News Wings

Tag: Emirates

  • World Vegan Day – Emirates embraces demand for plant-based meals and healthier choices

    World Vegan Day – Emirates embraces demand for plant-based meals and healthier choices

    Emirates has delivered a resounding response to heightened demand for plant-based cuisine with a multimillion-dollar investment into new vegan choices onboard, in a remarkable gesture that heralds the upcoming World Vegan Day on November 1. This comprises a curated menu of gourmet vegan dishes, introduced into First and Business Class and menus a refreshed selection of plant-based produce for the Economy Class.


    Renowned for its responsive alertness to customers’ concerns, this latest move by Emirates will help cater to the rapid growth of the global vegan community and general interest in herbivorous diets, It is setting new standards in customer experience with delicious and healthy options for cosmopolitan customers following a vegan lifestyle, or for those who seek a lighter meal choice while travelling. Vegan options are available to order and pre-order onboard, as well as in Emirates Lounges. 

    While Emirates has been serving vegan options onboard since the 1990’s, the vegan requirements were initially focused on specific routes such as Addis Ababa where vegan meals are required during certain times of the year by those practising the Ethiopian Orthodox faith, or across the Indian subcontinent where multiple faiths encouraged a plant-based diet. Vegan dishes are now rapidly gaining general popularity on US, Australian, some European and UK routes, with Emirates noting a sizable increase in interest in vegan dishes over the last decade. Routes showing recent increasing interest in vegan meals include Beirut, Cairo, and Taiwan. Currently Emirates offers more than 180 plant-based recipes catering to vegan customers.

    Already consistently rated as the best airline for vegan travellers by many dedicated website polls including VegNews, Emirates has invested into developing a new vegan menu to rival acclaimed restaurants. The vegan menu in First and Business Class spent a year in development in Emirates Flight Catering, an expansive facility based at Dubai International airport, which is home to 11,000 employees and serves up to 225,000 meals daily. It is the largest flight catering facility in the world and home to international chefs of 69 different nationalities. The menu was the focus of multiple presentations and tastings, featuring contributions from diverse cuisine specialists like Chinese, Indian and Arabic speciality chefs, to create a wide range of flavours and textures. The tasting panels included both vegan and non-vegan chefs and team-members to ensure an inclusive approach.

    In Economy Class, the vegan menus are also refreshed every month, providing a wide variety of dishes to frequent travellers. The vegan meals in Economy Class are available to pre-order and have been extremely well received by passengers worldwide. Current passenger favourites include a creamy spinach and avocado mousseline, with marinated tofu, blanched snow peas, radish, asparagus, pomegranate seeds, courgette ribbon and sriracha oil, or the multi colored quinoa with succulent caramelised pear and celeriac purée, roasted cauliflower, glazed carrots, sautéed kale and lovage pesto, and the hearty Autumnal flavours of barley risotto with mushrooms, served with sundried tomatoes, buttered chestnuts, blanched broccolini and toasted pumpkin seeds.The vegan desserts are also very delicious and features tempting choices such as a dark chocolate custard cake balanced by fresh, juicy strawberries, a zesty lemon tart lightly laced with coconut cream and a rich chocolate tofu cheesecake complemented by a sweet strawberry compote.

    The benefits of plant-powered choices are of increasing interest to health-conscious customers who may not define themselves as vegan but will occasionally choose lighter choices to complement their lifestyle. Alternative products used onboard Emirates include items like artisan vegan cheese, chickpea flour instead of white flour, because chickpea flour is gluten-free and naturally aerates dishes like crepes and omelettes to an irresistible fluffy texture. Coconut or vegetable-based cream is used instead of full fat dairy cream, coconut butter or margarine instead of dairy butter, and coconut and flaxseed oil are used as healthier alternatives to vegetable oil, with the bonus of infusing additional flavour to dishes and a high smoke point. The dishes also incorporate a range of super foods including rich-in-antioxidant black and white quinoa seeds, which help with cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The new vegan menu in tFirst and Business Class features unique koftas, made with plant-based products from the world-renowned Beyond meat company. Vegan desserts have been created using organic dark chocolate with 60% raw cocoa ingredients, sourced from the Dominican Republic. Vegan dishes are complemented by refreshing Vitality juices, a bespoke range of juice blends, created by beloved UAE brand Barakat. Each gluten free and vegan juice is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, with no added sugar, additives, or preservatives.

    The Emirates team of award-winning chefs have put together a creative new menu, where vegetables take centre stage and the absence of meat isn’t felt, through clever use of textures and infusions to conjure the essential umami effect. Jackfruit, a fibrous tree fruit from southwest India, is used as a focal point in some of the vegan dishes as it cooks out with a meaty texture. Kohlrabi, a Northern European cross between cabbage and a turnip, has a mild taste that absorbs the flavours it’s marinated in or cooked with – a very effective addition to vegan cuisine. Other core ingredients providing a moreish meal include the inimitable tofu, cauliflower steak and varieties of nuts and legumes. With an emphasis on freshness, vibrancy of taste and satiety, Emirates’ new vegan dishes showcase a tempting collection of colourful and healthy choices including heirloom cherry tomato tofu with edamame and roasted sesame, thyme scented mushroom ragout, fresh Hass avocado and mango salad timbale, or kale and cranberry salad served on a bed of grilled sweet potato. Ensuring that the tasty and healthy dishes are also edible to the eye, vegan meals are delicately garnished with farm-fresh herbs, berries, and colourful jus,’ while several of the new vegan desserts are adorned with thin sheets of genuine gold leafs.

