Emirates launches Flights to Durban

Emirates has launched flights between Dubai and South Africa's vibrant port city of Durban. The city is the carrier's 17th African destination and one of the host cities for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

The Rt. Honourable Sibusiso Ndebele, South Africa's Transport Minister, said, "With the introduction of Emirates Airline to Durban, the people of Kwa Zulu Natal are now able to reach more than 100 global destinations, and similarly more than 100 points of the globe are now able to reach the wonderful city of Durban."

The value of trade between the UAE and South Africa is in the region of AED 7 billion per annum. Last year, the UAE exported AED 3.7 billion worth of goods, according to figures from South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry. Imports to the UAE from South Africa totalled AED 3.1 billion for the same period - gold and steel being amongst them.

Nigel Page, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Americas & Africa, said, "A great deal of work has gone into extending our South Africa services to this important city, which like Dubai is a trading hub. By linking these two places with our daily flight, we are already seeing the benefits for business, tourism and trade. Thousands of people from the UK for example, one of our key markets for South Africa, are already booked to come to Durban."

Durban's province of Kwa Zulu Natal is a popular destination for tourists, boasting captivating wildlife and some of the continent's most talked about game reserves. Hundreds of kilometres of subtropical beaches line the Indian Ocean coastline.

The port of Durban is the busiest in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. The facility handles 50% of South Africa's bulk cargo and exports, including coal, granite, sugar, maize, motor vehicles and many other South African products. Emirates SkyCargo has set up a base in the city to support trade by offering up to 13 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight.

To celebrate the launch of services to Durban, the airline is offering Business Class passengers travelling up until 24th December two complimentary night's accommodation in a standard room at Durban's Southern Elangeni Hotel. The deal covers single or double room occupancy, buffet breakfast and complimentary activity vouchers.

Flight EK775 departs Dubai at 10:25, arriving at Durban International Airport at 17:10. EK 776 leaves Durban at 18:40 and gets into Dubai at 05:20. The Airbus A330-200, which serves the route, is arranged in a two-class configuration with a flight time of around 8hrs 45 minutes.

Emirates Airline already flies three times a day to Johannesburg and daily to Cape Town. On October 25th, the airline further extends its network in Africa by launching flights to Luanda, Angola.

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