Emirates opens Dubai-Dublin route

A MAJOR transport, tourism and business link to the Middle East has been cemented with the inaugural Emirates flight yesterday from Dubai to Dublin.

Dublin is the airline’s 118th destination, and opens a route to key markets in Australia, India, Thailand, China and the Philippines.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, who travelled on the flight, said the link will boost tourism and business.

“It also considerably improves connectivity with India, Australia and New Zealand, which should result in a further increase in tourism numbers from these countries,” he said.

Mr Varadkar said Tourism Ireland and the Dublin Airport Authority are working with Emirates to promote the route.

Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said completion of the Dublin-Dubai link is a tremendous development for business and tourism.

“We are now connecting Ireland not only to Dubai, but also to over 100 destinations throughout the world,” said Mr Clark. “Solid early bookings have demonstrated that the demand is there, opening up new markets for passengers and cargo to and from the Republic.”

Emirates will serve Dublin daily with an A330-200. The airline is the largest A380 operator in the world.