    Vegan options onboard Emirates are nutrient-dense and rich in greens, fruits, and vegetables, sourced from several UAE-based suppliers including fresh locally grown kale, heirloom cherry tomatoes, salad leafs and herbs from Bustanica. Bustanica is the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm, a US$40 million joint venture investment through Emirates Flight Catering. The Bustanica farm is driven by powerful technology – machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced methods – and a specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists, and plant scientists. A continuous production cycle ensures the produce is perfectly fresh and clean, and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals. All passengers on Emirates will be served delicious leafy greens, including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach directly from Bustanica, with plans for even more fruit and vegetables to be farmed in the future

  • Feature: Emirates shares 5 ways for families to travel smarter this mid-term

    Feature: Emirates shares 5 ways for families to travel smarter this mid-term

    As schools break for mid-term holidays and a peak travel period kicks off from the 14 October onwards, Emirates announces a myriad of ways to ensure a smooth and swift travel experience for families, including new updates to the Emirates app and digital check-in options. All passengers are advised to arrive at the airport up to 3 hours before their flight and take advantage of Emirates’ multiple smart technologies to ensure seamless travel during the busy period.

    1.  Plan everything on the Emirates App

    Passengers are encouraged to download the Emirates app on their mobile phones to get all the flight details at their fingertips. Users can now track their baggage, as well as book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, check what meals will be served onboard, book their chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan movies to watch via the ice inflight entertainment- so that no time is wasted in getting the kids comfortable and happy onboard.

    2.  Check in online, or remotely in Ajman

    All passengers can check-in online 48 hours ahead of their flight using the online check-in option on www.emirates.com. In a few clicks, they can select a seat and preferred meal, and take advantage of any last-minute upgrade options. At the airport, it’s easy to drop bags at the dedicated baggage drop desks and download a digital boarding pass.

    Those starting their journeys from Ajman can also take advantage of a 24‑hour City Check‑in at Ajman Central Bus Terminal. Passengers can check in up to 4 hours before the flight departs, present health documents, check-in baggage and collect boarding passes, buy a bus ticket for AED 20 and head directly to Emirates Terminal 3, with regular bus departures throughout the day from 4am to 11.30pm. Upon arrival at the airport, travellers can simply continue through to their flight.

    3.  Sort your luggage out in advance or check in from home

    An excellent and complimentary option – especially for families travelling with children – is to drop luggage the night before travel. Passengers who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags to the airport 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US or Tel Aviv, and then arrive to the airport and proceed directly to immigration.

    Making travel swift and smooth, Emirates also offers a home check-in service in Dubai and Sharjah, fulfilled by DUBZ. DUBZ agents complete the check-in process in the customer’s home, hotel or office, and take the bags to the flight while customers are free to breeze through the airport later. Book and pay for the service at least 24 hours before the flight and passengers can proceed to the Airport check-in up to six hours before the flight departs. When a person books First Class, the home check-in service is complimentary.

    4.  Self Check-in kiosks at the airport

    A quick and easy option once at the airport are the self check-in kiosks. Travellers can follow the steps on the touchscreen kiosk and complete the check-in process or operate the kiosk without touch using a mobile phone. It’s possible to view the travel itinerary, choose a preferred seat and add Emirates Skywards numbers, and if you’ve already checked in online, there is also an option to use the baggage drop area to check-in bags.

    5.  Get smart with Biometrics

    For First and Business Class customers departing Dubai, the Smart Tunnel at Dubai International Airport is a world-first for passport control, whereby passengers simply walk through a tunnel and are cleared by immigration authorities without human intervention or the need for a physical passport stamp. All it takes to register is a quick photo at check-in to capture facial data. Travellers can check-in, clear immigration, access the airport lounge in Concourse B, and board flights at selected gates purely by facial recognition or using their boarding pass.

    Passengers can also register to use the Smart Gates at Emirates Terminal 3 and speed through Immigration every time they return to Dubai. If a UAE citizen or resident, passengers can use their passport, boarding pass or a valid UAE ID. Smart Gates can also be used by GCC national’s or a visa on arrival visitor with a biometric passport.

  • Emirates Takes Home Three Honours At The Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022

    Emirates Takes Home Three Honours At The Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022

    ·         Airline wins big in Economy Class category, reflecting its dedication to investing in every cabin and delivering better experiences to customers  

    ·         Wins World’s Best Inflight Entertainment award for the 17th consecutive time

    Emirates has taken home three awards at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022, including World’s Best Economy Class, World’s Best Economy Class Catering, and for the 17th consecutive time, World’s Best Inflight Entertainment.  The awards are a testament to the airline’s commitment to offer the very best customer experience in the sky, where travellers in Economy Class can look forward to spacious cabins, carefully crafted menus, an unmatched range of in-flight entertainment choices, thoughtful amenities like kids toys, and much more.

    At a time when cost-cutting has become the norm, the airline is making long-term investments to further elevate its product and service strategy in every cabin class.

    This latest recognition from Skytrax comes on the heels of the airline’s recent announcement that it is investing over US$ 2 billion to enhance its inflight customer experience. This includes one of the largest retrofit projects in aviation history spanning 120 aircraft which will soon sport the airline’s latest interior concepts, a new hospitality-focused service delivery model, and best-in-class product enhancements across all cabins, starting this year. Emirates will also be investing over US$ 350 million in next-generation inflight entertainment systems with Thales for passengers to experience the airline’s massive library of 5,000 channels on high-definition screens, along with a host of other high-tech features on its incoming fleet of A350 aircraft.

