DUBAI — Emirates is responding to strong passenger demand in Germany by launching extra frequencies to Frankfurt and upgrading one of its Munich flights to an A380 superjumbo.
The moves will further bond two powerful trading partners — the UAE and Germany — whose relationships is worth billions of dollars annually. The UAE is the largest buyer of German products in the Arab world.
The new, daily Frankfurt flight will take effect during the next winter schedule, making the city a triple daily service. Slot times will be confirmed in due course. Like all of its existing services between Dubai and Germany, the additional daily will be operated in accordance with the current air services arrangements between the UAE and Germany. From January 1, 2012, the airline’s morning service to Munich will be upgraded to a superjumbo. EK 49 departs Dubai at 0910hrs and gets into Munich at 1245hrs, one of two daily flights.
Emirates will be the first foreign airline to return the A380 to its home in Germany and the first carrier to operate an A380 to Munich, supporting the airport’s A380-readiness.
“A third daily flight to Frankfurt and the German-built A380 serving Munich is another positive step in what is now a multi-billion US dollar relationship between Emirates and Germany, supporting thousands of German jobs,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, Europe Russian Federation.
“Meeting clear demand is of direct benefit to consumers, who want more choice, and to the German economy. We know international air services are a key driver of economic growth — facilitating the flow of business and cargo and opening up new markets to German exporters and importers,” Obaidalla added. “Frankfurt welcomes the third daily service by Emirates. This will strengthen Frankfurt’s position as one of the leading hubs of international aviation,” said Petra Roth, Lord Mayor of Frankfurt.
Emirates is currently the biggest buyer of the Airbus superjumbo and one of the largest customers for the Airbus A350 aircraft. The A380 programme alone is estimated to provide at least 40,000 direct and indirect German jobs.
“Munich is looking forward to the Emirates’ A380. Good connections to the Middle East are an essential catalyst for tourism from the region. And as Lord Mayor of Munich, I would like to point out that key components of the extremely quiet A380 engine have been developed and produced in Munich at MTU,” remarked Christian Ude, Lord Mayor of Munich.
In addition to being the top purchaser of German products in the Arab world, the UAE is also Germany’s seventh biggest export market outside Europe. German exports to the UAE reached $8.4 billion in 2010. Furthermore, Emirates contributes more than $535 million into the German economy each year via its purchases of other German products and services, its direct expenditures in Germany, as well as marketing spend.
After starting flights to Frankfurt in 1987, Emirates currently operates 49 weekly passenger flights between Dubai and Germany — double daily to Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf and daily to Hamburg, becoming double daily from September 1. Additionally, Emirates operates eight weekly freighter flights to Germany.
“Fair market access and open competition is good for Emirates, customers and the global economy. Operating out of Dubai with its Open Skies policy, Emirates is well used to competition. In the midst of extraordinary consolidation within our industry, we believe that the merits of competition are now more important than ever,” Obaidalla concluded.
· —muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com