Emirates set to serve Alexandria

The city will mark the airline's 79th destination on its rapidly expanding network and the second gateway to that country after Cairo, located 150kms away.

From 15th May, Emirates will fly daily to Alexandria's Borg Al Arab Airport (HBE). EK931 will depart Dubai at 09:10hrs to reach Alexandria at 12:30hrs; return flight EK932 will leave the city at 14:00hrs to reach Dubai at 19:00hrs. The airline will deploy its A310 aircraft in a two class configuration - 21 in Business and 177 in Economy. Those wanting to return home at a later time can connect to Dubai via the Cairo flight that departs the city at 19:15hrs everyday.

Emirates has carefully scheduled services to enable tourists and business executives from the UAE and the GCC to connect quickly to Egypt, slashing transit times significantly. Alexandria also serves as a convenient, alternative route into this mystical land of the Pharoahs that has modern, bustling trade and tourism industries.

To provide a hassle-free seamless travel experience Emirates' Business class passengers can enjoy luxurious limo services between Alexandria and Cairo while Economy class passengers will be offered free bus services to Cairo city.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates' Chairman said: "Alexandria has been on our route radar for sometime now and I am delighted to announce the launch of our services to the city. It is an ideal partnership between two cities that have enjoyed traditional trade ties since ancient times.

"We are confident that our ultra-modern facilities and services will help catalyse trade and tourism between Alexandria and our worldwide network. We also are happy that our new, convenient flights will further serve the substantial Egyptian community residing in the UAE."

Famed as the city founded by Alexander the Great and a tourist magnet, Alexandria is the second largest in Egypt after Cairo. It also marks Emirates' 11th destination on the African continent after Cairo, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Nairobi, Tripoli, Lagos and Accra.

The Egyptian getaways of Cairo, Luxor and Sharm El Shaikh are extremely popular tourist haunts among those featured in Emirates Holidays' World of Choice brochures.

Cairo was the sixth city on Emirates' route map, having been launched in 1986 in the second year of the airline's operations. The airline currently flies eight times a week to the city, with two flights on Friday.