Emirates Archives

April 10, 2024

Airline to lay out a table of traditional Sri Lankan festive fare for premium passengers from 13 to 14 April

Colombo, 9 April: Traditional Sri Lankan culinary treats that evoke the essence of festive occasions on the island will greet Emirates’ premium passengers visiting the airline’s lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on 13 and 14 April. Emirates’ special lounge offering in Colombo coincides with the country’s celebration of Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Marking the observance of ‘Avurudu’ when Sri Lankans celebrate the turn of the year and pay tribute to the sun for its role in a bountiful harvest, Emirates will lay out a table of uniquely Sri Lankan sweetmeats for departing First and Business Class passengers, enabling them to experience some of the classic confectionaries and dishes associated with a festival steeped in age-old customs and traditions.

The spread will include special menu items such as milk rice or ‘kiribath,’ ‘kokis,’ ‘mung kevum,’ ‘aluwa,’ ‘welithalapa’ and ‘peni walalu’ – all celebratory staples at auspicious events in Sri Lanka. A piquant Sri Lankan hot meal will also be served to passengers visiting the lounge at lunch time.

Emirates’ premium 5,778 square-foot dedicated lounge at the BIA opened in June 2012 for the use of First Class and Business Class passengers as well as members of select tiers of Skywards, the airline’s award-winning frequent flyer programme. The lounge can accommodate up to 118 passengers, providing a comfortable and relaxing setting for travelers to enjoy themselves before their trip. Featuring comfortable leather armchairs, a spacious dining area and Business Centre to catch up on work before flights, the Emirates Lounge also has a dedicated prayer room, shower facilities, and washrooms for the convenience of passengers.

Emirates operates 39 of its own airport lounges worldwide, including seven in Dubai and 32 at major airports worldwide, all of which are furnished with the same attention to detail and offer exceptional service. These airport lounges are one of the many ‘Fly better’ benefits that Emirates Premium Class customers can enjoy before flights.

Emirates launched operations to Sri Lanka in April 1986, and has over the past 38 years carried more than 12 million passengers to and from Colombo. The airline currently provides two direct daily flights to Colombo utilising the Boeing 777-300ER as well as an additional daily service via Male. It is the only international carrier to serve the country with First Class services – offering passengers world-class products and superior comfort in air and on-ground.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com/lk

April 2, 2024

Furthering Dubai’s commitment to accessible travel and in time for World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April; Emirates has achieved a Certified Autism Center™ Designation for all of its Dubai Check In facilities – Emirates City Check-in & Travel Store in DIFC, Emirates Cruise Check In – Port Rashid, Emirates Cruise Check In – Dubai Harbour and Emirates City Check-In Ajman, in addition to the Emirates’ dedicated hub in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The certification, awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) ensures that all Emirates facilities in Dubai have taken a significant step towards making travel more inclusive and accessible to neurodiverse customers, meeting criteria required for a comfortable and supported travel experience.

As part of the designation, Emirates employees at the various facilities underwent specialized training on autism and sensory awareness, to equip them with the understanding and skills to address needs of autistic travellers or those with sensory sensitivities, along with their families. Comprehensive facilities audits were conducted across the locations, measuring all sensory inputs in public areas such as sound levels, lighting, and potential sights and smells to develop sensory guides, empowering travellers to make informed decisions and choose the environment that best suits their needs and preferences.

This achievement builds on the recent recognition of Dubai International Airport as the first international airport to earn the designation from IBCCES and aligns with the Department of Economy and Tourism’s (DET) vision of becoming the first Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) in the Middle East.

Emirates’ City Check-Ins across Dubai offer a seamless and stress-free pre-airport experience in convenient and easily accessible locations, where Emirates customers can check in for flights up to 24 hours in advance, drop off luggage between four and 24 hours before departure, and choose between agent-assisted check-ins, robot-assisted check-ins, or self-service kiosks, allowing a more relaxed travel experience.

Mohammed H. Mattar – Emirates DSVP Airport Services commented:

“As a global airline, Emirates is committed to providing a seamless travel experience for everyone. We recognize the challenges customers with autism and sensory sensitivities face in airport environments. That’s why we’ve proactively partnered with Dubai’s DET and IBCCES to certify all our city check-in locations across the UAE. This initiative is a crucial step forward in our ongoing mission to make travel inclusive and accessible for all.”

Myron Pincomb, Chairman of the Board for IBCCES remarked:

“Emirates is known worldwide for its exceptional guest service. Checking in for a flight is one of the most stressful segments of the whole travel experience. With the completion of the facilities, audit and the addition of the new sensory guides, the check-in procedure at the Check-in facilities will be more accommodating for people of determination, and especially those with sensory challenges.”

By working together – Emirates, Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Airports in collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, Dubai Police and Dubai Customs, are making travel more inclusive and accessible for all, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to becoming a leading destination for travellers with diverse needs.

IBCCES also created AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for families that lists certified destinations and connects families to other resources and each other. Each destination listed on the site has met the CAC requirements.

April 2, 2024

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Classic Travel, a leading IATA-accredited travel agent based in Sri Lanka and a member of the renowned Expolanka Group of Companies, has been awarded the prestigious Gold Award as the No.1 Travel Agent by Emirates. The coveted award was presented at the Emirates Awards Night, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, in recognition of Classic Travel’s exceptional support and dedication to Emirates Airlines throughout the year 2023.