    Customers flying Emirates’ Economy Class, no matter where they choose to travel on the airline’s 130 destination strong network, can look forward to a menu infused with regional and seasonal flavours, featuring hearty main dishes and sides, and an indulgent dessert inspired by their destination. Emirates also prides itself in celebrating unique cultures and traditions from around the globe by offering signature dishes for occasions like Diwali, Christmas, Ramadan, Eid Al Adha, Lunar New Year and more recently, Oktoberfest and Onam.

    Emirates offers one of the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art entertainment and communications services in the skies. ice, the inflight entertainment system awarded by Skytrax for the 17th time this year, offers over 5,000 channels of entertainment, with 4,000 hours of movies and TV, and close to 3,500 hours of music and podcasts. Customers can also choose content in 40 languages. In addition to entertainment, Emirates ice offers a range of other useful features, such as: the ability to check the status of your flight; a real-time view of the sky during take-off and landing from cameras fixed on the aircraft’s nose, tail and underbelly; EmiratesRED; the world’s first inflight TV shopping channel and LIVE TV.

    ice is also the only inflight entertainment system that offers exclusive programming from Shahid, with over 135 hours of highly popular Arabic content across 15 shows, with more to be added in the coming months. Emirates was the first airline in the region partner with HBO Max, offering exclusive hits only offered through the streaming service. Emirates’ onboard product experience is complemented by the airline’s cosmopolitan team of cabin crew who hail from over 130 nationalities. Crew members, already trained on providing the very best inflight service, are further levelling up their hospitality experience through a rigorous training programme that was designed in partnership with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. The latest programme is focused on mastering the four service pillars: Excellence, Attentiveness, Innovation and Passion.

    Driving radical changes in the customer experience also includes small touches that make a big difference, not only for customers but the planet as well. Economy Class customers can snuggle up in warm and soft sustainable blankets made of 100% recycled plastic bottles. The airline also offers sustainably-made amenity kit bags for Economy Class customers on select long haul flights, which have been newly redesigned to represent the four elements – fire, water, earth and air, as a reminder of the careful balance required to preserve for the future of our planet. The kit’s travel essentials – socks, eyeshades, toothbrush and tooth paste, as well as bookmark, are all made from environmentally-friendly materials and come in natural earth tones.

    Little flyers travelling across all classes can also keep busy with special plush toys and blankets as well as a selection of ‘fly with me’ belt bags, duffle bags and backpacks. All children’s items and toys have been consciously made of 100% recycled raw materials including drinking bottles, and swing tags use non-toxic soy-based ink printed on recycled cardboard.

    On the ground, Emirates has been working hard to create a smart contactless journey for its customers. Travellers can choose to use its integrated biometric path in DXB to check in for their flight, complete immigration formalities, and board their flights. Customers can also use the airline’s touchless self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at Dubai International (DXB).

    The smart contactless experience continues on board with digital menus available on the Emirates app, and customers can also use the app to create a preferred playlist for ice.

  • Emirates’ signs exclusive agreement with Dom Pérignon champagne

    Emirates’ signs exclusive agreement with Dom Pérignon champagne

    As the only airline with an exclusive agreement to offer luxury champagne brand Dom Pérignon on-board, Emirates is currently presenting First Class passengers with the unique opportunity to enjoy a very special vintage -Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2, on board select routes until the end of October.

    The exceptionally rare 2003 vintage in its second plénitude is a limited release, forming part of Emirates’ award-winning portfolio of exclusive wines, champagne, and spirits.

    Dom Pérignon is one of the most respected, luxurious champagnes in the world and Emirates is the only airline with an exclusive agreement to serve it on board. In the 17th century, a Benedictine monk named Dom Pierre Pérignon, nurtured an ambition to create ‘the best wine in the world’.

    Three centuries later, Dom Pérignon vintages are still produced using the best grapes on the estate. Each vintage has its own style and identity- a uniqueness that lies in the way it evolves, through successive windows of expression.

    Cellar master Vincent Chaperon refers to these points in time as ‘plénitudes,’ with Plénitude 2 representing the secondary phase of aromatics developed through evolution. After close to 15 years of slow maturation in the cellars, Dom Pérignon describes Plénitude 2 as ‘wider, deeper, longer, more intense – and gifted further with an extended longevity’.

    Rich and multi-layered, Plénitude 2 provides a complex spiral of aromas that reveal over time in the glass. First the softness of lime tree, then a toasty minerality followed by dried apricots and apples, along with candied raspberry and fig. Lemon verbena, rosemary and white pepper appear for an instant, followed by dark spices and liquorice root.

    These develop in the glass into a profound and mineral-toned harmonious bouquet. Its vibrant yet generous palate, powerful and precise with great energy, leads to a persistent, spicy, and saline finish. First Class passengers can discover if Plénitude 2 will be served on their flight, by checking the ‘What’s on your flight’ option on www.emirates.com or on the Emirates app.

    For the last 16 years, Emirates has invested more than $1 billion into its wine program, buying exceptional wines at the earliest opportunity to let them mature, allowing them to express their full potential before serving them on board.

    The Emirates Wine Cellar is in France, and currently houses 6.5 million bottles of fine wines, some of which will not be ready for tasting until 2035. Emirates currently offers 37 different varieties of French wines and champagnes on board its aircraft.

