Emirates Consolidates Its West African Presence
Effective 8th June, the airline will introduce one extra flight per week to its recently launched Abidjan operation. With this addition, the Dubai-based carrier's presence into the Ivorian city will grow to a total of five weekly flights; operated every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Appropriately timed to cater to the summer-season rush, additional flight EK 787, operated by an Airbus A330-200, will depart Dubai on Thursdays at 07:30 hours, arriving in Abidjan, via Accra, at 14:00 hours. Return flight EK 788 will depart Cote D'Ivoire's capital at 15:20 hours on the same day and touch down at Dubai's ultra-modern international airport at 05:50 hours the following day. The aircraft will be equipped to offer 12 First, 42 Business and 183 Economy class seats, along with 17 tonnes of cargo capacity. The additional capacity is forecasted to benefit Ivorian traders of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil to further their trade in the Middle East, Far East and Europe. It will also cater to the increasing demand from neighbouring West African countries like Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Republic of Guinea. Emirates is fortifying its presence in West Africa and positioning itself as a strong partner for the region's trade-oriented economy, with flights from Dubai to three countries in the region, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire . Post enhancements Emirates will offer West African traders the highest number of international connecting flights to the Middle East and Far East regions via Dubai - 145 and 112 connections per week respectively. Emirates' additional flight will also significantly improve the connectivity and quality that Emirates offers its passengers on this route. Cheers, Ahmed.

Next step in West Africa
Ahmed, Any ideas where EK wants to expand in West Africa? What about the rumours last year that EK is requesting rights to serve KAN, ABV or/and PHC? Any truth to this? Thanks for your feedback

There i a battle i can say btn QR and EK, everyone want to enter South America and EK has already secured 14 frequencies a week while QR is in process to get frequencies, So in EK there is a posibility of going daily nonstop and when the loadfactor is good they will go the second daily via one of west african destination, In case of QR they will do the same as QR copy the EK system, i guess the new destination for EK will be Dakar but i'm not sure.

Hi there, Emirates introduced a twenty percent discount on the Ethopia routes. Read this article by The Daily Monitor (Addis Abeba): Emirates on Wednesday introduced a 20 per cent discount on passenger fares for flights en route Addis Ababa - Europe effective until 31st of August, 2006, the airline's Area Manager to Ethiopia A.S. Sudhir disclosed to The Daily Monitor. The Dubai-based airline launched the discount on passenger fares exclusively for the market in Ethiopia, according to the Manager. "The airline took the move to promote and familiarize its products and services to potential customers in Ethiopia, because the country is a new market for Emirates," Sudhir said. As per the discount fares, a passenger flying Emirates en route Addis Ababa-Europe will be charged 1600 US dollars for Business Class, while the fare for the First Class has been reduced to 2880 US dollars. Emirates' discount offer for travelers to Europe involves 19 destinations across the continent, which includes London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, and Zurich. The Airline has also introduced to the market Emirates Holidays, a sister company that, upon request, provides a traveler flying the Air line with accommodations and resort facility packages in each destination Emirates is flying to through Emirates associate hotels and resorts. Regarded as one of the Ethiopian Airlines (EAL) major competitors in the Middle East and Europe markets, Emirates has started flying to one of EAL's major en routes, Addis Ababa-Dubai, thrice a week since March 27, 2006. Presently, Ethiopian Airlines operates a twice daily flight between Addis Ababa and Dubai, while Emirates will enhance its thrice a week Dubai- Addis Ababa services to daily flights beginning December 1st, 2006, according to the Manager. Cheers, Felix

Emirates will fly daily nonstop to Sao paulo later next year.not via WEst African destination.