Emirates to Launch Barcelona Flights; Increase Madrid Services

Emirates will launch Barcelona as its second passenger gateway into Spain from 3 July 2012, after doubling frequencies to Madrid from 1 July 2012.

The airline is embarking on a major boost to its services in Spain on the heels of mounting demand for its Madrid service, launched in August 2010.

The new Barcelona flight, EK 185, will leave Dubai daily at 06:55 and arrive in Barcelona at 12:00. The return service, EK 186, departs Barcelona at 16:40 and lands in Dubai at 01:00 the following day.

Emirates’ 30th European destination will be served with a 360-seat Boeing 777-300ER, in a three-class arrangement. This includes eight First Class Private Suites and the award winning ice entertainment system throughout all cabin classes.

Barcelona, in the north east corner of Spain, is a popular tourist destination, boasting a wealth of gothic architecture, art galleries, sandy beaches and the Montserrat mountain range.

As capital of the Catalonia region, Barcelona is an important commercial city. It is an established centre for hi-tech and biomedical business and has one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean. Thousands of cruise passengers are amongst the city’s 7 million visitors per year.

In a further sign of commitment to Spain, Emirates will be launching a second daily service to Madrid from 1 July.

Flight EK 143 will also be operated with a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, departing Dubai daily 14:25 and arriving in Madrid at 20:20. The return flight, EK 144, leaves Madrid at 22:10 and arrives in Dubai at 07:15 the next day.

Passengers flying out of Singapore can choose to fly on any of Emirates’ 28 daily services to Dubai before connecting to the daily Barcelona and Madrid flights respectively.

“Emirates is making a very significant investment in Spain. To announce a new destination and a doubling of services to an existing gateway at the same time demonstrates our belief in the market and our commitment to the country,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline. “Madrid has been a strong performer and the demand is there for a second frequency, while we need a second point serving the dynamic Catalonia region ... The new link between Dubai and Barcelona service will provide an efficient route to a wide range of Emirates’ destinations across Asia including Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore, all via our superb Terminal 3 in Dubai.”

While Emirates has been serving Spain with passenger flights since 2010, Emirates SkyCargo has been operating freighter services to Spain since 2006, largely in support of the country’s fashion industry.

Clothes are also amongst Catalonia’s main exports to the Gulf, along with machinery, cosmetics, audio and video equipment, chemical products and fresh foodstuffs. Overall trade between Spain and the UAE reached AED 4.15 billion (US$1.13 billion) in 2010, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade.

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