Emirates counts down to Brazil launch

The six-a-week service, which begins on 1st October, will be the first time that the Middle East and Brazil have been connected by a direct air link.

With preparations well underway, an Emirates delegation, led by Nigel Page, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, The Americas, is currently in Sao Paulo to introduce the Dubai-based airline's award winning product and service to over 2,000 travel and cargo agents from across South America.

Nigel Page said, "Emirates is counting down to the launch of our Sao Paulo service. We are very excited as it will be a truly historic event, representing our first gateway in South America.

"We are already actively promoting Sao Paulo to our customers around the world and we are looking forward to bringing business and tourism traffic into this beautiful country. At the same time, we look forward to welcoming our first customers flying out of South America onboard Emirates soon."

Emirates hosted two road show events in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the promotional campaign now moving on to Rio de Janeiro. During the show Emirates guests enjoyed a multi-media presentation about Dubai and Emirates, introduced by Brazilian TV celebrity, Zeca Camargo. The guests also had the chance to see the Boeing 777-200 First Class private suite up-close and a model of the Emirates' world renowned Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa.

Emirates will operate the technologically-advanced Boeing 777-200LR, the latest addition to its expanding fleet of over 100 wide-bodied aircraft, on the Dubai-Sao Paulo route. This aircraft features eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business and has a generous space for 216 passengers in Economy. The Boeing 777-200LR will also offer shippers up to 18 tonnes of cargo capacity.

Emirates currently employs over 8,000 cabin crew representing more than 100 nationalities, including over 150 Brazilians. In total Emirates employs over 200 Brazilians within the entire group, a number which is set to increase dramatically following an ongoing recruitment campaign in Brazil.

Ralf Aasmann, Emirates' Area Manager, Brazil, said: "At Emirates we look forward to supporting and expanding the strong commercial trade ties which exist between Sao Paulo and Dubai, two important emerging markets.

"With the growing demand from leisure and business travellers, both from across the Emirates network and in South America, Emirates is confident that the new service will prove to be a very popular route."

Sao Paulo is one of the new destinations that Emirates is adding to its fast expanding international route network, which currently stands at 92 destinations in 59 countries. In 2007 alone Emirates has added Venice and will soon be adding Newcastle in the United Kingdom, Houston in the United States, Toronto in Canada and Ahmedabad in India.