UAE-based leading airline Emirates has started its daily, non-stop service from Dubai to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) with the launch of its inaugural flight.

“We value our partnership with Tokyo International Airport; it is one that helps to connect two global hubs of development and growth - Japan and the UAE. We know that Haneda will play an integral role in our route network and the launch of services demonstrates Emirates’ commitment to Japan,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president, Passenger Sales Worldwide.

“Since the commencement of Emirates’ flights to Osaka in 2002, trade relations between Japan and UAE have flourished. According to JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation), two-way trade between UAE and Japan rose to $53.1 billion in 2012, up by 5.4 per cent compared to previous year,” he added.

“Haneda is our third gateway in Japan and we are confident that the demand in terms of both passengers and cargo is strong enough to warrant Emirates operating non-stop, daily flights to both of Tokyo’s airports, offering our passengers more flexibility on the route to Dubai and onwards to over 70 destinations in the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and Europe,” concluded Antinori.

With the new daily flight to Haneda, Emirates SkyCargo is able to add about 23 tonnes per flight, which accounts for about 160 tonnes of additional cargo capacity per week.

Together with the new Haneda flight service, Emirates has launched a complimentary airport transfer service for its passengers from Haneda Airport directly to a location of their choice in the Greater Tokyo area. This service is available to First Class and Business Class passengers.

The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating the route is equipped with eight private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy, along with gourmet cuisine in all cabins which has been tailored to Japanese passengers.

The aircraft also features ice, Emirates' award-winning in-flight entertainment system which offers over 1,400 channels showing the latest Japanese blockbusters, subtitled Hollywood films and Japanese music and TV.

Emirates now operates services to 134 destinations in 77 countries from Dubai, earlier this year Emirates launched services to Warsaw and Algiers.

In addition to Haneda, Emirates has announced plans to launch services to Stockholm starting September 4, Clark International Airport (Philippines) beginning on October 1; the same day as it begins its transatlantic route between Milan and New York.

Emirates’ partnership with Japan Airlines has been expanded to include a code share on the new Dubai-Haneda-Dubai services. The flights will be identified with the Emirates EK code as well as with Japan Airlines JL code.

Emirates Holidays, the airline’s tour operating arm, offers holidays to Japan, with itineraries that highlight attractions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. – TradeArabia News Service