Today Emirates airlines will take a step into
the history books when it becomes the first airline to start scheduled flights
to Toronto Canada.
The Emirates A380 route from Dubai to Toronto
Canada will be a three times a week service and is a sign that Emirates is committed
to and sees great potential in the Canadian market.
Presently Emirates is restricted to 3 flight
a week to Canada and would like to expand this with daily flight to Toronto
with a possible second daily service with a 777 aircraft, along with an
additional service from Dubai to Calgary.
The Full press release from Emirates can be
read below:
One hundred years after the first manned
flight in Canada, Canadian aviation history again will be made when an Emirates
airline Airbus A380 lands at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on June
1, 2009. The airline's double-decker aircraft will be the first to enter the
Canadian market.
"We are extremely pleased to provide
the A380 for our Dubai-Toronto service, which has had consistently strong demand
since the three-times weekly route was launched in October, 2007," said
Emirates President Tim Clark. "In fact, the demand has been so high
it will only allow Emirates to address some of the unmet need of the Toronto
market," he added.
"The launch of the Dubai-Toronto
A380 service means we will continue to invest in Canada, one of our most
important markets. Our inaugural A380 flight to Toronto comes just after the
hiring of Emirates' 500th Canadian employee. Our Canadian employees are in
Canada and Dubai in positions ranging from management to pilots to cabin crew
and engineers," Mr. Clark said.
"Despite the current economic
difficulties, this is good news for the Canadian economy. We believe you need a
long-term view. By adding this new ultra-efficient aircraft to Toronto, we are
increasing trade and tourism capacity, but the three flights a week restriction
remains a disappointment. We believe Toronto needs a daily A380 service and
progressively, a second daily service with an aircraft like the 777,"
he added.
Dubai has been one of Canada's fastest growing export markets in recent years
and Emirates has been lobbying for additional access to Toronto for a decade.
Emirates has also indicated its interest in providing direct flights from Dubai
to Calgary and Vancouver given the serious potential it sees for those markets.
The airline remains hopeful that the Canadian government will allow additional
service to Canada to meet the demand for passenger and cargo traffic. This
request is consistent with the government's Blue Sky policy on air
liberalization, supported by several provincial and municipal governments and
dozens of business and tourism stakeholders across Canada.
"The inaugural flight represents a
significant milestone for Emirates' Toronto-Dubai service. Passengers are in
for a treat when they fly on the Emirates A380. The aircraft features shower
spas in the First Class cabin, an onboard lounge and our services include an
extensive menu of multi-course meal options, created by top international chefs
as well as our award-winning inflight entertainment product "ICE",
with over 1200 channels of entertainment, sms and email facilities as well as
seat-to-seat calling," said
Nigel Page, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations The Americas.
Emirates' A380s have a range of up to 15,000 kilometres and offer better fuel
economy per passenger kilometre than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 is
also quieter - both inside and outside of the cabin - generating less than half
the noise of other aircraft on take off.
The aircraft represents the latest example of innovation and technology from a
company that has already won hundreds of international awards for in-flight
amenities and services.