Emirates new flights to Durban from Dubai

News added by Mark Benson under Airline News

With just a week to go before Emirates Airlines’ first direct daily international flight to Durban from Dubai, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and Durban Chamber bosses have urged business in particular to support the new international route out of KwaZulu-Natal.Emirates flight EK 775 will make history as the Airbus 330-200 aircraft touches down at Durban International Airport on Thursday, October 1, at 5.10pm.

“The start of daily flights between Durban and Dubai is going to be a major milestone for KwaZulu-Natal and put Durban back on the international air-routes map, but it is up to us to make sure it’s a success – especially the business sector.

“Airlines make a significant part of their money from business class; that’s what makes international routes profitable. Big business or the corporate sector needs to support this new route,” said Ndabo Khoza, chief executive officer of Tourism KZN.“Clearly, local people need to support this new route to Dubai and dozens of destinations around the world onward via Durban-Dubai, but the corporate sector have a role to play by taking advantage of the business class seat offering on the flights,” he said.

“There should be no reason local businesses don’t support this new route because Durban and KwaZulu-Natal have a large manufacturing and trade base, being the second most industrialised region in South Africa.“We have many major South African and international corporations based in KwaZulu-Natal – such as Toyota, Tata Steel, Unilever, Aspen Pharmacare, Grindrod, IFA Hotels & Resorts SA and Tongaat-Hulett, among others.

“Despite the economic downturn and impact on the aviation industry, other global airlines will be watching this (Emirates’ new route) carefully. Depending on its success, demand and growth, interested international airlines will use this new route as a yardstick in deciding when and whether to come into KwaZulu-Natal with their own new international routes,” added Khoza.

The tourism committee manager at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jane Pillay, said the chamber fully supported the move by Emirates and would encourage its members to do the same.

“We have been looking forward to this new international route out of Durban for a long time and now it is just a week away. We are really encouraging business and Durbanites in general to support this new route, because ultimately it is in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal’s best interest to see this become a great success,” said Pillay.

“As the chamber, we are looking forward to the economic and tourism benefits that this new international route will bring to KwaZulu-Natal. We want to build strong business and diplomatic relationships with Dubai in particular and the Middle East in general because the region presents lucrative trade and investment opportunities for not just our province but South Africa,” she said.“Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is really excited in the run-up to Emirates’ new direct flights taking off from next week.“It will open the Zulu kingdom to the world – making inbound and outbound travel far easier and more cost-effective.

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