    Business Class Bordeaux red wines remain in Emirates’ cellar for an average of 8-10 years, while those reserved for First Class are only served an average of 12-15 years after purchase.

  • Emirates offers career opportunities and Dubai lifestyle to First Officers

    Emirates offers career opportunities and Dubai lifestyle to First Officers

    Emirates, the world’s largest operator of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, is looking to recruit First Officers who meet the airline’s exceptional standards in safety, technical prowess and customer experience.

    Successful candidates can look forward to climbing new career heights with Emirates’ all-wide-body fleet and ever-expanding global route network, and enjoy an excellent lifestyle in dynamic Dubai.

    For pilots, a future with Emirates means flying to diverse destinations across the airline’s network spanning six continents and 140 destinations. It also means flying one of the world’s youngest and most modern fleet, now numbering 265 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. 

    With Emirates’ continuous investments in renewing its fleet, the airline’s pilots will also be flying Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Boeing 777-Xs and Airbus A350-900s in the coming years.

    Emirates’ pilots complete robust, evidence-based training programmes in-house with highly skilled instructors in specially designed environments. The airline’s cutting-edge training facility houses 10 full-flight simulators for Boeing 777s and Airbus 380s.

    The airline’s growth offers numerous opportunities for natural career progression – first officers can steadily grow to become captains, technical pilots, standards’ captains, examiners and instructors.

    Emirates offers a range of benefits designed for pilots and their families to lead a fulfilling lifestyle – competitive tax-free salary, generous accommodation and education allowance, and excellent medical and dental cover.

    Employees enjoy concessional cargo and travel benefits for the entire family, even friends’ tickets, across the airline’s global network. What’s more, the Emirates Platinum card offers a range of privileges and discounts across thousands of retail and hospitality outlets locally and globally.

    Pilots can bid for preferred flights and destinations on Emirates’ advanced rostering system to ensure they have the opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones on special days.  On a typical work day, Emirates’ flight deck crew are chauffeured to and from home and journey through the fast-track check-in facilities at the airline’s headquarters.

    Flight and cabin crew from over 160 nationalities enjoy a collaborative camaraderie that reflects the multicultural milieu of Emirates’ hub Dubai. The city’s reputation as a safe, secure, vibrant, and tech-savvy city is well-known. Major annual sporting events, a full range of lifestyle activities, first-class hospitality and dining, spectacular attractions, international schools and hospitals and excellent infrastructure all come together to make Dubai a city of choice for millions of expatriates.

    As air travel continues to soar, Emirates is ramping up its services from one of the world’s busiest and best airports – the award-winning Dubai International. 

    Interested candidates can check out the eligibility criteria in full and apply online here: https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/pilots/

  • Emirates to operate extra flights for upcoming Hajj season

    Emirates to operate extra flights for upcoming Hajj season

    With the significant demand for air travel during Hajj, Emirates is deploying extra flights to ensure more connectivity for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Makkah. Emirates will be operating special flights to Jeddah and Medina during the upcoming Hajj season to carry pilgrims for this special period.

    Emirates will be deploying 31 additional flights to Jeddah and double daily flights to Medina from 23 June to 20 July to help transport pilgrims to carry out one of the key pillars of Islam. These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services.

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has greatly expanded its Hajj participation this year to nearly a million pilgrims. This year, Emirates has seen strong demand for Hajj travel from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, the UK, US, UAE and Algeria.

    The special services are available to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa. Pilgrims must also be under the age of 65, hold a valid vaccination certificate with a vaccine authorised by the Saudi Ministry of Health, and must also carry a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of departure.

    A pilgrim-centric experience with Emirates

    Given the significance of the once-in-a-lifetime Hajj experience, the airline’s teams have been working hard to ensure that every detail of the pilgrim’s experience is aligned with the tenets of their faith.

    On the ground in Dubai, Emirates has a special Hajj airport team to help manage check-in, transfers, and helping to facilitate a seamless and convenient on-ground experience for Hajj pilgrims. Emirates has also set up dedicated check-in and transfer counters for Hajj passengers transiting in Dubai. For Hajj travellers having a long layover in Dubai before continuing on to Jeddah or Medina, dedicated teams are on hand to escort those groups and support them on all of their arrival formalities.

    From the moment pilgrims step onto the aircraft, a range of initiatives have been planned in keeping with the values and traditions of the Hajj journey.

    Extra provisions to accommodate Hajj traveller needs such as ablution cleansing rituals, unperfumed towels, advising passengers while en route to Jeddah about when they have entered Al Miqat zones (state of sanctity) and changing of Ihram robes through special PAs, and other arrangements have been planned to ease their journey and ready them for the rest of their pilgrimage. Emirates’ award winning ice system will also feature a special Hajj video that covers safety, general formalities and information about performing the Hajj pilgrimage. Pilgrims will also be able to tune into the Holy Quran channel, in addition to other religious content.

    On flights from Jeddah, passengers can check-in up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam), which will be placed in special areas in the cargo hold.

  • Emirates wins Best Wi-Fi and Best Food & Beverage at 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards®

    Emirates wins Best Wi-Fi and Best Food & Beverage at 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards®

    Travelers around the world have recognized Emirates for Best Wi-Fi and Best Food & Beverage in the Middle East, with the airline bagging these awards at the prestigious 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards® ceremony held in Dublin, Ireland.

