Emirates Seoul service to support strong trade and tourism traffic

The airline's new daily non-stop service to South Korea's capital and top economic centre will start 1st May 2005 and will support the strong demand for air links between the two cities, and boost trade and tourism exchanges between them, said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide.

'Dubai's combination of Arabian charm and world-class infrastructure will be an attractive new destination for Korean travellers,' Mr Al Ghaith said, addressing journalists in Seoul today. 'Also, Dubai's importance as a growing Middle East commercial hub is attracting strong interest from Korean businesses. Emirates' new non-stop service linking Dubai and Seoul will stimulate greater business and tourism flows between the two cities.'

He added: 'We are keen to introduce Emirates' award-winning service to Korean travellers. Likewise, we look forward to collaborating with local organisations to promote Korea's many attractions to travellers from across Emirates' global network.'

Korea is among Dubai's top 10 trading partners. Non-oil trade between Dubai and Korea amounted to over AED4.7 billion (US$1.3 billion) in 2003. Dubai's main Korean imports include textiles, automobiles and appliances, while main non-oil exports to Korea include base metals, plastics and animal products.

Emirates' new daily services from Seoul will provide Korean shippers with over 90 tonnes of cargo capacity each week and speedy air connections to Dubai and beyond.

Other than Emirates' own extensive route network to nearly 80 major cities around the globe, there are also over 105 airlines operating out of Dubai, offering both shippers and travellers excellent onward connections to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, via Emirates' Dubai hub.

Emirates Gears Up for Korea
Emirates also has announced the appointment of Sang Jin Lee to the position of Area Manager in South Korea. With 20 years of experience in airline, airport and air travel services, Mr. Lee will manage Emirates' operations in Seoul, overseeing about 20 local staff in the sales and airport offices.

In preparation for its new Dubai-Seoul service, Emirates recently conducted special training for cabin crew, to highlight the unique nuances of Korean culture and service expectations. Travellers onboard Emirates' new Seoul services also can look forward to gourmet menus tailored to Korean palates. The airline currently employs over 220 Korean cabin crew and has plans to recruit even more this year.

Emirates will fly daily non-stop between Dubai and Seoul's ultra-modern Inchon International Airport from 1st May. It will operate Airbus 340-300 aircraft in three-class configuration on the route, offering a capacity of 267 passengers and 13 tonnes of bellyhold space for cargo.

Flight EK322 will depart Dubai International Airport daily at 02:25hrs arriving at Inchon International Airport the same day at 15:55hrs. Return flight EK323 will take off from Inchon the next morning at 00:30hrs and land in Dubai at 05:25hrs, thus providing excellent onward connections for Korean travellers to Emirates' destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and New York City.

All flights times given above are local.