Emirates touched down in Tel Aviv today on its first ever service into Israel, operated with its latest Boeing 777 ‘game-changer’ aircraft.
Emirates flight EK931 was welcomed by Ben Gurion Airport with a water cannon salute, drawing an audience of travelers, aviation fans and guests from across the industry to watch the arrival of the airline’s first service. On touchdown, the VIP delegation was welcomed by Merav Michaeli, Israel’s Minister of Transport and Road Safety.
After the welcome ceremony, Emirates showcased the interiors of its latest Boeing 777’ game-changer’s aircraft to government officials and guests. The aircraft features the world’s first fully-enclosed First Class suites with virtual windows and room service, offering the ultimate in luxury and privacy, plus many more thoughtful touches to ensure customer comfort across all cabin classes. Emirates will subsequently operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route, offering eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class for the daily service.
Israel’s Minister of Transport and Road Safety MK Merav Michaeli said: “The ties between Israel and the UAE are strategic economic ties and are critical to strengthening our position in face of the changing threats in the Middle East. On my last visit to the UAE, I signed agreements that will facilitate the trade and mobility between us, mobility as a tool to empower the citizens and economies of both countries.
“The step we are marking today is far beyond aviation, it is an important political step that blurs the physical boundaries between us and strengthens our mutual commitment.”
Adel Al Redha, Emirates Chief Operating Officer said: “We are excited about the launch of Tel Aviv service which adds to our growing network. From the time we first announced plans to include Tel Aviv in our global reservation systems, we received strong demand from travelers – not only in Israel, but also from many of our destinations including to and from the UAE. Some of the high demand also came from Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, the United States, and the Philippines. This reflects the strength of our product offering, the reach of our global network and the efficiency of our hub Dubai for worldwide connections. Our new service will provide tourism, trade and business opportunities.
“We look forward to welcoming our customers to experience Emirates’ product on ground and on board, as well as enjoy a unique experience across all classes. We take this opportunity to thank our friends and partners for supporting the launch of the service.”
Emirates’ flight schedules to and from Tel Aviv have been timed to provide convenient access to Dubai, and connections to popular destinations like Australia, the Philippines, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, Emirates’ codeshare partnership with flydubai offers travelers even more choices when they connect in Dubai, unlocking access to the combined network of both carriers which span 210 destinations in 100 countries.
Travelers looking for well-curated, premium travel packages to Dubai and other popular Emirates destinations at great value can also book their vacation with Emirates Holidays to enjoy a one-stop personalized travel solution.
