Emirates flies the world to Brazil

Emirates is using its technically advanced Boeing 777-200LR on the route, with Brazil becoming the 60th country and Sao Paulo the 94th destination on the airline's rapidly expanding network.

Passengers from over 12 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Australia, joined the first flight to Sao Paulo after connecting through Dubai from other Emirates flights.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: "Today marks an important milestone for Emirates; not only is it our first gateway in South America, but it means we now fly non-stop to six continents from Dubai.

"Our services provide a perfect match for business people and leisure travellers from the whole Middle East region, Africa, Far East and Australia seeking a convenient route to South America. The service will also offer Dubai as a new tourist and business destination to the relatively untapped market of South America.

"We look forward to developing closer ties with Brazil and we thank the Brazilian Government and airport officials for making this route possible."

On board the first flight from Dubai to Sao Paulo was His Excellency Flavio Moreira Sapha, the Brazilian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Passengers travelling on the Dubai - Sao Paulo route will enjoy unrivalled in-flight service, including eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy.

The aircraft is fitted with the ice Digital Widescreen - Emirates' next generation inflight entertainment system, offering over 1,000 channels of movies, TV and game entertainment on demand - more than any other airline offers, by far.

Captain Stefan Prugner, Emirates' Deputy Chief Pilot, Boeing, was at the controls of the historic flight, assisted on the flight deck by Captain Murilo Mariozi, First Officer Ali Al Jallaf and First Officer Hassan Asad Hassan Abdulla Abdulwahed.

Departing Dubai at 10:00 hrs, the flight time was 15 hours and 30 minutes with an arrival time at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport of 18:30 hrs on the same day. The return flight, EK262, departs Sao Paulo at 01:25 hrs and arrives in Dubai at 23:05 hrs on the same day.

Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of Emirates Airline, will offer its customers a blend of samba, carnival, natural settings and beach culture. The highlights will be Sao Paulo, the Brazilian vanguard and cultural centre, and Rio de Janeiro, famous for its carnival celebrations, the beat of samba and its vibrant beaches.

Emirates Holidays packages the best of Brazil, taking the discerning traveller on a country tour to discover the most magnificent natural scenarios such as Rio's Corcovado Mountain, the waterfalls of Iguaçu and the tropical rainforest of the Amazon.

The largest wholesale tour operator in the Middle East is offering great value vacations to Brazil. Emirates Holidays provides a three-night stay at the four-star Crowne Plaza in Sao Paulo. The offer, valid until end-December, includes return economy class airfare on Emirates, hotel accommodation in superior room, arrival meet-and-assist in Sao Paulo, transfers between the airport and hotel, and daily breakfasts.

For those who choose to upgrade their package, Emirates Holidays is offering three nights at the five-star Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi, including return business class airfare, hotel accommodation in a deluxe room, assistance on arrival, transfers, and daily breakfast.