Dubai: The president of Emirates airline said Wednesday he expected Dakar to provide "another robust market" for the company when direct services begin on September 1.
Tim Clark was speaking at a press conference in the Senegalese capital with the launch of Emirates' 106th international route just over a month away. Dakar will be the 19th African city on Emirates' flight network after Durban and Luanda joined in late 2009.
Emirates flight 797 will fly non-stop to Dakar five times a week every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The flight will depart Dubai at 9.55am and land at Dakar's Leopold Sedar Senghor International airport at 4pm the same day. The return flight leaves Dakar at 5.40pm and arrives in Dubai at 7.15am the following morning.
Clark said: "This new route will bring Senegal closer to key global markets. It will also stimulate tourism and commerce in the country and generate jobs. A new chapter will open on September 1 and Senegal will benefit from more trade, more business and more visitors.
History
"Senegal is rightly named as the land of ‘Teranga' [hospitality], which is equally integral to Emirates. Like Dubai, Dakar has a long history as an important trading port and this new artery of trade will connect Senegal to the beating heart of Emirates.
"The value of non-oil trade between the countries has increased from $14 million (Dh51.4 million) in 2003 to $184 million at the end of 2009. We have also just recruited our first Senegalese sales staff and cabin crew."
The 18 tonnes of belly-hold cargo in the A340-300 aircraft will support Senegalese exports such as fresh fish, fruit and seasonal vegetables to key destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean. Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice-President of Cargo, said: "We expect Dakar to be a very lucrative market for us. Seafood is Senegal's strength and there is now additional capacity for fantastic prawns, monkfish and thiof, the local delicacy, to be exported to Dubai and beyond."
Tripoli trip
Emirates will increase the number of seats it offers on the Tripoli route by introducing the Airbus A340-500 to its Libyan operation. From August 1, the airline will offer a total of 3,612 seats per week between Tripoli and Dubai representing an increase of nine per cent in passenger capacity.
"Demand for our services to Libya has been steadily building so the addition of the A340-500 will not only increase capacity but will also enhance the customer experience when travelling on this route," said Haitham Al Battawy, Emirates Manager Libya. Emirates currently operates daily flights to Tripoli utilising an Airbus 330-200. Emirates also announced yesterday the appointment of Barry Brown as its Vice President for Australasia. Brown, originally from Sydney, has more than 23 years experience in the airline industry and in his new role will be responsible for Emirates' commercial operations in both Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to his appointment at Emirates, Brown was employed as the Chief Commercial Officer with Oman Air and before that he held similar positions with SriLankan and Hazelton Airlines in Australia.
Brown will oversee Emirates' third largest market. The airline operates 70 flights a week between Dubai and Australia into the four gateways of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
