Emirates and Houston strengthen business connection

The meeting was attended by key representatives from industry and government including Brigadier Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Ali, UAE Deputy Minister of Defence, Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, Paul Griffith, CEO of Dubai Airports and Jamal Al Hai, Chairman of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation. The meetings focussed on economic development opportunities for both the city and the airline.

Launched in December of 2007, the Houston route has marked a key expansion market for the airline in the United States, forging an important business link between the American oil and gas hub and Dubai.

In its first year of service the route has enjoyed terrific success with high passenger loads, particularly among business travellers as well as significant cargo freight, 70% of which comes from the oil and gas industry.

Mayor White's meetings represent an instalment in a series of diplomatic and economic visits from Texas this year. In early April, Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson led a trade mission to Dubai while U.S. President George W. Bush made his first visit to the U.A.E. in January.

This year, Emirates took its U.S. expansion further westward with the announcement of services to Los Angeles (starting 1st September) and San Francisco (starting 26th October). Covering points on both coasts and in between, Emirates will soon reach four destinations in the United States: New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Emirates' global route network spans 99 cities in 62 countries across the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Europe, the Far East, and the Americas.