    For the awards this year, verified passengers flying on over one million flights on nearly 600 airlines from around the world were asked to rate their airline experiences in five subcategories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

    The two awards crown Emirates’ continual efforts to deliver the best possible customer experiences on board and take the total count of APEX awards presented to Emirates, to 30, since the awards’ launch in 2010.

    The Best Food & Beverage award recognises Emirates’ consistently high-quality, regionally inspired cuisine and extensive drinks menu. The airline’s attention to detail ensures a clockwork operation where over 110 meals from close to 4600 recipes that cater to every palate are loaded onto its flights each year. Emirates also pays special attention to its beverage offering which ranges from fresh mocktails and vitality boost drinks, to a wide selection of hand-picked teas and coffee, alongside the very best champagnes and special vintages of wines and spirits that any sommelier would envy.

    Staying connected is an everyday essential on the ground and also in the skies. Emirates was the first airline to equip its entire fleet with mobile phone connectivity, in 2007, and now every aircraft is equipped with Wi-Fi services. Free connectivity options are available to all Business and First Class passengers, and Skywards Platinum and above. Great value plans are available for full flight internet or chat. Last year, Emirates replaced MB limited plans with unlimited plans or timed plans – simplifying the options available as few users understood the MB consumption on a session.

    In total, Emirates’ award-winning ice inflight entertainment system, with over 5,000 channels, including up to 150 channels dedicated to family and children, presents an unmatched breadth of content in 40 languages to cater to its global customer base. It also offers more than 4,000 hours of movies and TV, and close to 3,500 hours of music and podcasts to choose from, along with 5 channels of live TV including major sports events for sports lovers. New, exciting and exclusive content will be available onboard ice with something for everyone travelling this summer and beyond.

    Committed to ensuring its customers always “Fly Better”, Emirates is heavily investing to further elevate its signature services and products for travellers in all cabin classes. Emirates will soon begin a massive cabin retrofit programme to fit out 120 aircraft with its latest Premium Economy cabin, as well as its latest interiors across other cabins.

    The APEX Passenger Choice Awards® recognize excellence in seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi. Partnering with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organizing app, anonymous passenger feedback is gathered based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights.

  • Emirates honours Nigeria’s leading travel industry agents in Lagos

    Emirates honours Nigeria’s leading travel industry agents in Lagos

    Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, held an event in Lagos to recognise the services and ongoing partnerships of its top travel agents. The event was the first to take place since the outset of the pandemic, and gathered the industry’s best, reaffirming the airline’s ongoing commitment to the market and its longstanding partnership with its travel trade partners and their respective agencies.
     
    The event included Lagos’s most prominent travel agencies. The airline’s top management, led by Badr Abbas, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations in Africa, honoured the contribution of the travel agents to Emirates’ post-pandemic recovery in characteristic style and elegance. The event was also hosted by Paulos Legesse, Country Manager Nigeria and the Emirates team in Nigeria.
     
    This special travel industry initiative is another clear demonstration of the strategic importance of the Nigerian market to Emirates.
     
    Commenting on reconnecting in person with the travel industry for the first time since the outset of the pandemic, Badr Abbas said: “Emirates airline and Nigeria share a very special relationship that goes back to almost 20 years, and we have been connecting Nigerian travellers to a global network which now spans nearly 130 destinations, making it easier to connect with friends, family, trade and tourism opportunities.
     
    “We have been eager to visit Nigeria, a market that is very important to us, to meet with the people that have supported us, even in the most difficult of times. Throughout this journey, you, our loyal travel agents have been an integral part of our rebuilding efforts, for which we are extremely grateful. We look forward to your continued support in the years ahead.”
     
    He continued: “It has been a challenging two years for all of us, and together we are navigating the road to recovery, hopefully gaining an even stronger footing for the future.  The word ‘Together’ is key and has always been for us at Emirates. Recovery is not a unilateral effort. It is through collaboration and meaningful partnerships that we move forward with recovery, and all collectively prepare to address the pent-up demand for travel to and from Nigeria and across our network.”
     
    The airline also organised a workshop in Lagos for close to 60 travel trade partners, which aims to provide them with the latest updates and information on the airline, its route network and fleet in service, the ramp up of operations in both Lagos and Abuja, new routes for the airline globally, updates on its new Premium Economy product, up-to-date information on its customer and booking policies, the latest on Emirates Gateway partner portal, in addition to other topics.
     
    Emirates currently operates 12 flights a week to two cities in Nigeria, Lagos, and Abuja. By 1 September, it will ramp up its operations to 21 weekly flights in line with increasing demand for international travel from the market.
     
    Emirates flew over 19 million passengers across its network in the last financial year.
     
    Emirates flyers can look forward to another distinctive Emirates travel experience as the airline unveils its full Premium Economy offering onboard and on ground, starting 1 August 2022.
     
    The new cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines’ business offerings, will be available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes.
     
    Once onboard, customers will immediately notice the quiet luxury in Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin. A wood panel finishing similar to Business Class sets the cabin’s mood, and each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with 6-way adjustable headrests.

  • Emirates Unveils an Irresistible Boarding Pass Dubai Summer Deal

    Emirates Unveils an Irresistible Boarding Pass Dubai Summer Deal

    Emirates has unveiled exclusive summer deals that will enable passengers aboard its fleets to enjoy easy access to hundreds of locations in Dubai and the UAE in addition to complimentary Dubai Marina Cruise, beginning May 1st to September 30th, and at no extra cost. By simply presenting the Emirates’ Boarding Pass, passengers will in the next five months of summer, enjoy access to the coolest deals in Dubai.   

