Emirates airline will launch flights to the southern Indian city of Kozhikode (Calicut) from July 1.

The airline will fly six times a week from Dubai to the city.

Age-old trade ties between Dubai and Kozhikode – a port city that welcomed its first Middle Eastern traders as early as the seventh century – are set to accelerate with the launch of the Emirates service.

Kozhikode is Emirates' third gateway in Kerala after Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and its 10th in India.

Emirates will operate Boeing 777-200 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft in two-class configurations on the route.