations in the US, the Caribbean and South America through the airline’s codeshare partner JetBlue’s regional hub in Orlando, which serves 24 cities including San Juan in Puerto Rico; Bogota, Colombia and Nassau, The Bahamas.
“Orlando is one of the world’s premier leisure and conference destinations, a dynamic business centre and a destination which Emirates has long wished to serve”, said Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates. As a growing region, we believe that our service will facilitate further growth for both Orlando as well as central Florida by connecting the city with our global network of 145 destinations across 80 countries; and give customers from Orlando the choice of flying Emirates whilst experiencing our award-winning in-flight product and service.”
“Orlando International Airport has always been an engine for economic growth and job creation in Central Florida,” said City of Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer. “Today’s great news that Emirates will fly non-stop Orlando to Dubai will boost our local economy with new jobs and continue to further Orlando as a premier global travel destination.”
“All too frequently, aviation news is dominated by announcements of fewer options, less comfort and shrinking value. By contrast, this pro-growth development demonstrates that international airlines can spur American jobs by providing supply where there is previously unmet demand,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “America sorely needs this kind of infusion of air service and customer service, not to mention the quality, unexportable jobs that are generated by increased travel.”
“JetBlue is delighted to see our codeshare partner Emirates expand into Orlando, one of our largest and most important markets,” said Scott Laurence, JetBlue’s senior vice president of airline planning. “This is not only great news for Central Florida travelers but also for visitors from around the globe who will gain new travel options to the Caribbean and Latin America when connecting on JetBlue through Orlando International Airport.”
“Florida is on a mission to become the global leader in job creation and we are excited about the new Emirates non-stop flight between Orlando and Dubai. We welcomed more than 97 million visitors to our state last year and every 85 tourists creates another Florida job. We know our tourism industry helps grow our economy and that is why we are investing $145 million at the Orlando International Airport to expand the South Terminal Complex so we can continue to increase domestic and international air service – like the new Emirates flight,” said Governor of Florida, Rick Scott.
“Emirates addition of daily service between Dubai and Orlando is great news for the Sunshine State and will help to establish Florida as the number one travel destination in the world,” J. William Seccombe, President and Chief executive officere, Visit Florida, said. Orlando will be the tenth U.S passenger destination Emirates serves, following on from Boston which launched on 10th March and Chicago on 5th August 2014. The airline has been serving the US for over 10 years, gradually expanding services on a commercial basis to serve the consistently high demand for its flights. In 2014, Emirates’ average load factors on its US routes were over 80 percent, offering single-carrier connections to over 50 global destinations not currently served by any US airline. Last year Emirates carried over 2.3million passengers and 106,000 tons of cargo to and from the US.
Customers on board an Emirates Boeing 777-200LR can experience a wide range of products and services during their flight. All passengers can enjoy over 2,000 free channels of films, TV shows, music, games and podcasts through ice, the airline’s multi-award winning in-flight entertainment system, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine and Emirates’ renowned in-flight service from the airline’s multi-national cabin crew from over 120 countries. First Class passengers will have a private suite which converts into a two metre (6ft7in) bed and dining on demand; Business Class passengers can relax in their lie-flat bed; whilst Economy Class passengers will enjoy a choice of menus including complimentary beverages.
Parents flying with children are well looked by Emirates with access to free strollers at Dubai International Airport, a choice of children’s toys, specially prepared children’s meals and dedicated children’s channels on board to keep our younger passengers entertained.
SADE WILLIAMS