Emirates will operate daily flights to Dublin from January next marking its first route to the Republic of Ireland and 29th destination of the airline in Europe.
The daily service, from January 9, will leave Dubai at 7 a.m. to arrive in the Irish capital at 11.30 a.m.. The return flight will leave Dublin at 12.55 p.m. and reach Dubai at 12.25 a.m. the next day. An Airbus A 330-200 will be deployed between Dubai and Dublin, offering First, Business and Economy class to the travellers.
“Emirates' customers in Ireland who currently travel through some of our U.K. gateways will be able to fly non-stop to our industry leading hub in Dubai and connect onward to our broadening route network,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. “We see strong potential in Ireland through its industry, technology, tourism, and the huge number of Irish nationals living overseas.”
Ireland has a population of around 4.5 million, but estimated more than 15 times that live overseas, including somewhere in the region of 80,000 Irish nationals in Australia and about 5,000 in the UAE. Other key markets include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, South Africa, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
The Republic is a popular tourist destination and last year received 6.7 million visitors, drawn by the rich ancient history, spectacular countryside, traditional Irish music and the vast scenic coastline. “We are delighted to welcome Emirates Airline to Dublin,” said Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) Chief Executive Declan Collier.
Emirates SkyCargo is already active in Ireland, mostly carrying goods through Manchester, and with 14 tonnes of bellyhold capacity becoming available on each passenger flight, activity in the market will intensify. Pharmaceuticals, which make up nearly a quarter of Ireland's exports, are expected to be amongst the commodities carried, along with electronics. Flights to St. Petersburg will begin on November 1 and Baghdad on November 13, according to the airline.
