Emirates advances footprint in Bangladesh

Dubai-based Emirates Airline will be stepping up its presence in Bangladesh with the introduction of three additional flights per week to Dhaka, starting 1st February 2009. The award-winning carrier’s move is well timed to support the new trade acceleration policy unveiled by the government of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has announced its intention to organise high level political visits to the UAE to encourage business from both sides. Already UAE investors have shown interest in Bangladesh’s property development, financial services, energy and telecommunication industries.

The additional services will bring Emirates’ weekly operation to 17 flights and add over 800 seats per week on the Dubai-Dhaka route (one direction). Operated by an A330-200 aircraft in a two-class configuration of 27 Business and 251 Economy class seats, EK586 will depart Dubai at 10:15 hrs every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday and touch down at Zia International Airport at 16:30 hrs.

Return flight EK587 will take off from Dhaka at 18:30 hrs on the same day and arrive at the airline’s new home – Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport - at 21:50 hrs.

Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa said: “We are delighted to increase our capacity to/from Dhaka and support the government’s current efforts to grow economic ties between the UAE and Bangladesh. The additional services will help boost trade between the two countries which currently stands at USD300 million.

“The extra flights will also offer excellent connections to New York and London – home to Bangladesh’s burgeoning overseas population. Furthermore, Bangladeshi businessmen will benefit from additional capacity to the UAE and convenient connections to Karachi, Maldives and Mauritius.”

Emirates currently operates double-daily services between Dhaka and Dubai. These flights facilitate travel for half a million Bangladeshis that reside in the UAE as well as offer seamless connections to Bangladeshis living in Europe and North America.

Emirates’ award-winning cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, has been playing a catalytic role in the export of Bangladeshi readymade garments.