    The Emirates Boarding Pass will, during this unique promo period, function as more than a travel document but as a Summer Pass, and serve as a valid form of identification to hundreds of retail, leisure and dining outlets, while enabling users to enjoy fantastic discounts throughout Dubai. Passengers landing in Dubai, during May, will enjoy a complimentary Dubai Marina Cruise, which gives unrivaled panoramic views of one of the city’s most iconic skylines from the Arabian Gulf.

    A statement from the Airline said pre-booking would not be required for the single-entry complimentary ticket to tour Dubai’s one-hour Marina Sightseeing Cruise. ‘The Emirates customer just has to show a valid boarding pass, either digital or paper, at the ticketing counter on the day of use as well as proof of identity. The cruise is only valid from May 01 – 31 between 10am and 4pm.’  The statement encouraged  families ‘to save and beat the summer heat at Atlantis Aquaventure or break a sweat on some of the adrenaline-pumping attractions at IMG world of Adventure.’ It also encouraged couples who would appreciate a quiet afternoon at a spa to take advantage of the offer in order to indulge themselves at the Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane or spot Arabian oryx at sunset while taking a private desert safari with Arabian Adventures.

    Other exciting deals that accompany the Pass include a city sightseeing bus tour that is eligible for discount, capturing the historic Dubai Creek on a cruise, in addition to discounts on food and beverages at any of the Rove Hotels and Accor Hotels.  Details of the offers can be found on www.emirates.com/myemiratespass.

  • Emirates returns to Nigeria from 5th February

    Emirates returns to Nigeria from 5th February

    Emirates will restart flights from Dubai to Nigeria on 5 February 2022.  The airline will operate to and from Abuja and Lagos with daily flights, providing more choice, comfort and enhanced connectivity for travellers connecting to Dubai and over 120 destinations.

    Emirates will operate to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 will depart Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

    Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 will depart Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day. All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

    All passengers travelling from Nigeria with Dubai as their final destination require a 48 hour PCR test. Passengers must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility, and validity must be calculated from the time the sample was collected. Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will undergo an additional Covid-19 PCR test and remain in self-quarantine until the results of the test are received.

    Passengers travelling from Nigeria and transiting in Dubai are required to follow the rules and requirements of their final destination.

    For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai visit: – https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/covid-19/dubai-travel-requirements/tourists/

     All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

    Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain the Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

    Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, until March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world. Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans, as well as food and technology enthusiasts, can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more.

    Flexibility and Assurance: Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, which have been extended to 31 May 2022, Covid-19 medical travel insurance, and is helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

    Health and safety: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as a top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers even more opportunities to utilise the IATA Travel Pass, which can now be used across 50 airports served by Emirates.

  • Emirates denies allegations of suspension of flights from Nigeria

    Emirates denies allegations of suspension of flights from Nigeria

    The UAE government continues to advance its dialogue with the Nigerian authorities, and the latest discussions signal great optimism for a positive way forward. We regularly update our website to keep our customers informed, and although our operations are still on hold, Emirates is keen to restart services to and from Nigeria, and are working closely with designated laboratories in Nigeria to provide the required tests and hope to be able to get all laboratories ready for implementation very soon. We are committed to Nigeria, and look forward to providing much needed connectivity for our customers, helping to meet growing air travel demand in and out of our two Nigerian gateways and making air travel more accessible to and through Dubai to over 120 destinations across our global network.” – Emirates spokesperson

  • Emirates takes Expo 2020 Dubai’s message to the skies with its first-ever full aircraft livery

    Emirates takes Expo 2020 Dubai’s message to the skies with its first-ever full aircraft livery

    Emirates, the Premier Partner and Official Airline of Expo 2020 Dubai, today revealed a head-turning A380 livery dedicated to further carrying the global event’s messages worldwide.

    A bold departure from the airline’s traditional white and gold paint scheme, this bright blue aircraft livery features large-scale graphics in vivid green, orange, pink, purple and red, which run across the fuselage and all the way up to the tail and fin interlaced with the
    distinct ring-shaped Expo 2020 Dubai logo. Special ‘Dubai Expo’ and ‘Be Part of the Magic’ messages run across both sides of the A380 fuselage. The engine cowls also carry the Expo 2020 Dubai messages and dates of the event.

    In addition, the brave Burj Khalifa stuntwoman who appeared in the recent viral Emirates ad, carries an invitation to visit the event on both sides of the aircraft, holding a message board that says: ‘See you there’ and ‘Dubai Expo Oct-Mar 2022’.

    The iconic Emirates red belly branding, which can be only seen when the aircraft is flying overhead, has been replaced by the opportunity themed orange ‘Dubai Expo’ branding, further increasing the event’s visibility and awareness as it flies to the airline’s A380 network over the course of the next 6 months.

    The new A380 livery was designed, painted, produced and installed in-house by the teams at Emirates. The livery was not just a decal, but a complete paint project, and is by far the largest one the airline has ever embarked on. A great deal of planning and ingenuity was involved to ensure the distinct livery design was brought to life and flawlessly
    executed.

