Emirates adds three destinations to network

Dubai: Emirates, one of the big two airlines of the UAE, is expanding its global network with new flights to Prague, Tokyo and Amsterdam.

It announced yesterday that a daily flight to Prague would be launched next July 1, its third new route in 2010. Services to Tokyo begin March 28 and Amsterdam from May 1.

As the airline takes delivery of more aircraft, it will continue to launch new destinations, it said.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said, "This is another new and exciting development for Emirates, embracing a popular European tourist destination and an emerging market.

"We have been keen to add Prague to our six-continent network, and now the time is right to start up our 24th European destination."

At the end of the year ended May, the total number of aircraft on Emirates' order book, excluding options, was 161, worth approximately $52 billion (Dh190.8 billion). In the past year, the carrier received 20 new aircraft and is still pursuing an aggressive purchase plan.

The airline has already been carrying passengers from the Czech Republic via intermediate European cities such as Vienna.

Demand is expected for the destination as the city hosts a dozen Unesco World Heritage sites, including Prague's historic centre.

Dubai Emirates has finished extensive refurbishment of its offices in Sharjah and reopened the location for business Wednesday.

The move comes as the airline increases its focus on customers from the emirate. Ahmad Khoory, Emirates senior vice-president of commercial operations for Gulf, Middle East and Iran said, "The renovation of our Sharjah office signifies our increasing need to expand our services within the emirate. Sharjah remains an important market for Emirates and we are dedicated to ensuring our customers have access to the best customer service amenities... bookings whether for business or leisure."