Dubai-based Emirates airline has announced plans for a second gateway in Istanbul, Turkey, with the launch of a daily service to Sabiha Gokcen Airport in December.

The new service, which commences December 15, will complement Emirates’ existing 11 weekly flights to Ataturk Airport, offering even more convenience for both inbound and outbound travellers.

The new service, with an early morning arrival into Dubai, will enable seamless connectivity to Emirates’ vast network across Africa, as well as to key Asian destinations like Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Denpasar (Bali), and Phuket, just to name a few.

The new service will commence with a daily flight operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a three-class layout - 12 in First, 42 in Business, and 183 in Economy. The aircraft also has the capacity to carry up to 17 tonnes of cargo.

“Istanbul has become an increasingly popular destination for Emirates, attracting both business and leisure travellers from around the world. By operating into two airports, we are enabling greater flexibility for our passengers, allowing them to fly into one airport and out of the other,” said Hubert Frach, divisional senior vice president, Commercial – West at Emirates. “We will be the only airline operating a scheduled wide-body aircraft at Sabiha Gokcen Airport, a clear sign of our commitment to the market.”

Emirates flight EK119 will depart Dubai at 17:15 and arrive in Istanbul at 20:15 daily. The return flight EK120 will leave Istanbul at 22:05, arriving in Dubai at 04:20 the next day.

Tickets for travel to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport are now available to purchase. – TradeArabia News Service