    The paint on A6EEU, the aircraft chosen for the livery, was completely stripped. After that, eleven colours were applied on the aircraft in a careful, methodically sequenced manner. A ‘wild spray method’, electrostatic spray guns and conventional cup guns were used to put on the different colours, using over 2,500 sqm of tracing and masking material. All of the stencils and tracing guides were produced in-house by the airline’s UV printer and graphics workshop, and took numerous hours to fabricate and complete. The Emirates Engineering Aircraft Appearance Centre teams skilfully worked through the challenges of fine-tuning the outlines and masking to convert the designs onto a three dimensional aircraft, in addition to managing the contrasting colours and intricate background shades in this unique livery.
    Decals were then applied on the engine cowls and, as well as the image of the Emirates Cabin crew holding the message boards adjacent to the aircraft’s exits.

    The process of painting the livery design and applying the decals took 16 days and 4,379 man-hours to complete.

    Emirates has a long tradition of showcasing special liveries on its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet, and in the last five years alone, close to 50 unique designs and 100 liveries have been brought to life by the team at the airline. Special liveries have helped pay a special
    tribute and carry the legacy of the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; bring sports fans closer to their favourite clubs, players and global tournaments; spread the UAE’s message of tolerance and multi-culturalism; raise awareness of the illegal wildlife trade, and much more. The innovative work done on the liveries has kept travellers, plane-spotters and the general public looking to the skies for inspiration.

    The new Expo 2020 Dubai livery will appear on three Emirates A380 aircraft to help visually tell the story and reaffirm the themes of one of the largest global events to take place since the onset of the pandemic. The distinctive blue Expo aircraft will join the 40 other special liveries dedicated to Expo 2020 Dubai, which have collectively flown to over 130 destinations across the Emirates network since 2018. The new livery will wow travellers and drive the Expo 2020 Dubai message when it heads to Los Angeles on 29 September.

    Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo ever hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and will run from October 2021 to March 2022. Its six-month program is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans as well as food and
    technology enthusiasts can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more. Visitors can also drop by their national pavilion for a taste of home or experience the 190 other country pavilions. Emirates will be showcasing its own pavilion focused on the future of commercial aviation.

  • Over 2,500 Emirates customers ease through airport during July travel peak with innovative home check-in services

    Over 2,500 Emirates customers ease through airport during July travel peak with innovative home check-in services

    Over 2,500 Emirates customers enhanced their
    travel experience by adding innovative home check-in services to their
    bookings in July. The airline’s popular service enables passengers
    departing from Dubai to quickly and efficiently complete the check-in
    process in the comfort of their home and enjoy a swift and smooth
    journey through the airport.

    During the peak summer travel departures from the UAE in July, Emirates’
    home check-in services were typically booked for groups of four to five
    people, with travellers’ most popular destinations being Amman (Jordan),
    Beirut (Lebanon) and Male (Maldives). Thursdays and the Eid long weekend
    were particularly busy with up to 130 home check-ins completed and 150
    pieces of baggage delivered to the airport a day across Dubai.
    Underscoring the popularity of the service, some 400 home check-ins were
    for repeat customers who had already taken advantage of the service
    before.

    During the safe and convenient home check-in process, customer-oriented
    agents check in travellers for their flights, issue boarding passes,
    weigh and tag their sanitized baggage and ensure these are delivered to
    the airport and loaded onto the aircraft. Each piece of baggage is
    disinfected with a long-lasting protective coating that lasts for up to
    72 hours.

    Emirates customers can easily book their home check-in service on
    emirates.com up to 24 hours before their flight and receive the service
    up to 8 hours before scheduled departure time.
    Customers also have the option to book fast-track marhaba services to
    help whisk them through airport immigration for an even more contactless
    on ground experience. In addition, travellers can also book pre-travel
    COVID-19 testing. A qualified medical professional performs the swab
    test ahead of the home check-in process, and results are shared with
    customers digitally. All passengers who test negative for COVID-19
    receive a medical certificate within 24 to 48 hours to meet the entry
    guidelines of their destination.

    For their return to Dubai, customers can choose to book a land and leave
    service which enables them to proceed directly home while trained agents
    collect their baggage, clear it through customs, sanitize the baggage,
    and then deliver it directly to their doorstep.

    Emirates’ home check-in service is delivered by DUBZ, dnata’s baggage
    technology and logistics company. Based in Dubai, DUBZ providers
    innovative, unique solutions to travellers, ensuring a safe and seamless
    experience for them throughout their journey.

  • Emirates highlights role of small businesses in post-pandemic economic recovery

    Emirates is empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to get back into the skies and turn their travel budgets into rewards by debuting a Business Rewards incentive for new members.

    This is recognition of the strategic role of Small businesses in post-pandemic recovery and to mark the UN Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day.

    Small and medium-sized businesses who sign up for an account to Emirates’ Business Rewards corporate loyalty programme from 27 June to 27 July 2021 will receive a bonus of 10,000 Business Reward Points, the equivalent of one Economy Class return ticket to selected destinations in Europe.

    Emirates currently has over 20,000 small and medium-sized businesses enrolled in its Business Rewards programme, and is providing a gamut of benefits including simplified enrolment, easier earning and redemptions, greater flexibility on retaining and using points as well as upgrade opportunities, even on last-minute bookings.

    With countries easing their entry restrictions, business travel has begun accelerating, and small and medium-sized enterprises have become key drivers of demand with the flexibility to make travel plans quickly as new opportunities emerge.

    Emirates has been supporting small and medium-sized business hit by the pandemic. Emirates Business Rewards programme members are taking advantage of the airline’s flexible booking policies in addition to its multi-risk insurance cover. Since the outset of the pandemic, Business Rewards programme members were provided additional reassurance with extensions on their points’ validity if travel plans needed to be adjusted.

