International airline Emirates has begun a new daily service from Dubai to Newark Liberty International Airport, via the Greek capital city of Athens.
The new route complements Emirates’ existing four daily flights between Dubai and New York’s JFK airport, by offering global travellers with another convenient access point to the popular New York Metropolitan area. The airline will operate a wide-body Boeing 777-300ER powered by General Electric GE90 engines on the route, offering 8 seats in First, 42 seats in Business and 304 seats in Economy class, as well as 19 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity.
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: “The Greek Government and Athens International Airport approached Emirates some time ago to consider serving the route between Athens and New York. After careful review, Emirates concluded that extending one of our Dubai-Athens flights to Newark would be commercially and operationally feasible. We are pleased to be able to help meet a strong consumer need long neglected by other airlines, and we would like to thank the authorities and our partners in both the US and Greece for their support of the new route.”
Sir Tim added: “The availability of high quality, daily international air services is essential for the development of business and cultural ties. Trade, especially in high-value and time-sensitive products, will be facilitated by the ample cargo capacity on Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft. We also expect tourism to receive a major boost from the availability of daily flights year-round.”
First Class accomodations on the Emirates’ Boeing 777 include:
- Seating that reclines from upright position to a full-flat bed
- Electrically operated door, mini bar, reading lights, work desk – with built-in illuminated vanity mirror, personal electrically controlled mini-bar and room service feature
- Adjoining centre suites have an electrically-operated privacy divider that can be raised and lowered
- Electrically-operated leg rest, backrest, headrest, armrest, seat frame, leg rest extension and seat pan extension which enable the seat to convert to any pre-set position (upright, dining, or bed) or to any intermediate position
- Touch screen Wireless Integrated Passenger Seat Controller for Emirates’ IFE (In-flight Entertainment) and seat functions.
- 32”HD LCD screen on newly-delivered A380 and B777s linked to Emirates’ award-winning ice in-flight entertainment system
- A PC power outlet, dual USB port and RJU headphone jack
Emirates’ new Dubai-Athens-Newark flight will also provide a year-round non-stop daily service between the United States and Greece – a service that does not exist today and has not existed since 2012. Currently, Emirates boasts 500 Greek-speaking employees and 400 Greek-speaking flight attendants. At a round table breakfast briefing this morning, airline officials and delgates from Greece spoke to the importance of providing convenient service to the Greek-American population as well as New Jersey’s Indian-American residents and the Greater Newark area’s corporate residents in the tech, financial, and pharmaceutical industries.
Elena Kountoura, Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic said: “Within the framework of our excellent cooperation, and in line with our common goal for the growth of tourism between our two countries as well as the expansion to long-haul markets, I would like to thank Emirates for having positively considered our request to launch a new Emirates itinerary connecting Dubai with New York via Athens all year round. This strategic choice substantially supports our efforts at the Ministry of Tourism to enhance the already increasing flow of visitors to Greece from the United States and the UAE on a yearly basis, travelling either for leisure or business purposes.”
Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council said: “The Greek-American community has long been anticipating the reestablishment of year round direct travel between Greece and the United States. For this moment to arrive thanks to Emirates – the world’s top airline – is special indeed. Greece’s economic comeback is going to have to include year round tourism and easier business travel. The new Emirates route makes this possible. The Greek-American community will be thrilled with this new itinerary, and we thank Emirates Airline for establishing its route and for its endorsement of travel to Greece.”
In addition to serving the large Greek-American population in the metropolitan area, the availability of one-stop same-plane service to Dubai will offer a convenient alternative to travellers headed towards the Middle East, West Asia, and Africa.
