(Launching the new Emirates Dublin- Dubai service , was from left Cabin Crew Danika Lillelund; Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD ;Declan Collier, Chief Executive, DAA ; Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline ; and cabin crew Lorna Lynch)
In January Emirates’ Airline announced a new route from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Dublin Airport. The service began on the 9th of January with the landing of the inbound flight to Dublin. It operates on a daily basis and leaves Dublin at 12.55 and arrives in Dubai at 00.25 the following day. The return flight departs Dubai at 07.00 and arrives in Dublin at 11.30. This development has been broadly welcomed by Dublin Airport stakeholders as it represents a significant economic opportunity. At the press launch Dublin Airport CEO Declan Collier stated: “We are delighted to welcome Emirates to Ireland, and I’m sure that this new daily service is merely the beginning of what promises to be a long and very successful partnership between Dublin Airport and Emirates.” Mr Collier also indicated that discussion about this service have been ongoing for around a decade. Emirates Airline executive Tim Clark stated: “Our research team found business interest and tourism potential of Ireland was being quite strong. Second, we were quite impressed with the new hi-tech terminal 2 of Dublin airport that has upgraded facilities.” Emirates will become the seventh major carrier to be accommodated in Terminal two. Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Etihad, and US Airways having already made the decision to operate from there. Emirates will operate the route with an Airbus A330-200, offering First, Business and Economy class options for passengers.
In economic terms this service now provides direct linkage from Dublin to a major international hub in the middle east allowing the movement of goods and people. Dubai itself is a vast airport with four terminals and up to eighty carriers that link to dozens of cities in the EU, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, The Far East, Australia, and further afield.
