Emirates airline launched its inaugural services to Casablanca on Sunday, March 31, the first-ever direct link between Dubai and Morocco. With the new operation, Emirates' network now extends to 57 destinations in 40 countries. In addition, the airline will start operations on April 8 between Dubai and Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Flying three times a week between Casablanca and Dubai, the airline operates an Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route, with a three-cabin service of 18 First, 42 Business and 183 Economy Class seats.
“We believe that the Emirates flight will strengthen the ties between our two countries and will encourage the Dubai residents and visitors from the Middle East to increase tourism to Morocco and we also expect that there would be significant investments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Morocco,” Emirates' Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum stated.
Every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, EK752 departs from Casablanca in the afternoon at 1435, arriving in Dubai at 0215 on the following day, with a flight time of seven hours, 40 minutes. EK751 departs from Dubai every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 0805 in the early morning, touching down in Casablanca for lunchtime at 1300, with a flight time of eight hours, 55 minutes. All times are local.
Currently operating 36 aircraft, the state-owned Emirates has embarked on a massive expansion scheme this year, including the purchase of 100 aircraft by 2010. In November 2001, the airline announced it had agreed to buy 68 passenger planes worth over $15 billion from Airbus and Boeing. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
