Emirates to launch non-stop flights to Newcastle

This will bring the number of UK destinations served by Emirates to six, and will also be Newcastle's first-ever scheduled long-haul flight.

The new service will provide international travellers and shippers across Asia, the Middle East and Africa with a new direct link to the UK's North-east region via Emirates' across Dubai hub.

It also represents a massive boost for travellers and cargo shippers throughout the UK's North-east region, with a new non-stop connection to Dubai - one of the most popular tourist destinations and fastest emerging markets of the Middle East, and convenient one-stop access to cities in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, the Indian sub-continent and elsewhere in the Middle East.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: "We are pleased to be able to provide our customers around the globe with a new gateway into the United Kingdom, and better access to the North-east region - one of the UK's fastest developing areas for tourism and commerce.

"We believe there is a significant potential market, and are confident that this new route will prove successful for Emirates as well as for travellers and shippers in the UK's North-East. We look forward to working with the local community to boost inbound tourism and commerce, and foster strong trade and tourism links between the UK's North-east, Dubai and the other destinations we serve."

John Parkin, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport, says: "We are delighted that Emirates has shown such a huge vote of confidence in the region and Newcastle International Airport by introducing daily services to Dubai. Newcastle can now offer its customers direct services to one of the most important destinations in the world and an enormous choice of destinations beyond, on one of the world's leading airlines."

Emirates' daily non-stop service to Newcastle will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with 27 Business Class and 251 Economy Class seats. It also provides a daily cargo carrying capacity of 14 tonnes.

Starting on 1st September, Emirates flight EK035 will depart Dubai at 07:20 every day, arriving in Newcastle at 12:10. The return flight EK036 will depart Newcastle International Airport at 13:40, arriving into Dubai International Airport at 00:05 the following day. (All times are local).

Emirates currently operates 91 non-stop flights each week, or 13 flights each day, from Dubai to the UK - five services daily to London Heathrow, three services per day to London Gatwick, double-daily flights each to Birmingham and Manchester, and a daily connection to Glasgow.