Ahmedabad prepares for Emirates

The Emirates wide-bodied aircraft in its distinctive livery will soon become a familiar sight over Ahmedabad skies, and the airline is leaving no stone unturned in its attempts to introduce the product to the city’s travel and cargo community ahead of the launch of its six-flights-per-week service.

Senior executives from the airline’s headquarters in Dubai and Mumbai office will officially present Emirates’ award-winning brands and products to over 500 travel and cargo agents at an elaborate road show in Ahmedabad today. The Emirates delegation includes Salem Obaidalla, Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia and Indian Ocean, and Orhan Abbas, Vice President India & Nepal, amongst others.

Effective 28th October, Emirates will power its Indian operation with the launch of direct, non-stop flights to Ahmedabad – the airline’s ninth Indian and 95th global destination, and its fourth new route in 2007, after Venice, Newcastle and Sao Paulo. The Dubai-based carrier which is on the threshold of one of the biggest and most exciting growth graphs ever witnessed by an airline will later this year launch services to Toronto (29th October) and Houston (3rd December).

In celebration of the proposed new service, Emirates has introduced a special introductory return airfare of Dhs 1380 to Ahmedabad on Economy Class. The fare is valid till 30th November and can be booked through any Emirates Travel Hub in the UAE or through preferred travel agents. Bookings can also be made online at Emirates.com/uae.

Mr Obaidallah noted: “Last year, Emirates embarked on a major expansion in India focusing on Southern India, and this year, after a span of over two decades, we are re-entering the country’s western skies; our first footprint in West India being Mumbai in 1985.

“We are delighted with this development, as is Ahmedabad’s travel trade, who have already shown overwhelming interest in our product offerings that include Emirates SkyCargo, Emirates Holidays, and our Passenger Sales products.”

On the route Emirates will operate modern jets: the Airbus A330-200 in a three-class configuration of 12 First, 42 Business and 183 Economy Class seats, and the Boeing 777-200 in a two-class configuration of 42 Business and 304 Economy Class seats. Both offer industry-leading comforts including ergonomically designed seats, and personal entertainment systems in all classes.

Emirates’ First Class offers spacious sleeper seats set in a 2-2-2 configuration and separated by wide aisles; discreet and attentive service owing to four cabin crew allocated exclusively to First Class; multi-course meals individually prepared by master chefs and accompanied by an extensive range of beverages.

When it comes to Business Class, Emirates is fully aware that it is competing in one of the most hotly-contested markets, and has hence gone to great lengths to ensure luxury, efficiency and attention to detail for its customers. Passengers, spread across 42 roomy, comfortable sleeperette seats set in 2-3-2 configuration, are looked after by three to five multi-lingual cabin crew, and served speciality cuisines enhanced by leading chefs from around the world.

Emirates’ Economy Class has been redesigned to make cabins quieter and more restful, with wider seats, each equipped with a 6.5-inch personal video screen with ‘touch’ controls and up to 22 audio and 18 video channels of entertainment.

Those wishing to stay in touch with their offices and families while onboard will benefit from the personal satellite telephone and provision to send and receive email and sms from each seat, as well as from laptop recharging facilities.