Emirates Airline has announced the introduction of a new daily non-stop flight between Newcastle and Dubai, starting later this year.The Dubai-based international carrier’s new service, which will commence on 1 September, 2007, will be the first ever scheduled long-haul flight to operate from Newcastle.

This means that customers in the North-East region will have direct access to one of the most popular tourist destinations and fastest emerging markets of the Middle East. It also opens up an onward route network that stretches across more than 80 destinations worldwide after just one short stop in Dubai.

Regions such as South-East Asia, Australia & New Zealand, the Far East, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent will soon be within easy reach of Newcastle for the first time. This represents a massive boost for travellers and cargo shippers alike from across the North-East region.

The new route is expected to generate many new jobs at the airport and throughout the region. Emirates will directly employ up to 15 people at Newcastle International Airport, and it is anticipated that it will also result indirectly in the creation of new positions at support services companies such as ground handling and catering.

Vic Sheppard, Emirates’ Vice-President UK & Ireland, says: “This new service will provide the North-East with direct and convenient access to Dubai and onwards to destinations across the globe. No longer will travellers and cargo shippers from the North-East face the unnecessary delay of connecting onto flights via London or points in mainland Europe - they will soon be able to travel and ship goods direct.

“We firmly believe there is a significant potential market for Emirates in the North-East - one that currently remains largely untapped - and believe this new route will prove hugely successful for both Emirates and the North-East. With the involvement of the local community, it has the potential to boost inbound trade and tourism, whilst also helping to foster strong trade and tourism links between the North-East, Dubai and other destinations we serve.”

John Parkin, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport, says: “We are delighted that Emirates has shown such a huge vote of confidence in the region and Newcastle International Airport by introducing daily services to Dubai.  Newcastle can now offer its customers direct services to one of the most important destinations in the world and an enormous choice of destinations beyond, on one of the world’s leading airlines.”

Starting on September 1, Emirates flight EK036 will depart Newcastle International Airport each day at 1340, arriving into Dubai International Airport at 0005 the following day. The return flight, EK035, is scheduled to depart Dubai at 0720 every day, arriving in Newcastle at 1210. (All times are local).

The service will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with 27 Business Class and 251 Economy Class seats. It also provides a daily cargo carrying capacity of 14 tonnes.

Emirates already operates 91 non-stop flights each week, or 13 each day, from the UK to Dubai - five services daily from London Heathrow, three services per day from London Gatwick, double-daily flights from Birmingham and Manchester, and a daily connection from Glasgow.
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