Dubai carrier Emirates said it plans to launch non-stop daily flights to two new US destinations - Dallas-Fort Worth and Seattle-Tacoma - starting from next year.

Both services will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft offering the highest standards of passenger comfort, with luxurious private suites in First Class, lie-flat beds in Business Class and generously-sized Economy Class seats, said a statement from Emirates.

Starting from February 2, Dallas-Fort Worth flight EK 221 will take off from Dubai daily at 2.45am and land in Dallas-Fort Worth at 9.05am. On return, flight EK 222 will leave Dallas at 11.50am and arrive in Dubai International Airport at 12.20pm the following day.

The Seattle flight EK 229 will leave Dubai daily at 9.50am starting from March 1, and arrive in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 1.10pm. On return, flight EK 230 will depart Seattle at 5.10pm and arrive in Dubai at 7.40pm the following day.

Unveiling its major US expansion plans, Emirates Airline & Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said, these daily non stop flight services emphasise Emirates’ confidence in, and long-term commitment to, the US.

“With six gateways offering convenient connectivity from points across the country, customers travelling to and from the US will find it easier than ever to access our vast global network,” he remarked.

“Our latest expansion also serves as a powerful indicator of how Emirates continues to invest in products and services even during difficult economic climates,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

'This is because we have always been ahead of the curve in anticipating what is now becoming an accepted truth – that demand for air travel will continue to grow over the long term in spite of the many challenges the industry faces,' he noted.

'In making this investment now, Emirates is providing a timely economic boost to the United States whilst ensuring that we are soundly placed to serve our customers’ future air travel needs,' he added.
 
Seattle sits at the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a 400 mile corridor which encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho in the US and British Columbia in Canada.

The city is home to some of the world’s most recognisable global companies, including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Expedia, Nintendo and Nordstrom.
 
The Pacific Northwest region also boasts a wealth of world class tourist attractions, including mountains, ski slopes, beaches and fresh water lakes.

Seattle is a gateway to leading ski resort Whistler and Yellowstone, America’s first national park, which is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. 
 
“Emirates is not only the world's largest international carrier - it serves as a gateway from the US to an important part of the world,” said Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission president.

'This direct service connects Seattle to a new region, creating jobs and tourism opportunities for our state,' he added.
 
The GDP of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was estimated at $382 billion in 2008, equal to the national GDP of Norway and Saudi Arabia, and larger than that of Austria and Denmark.

The metroplex is home to 24 Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobil, Texas Instruments, Kimberly-Clark, J.C. Penney and Southwest Airlines. 
 
Emirates’ Seattle service will help support key exports from Washington State, including software, sound and television equipment, aircraft parts, medical and surgical supplies, video games and foodstuffs; headed for markets including the UAE, China, Japan, India and Hong Kong, the airline said in a statement.

Commodities piped between Dallas and the UAE include oil and gas industry related machinery, spares and high-tech equipment. A bellyhold capacity of 15 tonnes on each Emirates flight will help support this trade.

“This announcement from Emirates brings a new and highly valued international airline partner to Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

'Emirates' daily non-stop service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai connects two global super-hubs for US travellers to the Far and Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Africa on a trendsetting airline,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service