    Knowing their travel plans are protected, top destinations for Business Rewards programme members have been frequenting during the pandemic include London, Manila, Paris, Cairo, Milan and Beirut. Dubai also continues to be a key destination regularly visited by Business Rewards members, mainly due to its open business environment throughout the pandemic, world-class infrastructure and thriving start-up ecosystem.

    The airline continues to work hard to restore its network and schedules to enable small and medium-sized businesses to visit clients and ramp up their business development activities as cities around the world gradually ease travel restrictions.

    Businesses of all sizes can also ensure their health and safety expectations are taken care of throughout their journey. Emirates has lead the industry with clear, consistent, and properly implemented safety measures at every touchpoint, including a contactless travel journey and digital verification solutions such as the IATA Travel Pass to ensure it remains the preferred airline for business travelers.

    Emirates has a long track record of supporting small and medium-sized businesses, not only through its Business Rewards programme, but also through its procurement of products and services across the business. Hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses in a range of industries from around the world have benefitted from showcasing their products to a global travel audience, providing a boost to their growth plans.

    In the UAE, Emirates prioritizes SMEs as part of its tendering process and is actively committed to work with government stakeholders like Dubai SMEs in identifying businesses and evaluating the performance of active suppliers on a regular basis. As a result, according to the Dubai SME report 2020, which summarises support provided to SMEs, Emirates ranked first among semi-governmental organisations, investing in procurement contracts worth over AED 79 million. It also ranked among the top five organisations supporting small to medium size businesses in Dubai.

  • Emirates wins Best Airline Worldwide award at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2021

    Emirates wins Best Airline Worldwide award at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2021

    Emirates has been voted ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ for the eighth consecutive time by the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2021. The airline also took home accolades for ‘Airline with the Best First Class’ and ‘Airline with Best Economy Class’.

    The wins demonstrate Emirates’ strategic approach to continuously improving the onboard and on-ground experience, offering a safe customer journey across all touchpoints, leaving no detail behind, while ensuring it meets evolving customer expectations during the most challenging period in the air travel industry has experienced.

    To maintain its industry leadership, the airline has also doubled down on its digital approach to modernize the air travel experience by fully launching and scaling up its biometric path and touchless check-in, providing further assurance and meeting the evolving expectations of customers for a safer, contactless travel experience.

    Today, from check-in to gate, customers have the choice to experience the future of travel at over 33 Emirates biometric checkpoints and close to 50 touchless kiosks across Dubai International Airport.

    Emirates continues to work hard to make travel easier and minimize restrictions by closely collaborating with industry bodies and government authorities to standardize COVID-19 related medical documentation like vaccine records and PCR test results.

    Emirates began trialing the IATA Travel Pass in April, and will be fully rolling it out to all flights by the end of May. Emirates has also tied up with the Dubai Health Authority for digital verification of Covid-19 related medical records, further supporting a seamless, paperless experience for customers at check-in.

    When to comes to protecting customer travel plans, the airline has also expanded initiatives to offer greater assurance and flexibility for a stress-free experience. Customers now have more protection when they plan and rebook their trips with a seamless rebooking experience should their circumstances change for up to 36 months.

    On the Skywards front, Emirates has extended its members’ tier status until 2022, and continues to roll out more ways to earn miles, including online and retail shopping, as well as co-branded credit cards and other brand tie-ups.

    The airline was a first mover in the industry when it introduced free Covid-19 cover to help customers travel with more confidence. The initiative generated positive feedback from customers and the wider industry, with many airlines following suit. Emirates expanded this to offer the airline’s industry-first, multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover.

    This generous cover is offered by Emirates on all tickets at no cost to customers. In addition to COVID-19 medical cover, the cover also accounts for personal accidents during travel, winter sports cover, loss of personal belongings, and trip disruptions due to unexpected air space closure, travel recommendations or advisories, and
    other circumstances.

    When customers are ready to get back into the skies, an elevated onboard experience awaits them across every cabin class. True to its ‘Fly Better’ promise, Emirates continued to invest in the onboard experience in spite of pandemic challenges. The Emirates’ First Class experience leads the industry as one of the most luxurious in the skies.

    In addition to the much-talked-about Boeing 777-300ER Game changer fully enclosed suites, the latest A380 private suites have been recently refreshed with additional enhancements including wider and taller doors for even more privacy and comfort. Customers travelling on the airline’s flagship A380 can also look forward to the in-flight Shower Spa, the Onboard Lounge, and many other touches that make flying to a whole new level.

    As customers return to travel, Emirates is bringing them a generous and comfortable experience in Economy Class. On its latest A380, Emirates has replaced its Economy seats onboard with more ergonomically designed seats that come with full leather headrests and flexible side panels which can be adjusted vertically for optimum support, a step up from the version currently installed on Emirates’ Boeing 777 Game changer aircraft.
    Each seat features an elegant wood grain finish on tray tables, as well as a 13.3” personal screen to enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ice offering more than 4,500 channels on demand.

    The Business Traveller Middle East awards are dedicated to business travel, covering all aspects of the industry from airlines, airports, hotels, and loyalty programmes. The awards were presented virtually and attended by hundreds of industry professionals from across the region.

    Shortlisted companies are judged by a panel of travel experts, alongside the magazine’s editorial team, in addition to feedback from readers.