Emirates to add five extra weekly flights to Paris

Emirates Airline will add an additional five weekly flights to Paris by the end of 2012. The increase in flights comes in direct response to strong passenger demand on the route.

Effective from March 25, the current double-daily Charles de Gaulle service will be supplemented by an additional four flights, increasing to five extra weekly flights in the winter 2012 schedule.

The four extra flights from March will operate on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

“Demand to and from France, particularly from business travellers, is such that a third frequency has always been an objective for Emirates, said Salem Obaidalla, senior vice president of commercial operations, Europe & Russian Federation, Emirates.

“With these additional services, we will help to satisfy that demand, while providing more opportunities for travel between Paris, Dubai and beyond to our network of more than 100 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia.”

The additional five frequencies, taking the total number of Emirates’ weekly flights to Paris to 19, will be operated with a 777-300ER. The aircraft offers eight first class private suites, 42 lie-flat beds in business class and a spacious cabin in economy class with 310 seats.

Paris is one of the Emirates’ routes served by the popular and partly French-built A380. The airline’s A380 orders will generate over 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in France.

France became part of the Emirates’ route network in 1992 and now two gateways are served; Paris and Nice. As passenger and belly-hold cargo services have increased, so has the contribution to the multi-billion dollar trade relationship between France and the UAE.

French investment in the UAE has traditionally focused on oil and gas, however the free trade zones have attracted companies such as L'Oreal, Chanel and Schneider. Food, automotive parts, furniture and interior design products also contribute to the trade relationship.