Emirates set to start second Japanese route

Initially Emirates will serve Nagoya four times a week, escalating the service to a daily from 1st July 2006.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates' Chairman said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of our services to Nagoya, further evidence of Emirates' commitment to both the Japanese market and to our customers worldwide."

He added: "Trade and tourism ties between the Middle East and Japan are flourishing. Our new service has been carefully designed to provide business executives and tourists from Japan convenient connections to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, and vice-versa to the country, especially to the Central Region. We intend to bring Japan closer to the Middle East by further catalyzing and boosting economic partnerships."

From 1st June, Emirates' EK314 will fly non-stop every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 02:25 hours from Dubai to arrive at Nagoya's Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) at 17:20 hours. EK315 will return on the same day at 23:30 hours to arrive in Dubai at 05:30 hours next morning. All timings are local.

The route will be operated by Emirates' wide-bodied Boeing 777-200, offering a total capacity of 290 seats - 12 in First Class, 42 in Business Class, and 236 in Economy - and 18 tonnes of cargo payloads.

From 1st September, the route will be served by Emirates' ultra-modern Airbus A340-500 operating on the same daily schedule.

With over two million inhabitants, Nagoya is Japan's fourth most populated city and also the capital of its Aichi Prefecture. Located in the Central Region, which plays a primary role in Japanese industry, the city serves as the home base to some of the best known brands in automobiles and consumer goods. Nagoya is a centre for cutting-edge technology in automobiles, aviation, machine tools, fine ceramics, robotics, and a major production centre for Japan's furniture and textiles - all industries which are expected to benefit from Emirates SkyCargo's services.

Nagoya claims a special position as an industrial hub and a rural haven, with gems such as the Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Art Museum, Atsuta Shrine, and Osu Kannon Temple attracting a large number of tourists. The city is also home to Nagoya Port, one of Japan's largest ports, which has been redeveloped in recent years as a leisure district.

Emirates began services to Osaka on 1st October 2002 with four weekly services to Kansai International Airport. In March 2004, Emirates increased its services to a daily, and currently operates an Airbus A340-500 which offers 258 seats in a three-class configuration - 12 First, 42 Business and 204 Economy Class seats - and over 100 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity.

Emirates SkyCargo currently carries automobile parts and spares, consumer electronics, and office equipments such as fax and copiers from Japan to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. To Japan, the cargo division transports a variety of perishable foods, frozen salmon and tuna, cut flowers, nuts, carpets and pet food.

In October, Emirates opened an offline office in Tokyo and relocated its existing office in Osaka to larger premises that function as a one-stop Emirates travel hub. Japan has emerged as the fastest-growing market for Emirates' acclaimed Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, which has seen the country's guests increase by almost 30 per cent on an average every year since 2001.