Emirates, one of the world's fastest-growing airlines, has commenced its new nonstop service between Dubai and Erbil city in Iraq, making it the 11th destination launched by the airline this year.
The new route marks Emirates' newest destination in the Middle East region and its third gateway in Iraq, after Baghdad and Basra.
Gary Chapman, president group services and dnata, Adel Al-Redha, Emirates EVP, engineering and operations, and Abdullah Al-Hashimi, divisional SVP, Emirates Group security, were aboard the inaugural flight to Erbil.
Upon landing in Erbil International Airport the aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute, followed by a warm welcome at the airport for all passengers onboard the first flight from Dubai.
"The launch of Erbil marks Emirates' 16th destination in the Middle East and we are confident that our passenger operations in Erbil will be as successful as our existing Iraqi gateways. Erbil will provide our passengers with an excellent opportunity to travel seamlessly both in and out of Erbil to our worldwide network of 126 destinations in 74 countries," Al-Redha, said.
To celebrate the first flight into Erbil, Emirates organized the previous night a welcoming Ramadan iftar party attended by local travel trade and media. The carrier's Iraq Country Manager Haitham Al-Battawy hosted the event.
In addition to Erbil, Emirates has launched several other new destinations this year, including Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dallas Fort Worth, Seattle, Lusaka, Harare, Ho Chi Minh City, Barcelona and Lisbon. Flights to Washington DC, Adelaide, Lyon, Phuket and Warsaw will also join the Emirates' network in the coming months.
The new service between Emirates' hub in Dubai and Erbil will initially operate four times a week, increasing to a daily service from Sept. 1.
Emirates will fly its Airbus 340-300 on the route, offering 267 seats in a three-class configuration and more than 13 tons of cargo capacity.