Emirates boosts its Middle East services

Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, is boosting its services in the Gulf and Middle East region with a programme of extra flights to be introduced between now and July.

Doha will eventually have four flights daily, Muscat flights will increase to twice daily, Tehran will get an extra four flights weekly, Sanaa an extra two weekly and Dammam and Kuwait get one extra weekly flight each.

Emirates' Commercial Operations Director Ghaith Al Ghaith said: "We are boosting our Middle East routes as part of the expansion taking place this summer across the whole network. We will not be deflected from our planned growth by the conflict in Iraq. The development of our network is in response to market demand and we will continue to provide our passengers with the services they require."

In a two-stage operation, Emirates is increasing its services between Dubai and Doha to an unprecedented four flights daily.

On March 30, EK841/2 went from three times weekly to daily, departing Dubai at 0810 and arriving Doha (which is one hour behind Dubai time) at 0810.

The return flight departs Doha at 1045 and arrives Dubai at 1235. This increase gives Doha three daily flights as EK843/4 and EK845/6 already operate on a daily basis.

From July 1 a fourth daily frequency will be introduced, subject to Government approval. EK847/8 will depart Dubai at 0230 and arrive Doha at 0230. The return will depart Doha at 0345 and arrive Dubai at 0535.

As a result of these new flights, services between Dubai and Doha will offer fast and convenient connections to all Emirates flights across the network.

Khalid Hassan, Area Manager Qatar, said: "These increases will really put Doha on the map. Our Skywards members, who number nearly 8,000, now have convenient outbound and inbound connections with which to build up their miles."

The morning service between Dubai and Kuwait increased by one extra frequency each week on March 30. Flight EK855/6 now operates every Thursday in addition to Mondays, Wednesday and Friday, departing Dubai at 0745 and arriving Kuwait 0825.

The return departs Kuwait at 0940 and arrives Dubai at 1210. The total number of flights each week on this route is now 11.

Also on March 30, flight EK821/2 Dubai to Dammam started operating every Sunday in addition to Thursday and Friday. This flight departs Dubai at 2200 and arrives Dammam at 2215. The return departs Dammam at 2315 and arrives at Dubai 0125 the following day. The extra flight brings the total on the route to five weekly.

From May 3, Tehran will be served with four additional flights, subject to Government approval. Flight EK975/6 will operate every Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday departing Dubai at 0115 and arriving Tehran at 0345.

The return will depart Tehran at 0500 and arrive Dubai at 0630. These new flights will give Tehran a double daily service.

From July 1, Muscat will get a double daily service with the introduction of seven new flights and Sanaa flights will increase to five weekly with the introduction of two extra weekly services.