Emirates today takes a decisive step forward in its drive to cosset high-flying
premium customers by opening an exclusive new First and Business Class
check-in terminal at Dubai International Airport -- the only one of its kind in the
world.
The unique facility is designed to speed departing travellers smoothly onto
flights with minimum formality and fuss. Purpose-built between Departures
and Arrivals, it is the only separate airport terminal in the world catering
to premium flyers.
As well as six First and 10 Business Class check-ins, the superbly-equipped,
spacious 1600 square metre facility offers eight express check-in counters
for flyers with hand luggage only, an innovation particularly attractive to
those on day trips.
Emphasis is on keeping formalities to the minimum so departing passengers
have time to browse the duty free shops, or relax in the Emirates First or
Business Class lounge and enjoy the superb catering. To make the process as
effortless as possible, the terminal has separate access to fast-track
immigration and security channels.
Facilities include internet kiosks and a facility for members of Skywards,
the successful Emirates and Sri Lankan frequent flyer scheme, to view their
e-mail account and send travel details to friends and family waiting for
them on arrival -- invaluable when plans change unexpectedly.
The new terminal is expected to handle some 400,000 first and business class
customers a year. Access is restricted to passengers flying Emirates First
or Business Class, SriLankan Business Class, and Skywards Gold and Silver
members -- regardless of which class they fly in.
The interior of the tranquil oasis features attractively-patterned stone
floors, natural wood, stainless steel counters, subtle lighting, flowers and
pot plants, and soft red leather seats and sofas where family members can
relax in comfort while formalities are completed.
Glass roof panels let in gentle natural light and offer a nostalgic view of
the original airport control tower. The atmosphere is soothing, cool and
restful, with columns in shades of burgundy, slatted natural wood blinds and
bouquets on glass tables.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates
Group, formally opened the terminal today. VIPs from the airline and
Department of Civil Aviation gathered to see him cut the ribbon and meet its
hand-picked staff.
Sheikh Ahmed said: “This unique facility, the only one in the world to offer
such a service to First and Business Class travellers, underlines our
determination to provide the highest possible standards to passengers on the
ground and in the air.”
Specially trained staff will greet flyers outside the terminal, escort them
from their limousine and pass them to a check-in agent whilst a porter takes
care of their bags.
They will then pass through exclusive immigration and security channels to
the departure gate with time in hand for duty-free shopping or relaxing over
a delicious meal in the soothing atmosphere of Emirates’ First or Business
class lounge.
The new check-in terminal is just one of a number of enhancements which
customers can look forward to in months to come. The present Business Class
lounge is being expanded, and Emirates is preparing designs for its own
dedicated passenger concourse beside the current terminal, with 28 departure
gates handling 20 million people a year. Construction starts next year.
Ultra-modern long-range Airbus A340-500 aircraft entering service from next
June will allow Emirates to start services to New York, Chicago and Los
Angeles. Many more services are also being introduced on existing routes
this year, notably to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and
Jakarta.
From 2006, the first of its fleet of 22 new 575-seat Airbus A380 double-deck
airliners (two of them freighters) will enter service, further boosting
business.
To keep pace with expansion, Emirates expects to double its workforce to
more than 35,000 by 2010 as its fleet of 39 Airbuses and Boeings, already
one of the world’s youngest with an average age of only 37 months, grows to
100 by 2010.
Hundreds of new cabin crew from all over the world are among new staff
joining the airline as it continues its meteoric expansion. This year alone
it is adding five new destinations, and five more next year.
Emirates is now the world’s 25th largest airline -- and the fastest-growing.
It has had spectacular success since its 1985 launch, carrying nearly seven
million people last year and earning record profits of 468.2m dirhams,
(US$127m), up nearly 14 per cent on the year before. It has won more than
200 customer service awards.
In November it announced orders for $15 billion worth of aircraft -- 22
Airbus A380 with 10 options, 25 Boeing 777s, eight A340-600s and three
A330-200s, plus six A340-500s and 10 options already on order.
The airline is fully committed to backing the Government of Dubai’s massive
expansion in commerce and tourism to attract 15 million visitors by the year
2010. |