Emirates Airlines, known for its commitment to excellence and unparalleled service, honoured Classic Travel as the most preferred travel partner during a gala event that celebrated the contributions of travel agencies to Emirates’ success. This accolade reaffirms Classic Travel’s position as a trusted and reliable travel partner, offering high-quality services that exceed customer expectations.

Mr. Sabry Bahaudeen, General Manager of Classic Travel, expressed gratitude for the Gold Award, stating, “Receiving the Gold Award is a tremendous honour for Classic Travel, and it fuels our determination to excel further and provide exceptional travel services and experiences. This recognition reinforces our commitment to excellence. We are deeply thankful to all our clients and partners who have been integral to our journey, enabling us to achieve this milestone.”

A trusted travel solutions provider for over 25 years, Classic Travel is an IATA accredited travel agent based in Sri Lanka and a member of the prestigious Expolanka Group of Companies. Classic Travel specializes in providing comprehensive travel solutions to both corporate and leisure markets. It is the only travel agent in Sri Lanka to be open 24 hours, 365 days of the year for any customer queries relating to flight information, purchasing of air tickets, booking of hotels or to discuss any future holiday travel itineraries.

April 2, 2024

At the 2024 Dubai World Cup held at the Meydan Racecourse on March 30, Emirates and AC Milan unveiled a bespoke art installation by regionally renowned artist Kareemgraphy, to celebrate the intersection of sports, culture and art.

Uniquely created for the event by calligraffiti artist and designer artist Abdul Kareem, known as Kareemgraphy, the innovative art installation is a representation of a horse, made up of 187 AC Milan’s Home, Away, Third, and goalkeeper jerseys, artfully arranged. The eye-catching 8 x 8 metre display sits on the lawn area adjacent to the parade ring, and comes to life when viewed by Dubai World Cup fans in the Grandstand, in a breathtaking vision uniting sports, culture, and art.

The Dubai World Cup, ideated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the pinnacle of horse racing season in the UAE. AC Milan’s participation marked a historic moment as the Club’s first activation at Emirates horse racing events, solidifying its partnership with Emirates which has been an iconic collaboration since 2007.

Among the notable attendees at the event were AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani, RedBird Capital’s Operating Partner and AC Milan Senior Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic and AC Milan’s Chief Commercial Officer Maikel Oettle.

AC Milan’s Chief Commercial Officer Maikel Oettle expressed his admiration for the art installation:

“It’s inspiring to see AC Milan and Emirates come together for this extraordinary event. This art installation beautifully celebrates the intersection of sports and diverse cultures, bringing together football and horse racing. It speaks volumes about the Club’s innovative nature and its expanding presence beyond pure football.”

Boutros Boutros Emirates Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand remarked:

‘We are delighted to see the convergence of our 17-year partnership with AC Milan and 28-year partnership with Dubai World Cup represented in such a unique and artistic way. It’s another impressive and innovative moment for our customers to enjoy at a world class event, with exceptional brand partnerships and an appreciation for sport, culture and art.’

The event marked a milestone in AC Milan’s collaboration with Emirates, further strengthening the partnership between the two brands and reinforcing the Club’s presence in the Middle East as well as its commitment to engaging with diverse audiences through innovative initiatives.

AC Milan, a top 10 club in the MEA region with over 35 million fans and 2.5 million in the UAE, opened Casa Milan Dubai, its regional hub, at the end of last year – a strategic move in the Club’s global expansion under RedBird Capital, which further AC Milan’s commitment to the Middle East’s growing market.

March 27, 2024

Dubai, UAE, 27 March April 2024: Celebrating the occasions of both Catholic Easter in March and Orthodox Easter in May, Emirates will be serving traditional lamb and an array of chocolate desserts in the lounges, hot cross buns and Easter bread onboard, sweet surprises for kids, and all the latest and greatest new family-friendly movies on ice.

Easter treats served onboard

From 29-31 March, Emirates customers flying in every class to Australia, USA, Canada, Europe, UK, Brazil, Philippines, South Africa, Mauritius and Ghana, will enjoy a sumptuous selection of Easter treats onboard. Economy Class customers will be offered a hot cross bun or Easter bread with their meal, or a delicious Easter dessert of carrot cake with an indulgent très leches sauce. Customers in First, Business, and Premium Economy class will also be served a chocolate cake garnished with creamy ganache and redcurrants, or a strawberry cheesecake dotted with an elegant mini-Easter egg. Kids in all classes will receive a brightly coloured ‘Happy Easter’ biscuit shaped like an Easter egg. In the A380 Onboard Lounge, customers can relish traditional Easter simnel fruitcake with marzipan.

Orthodox Easter Celebrations

From 5-7 May, on routes from Dubai to Russia, Cyprus and Greece, First and Business Class customers can tuck into traditional herb crusted lamb for Easter, served with crispy roasted potatoes, baby carrots and tzatziki sauce, followed by Easter cake, also known as Kulich bread.

Easter in Emirates Lounges

Across Emirates’ global network of lounges between 29 March and 1 April, customers will enjoy classic Easter fare in most locations. In the First Class lounges of Dubai, customers can look forward to tender lamb chops, roasted potatoes and vegetables, or a rich lamb stew with potatoes, carrots, and dried fruits in the Business Class lounge. Both lounges will feature an assortment of Easter-themed cookies and an abundance of Easter chocolate from chocolate pots to homemade milk chocolate ice cream, to chocolate gateaux.

Entertainment for Easter on ice

Emirates passengers flying over Easter can access a world class entertainment library on ice with more than 6,500 channels, including up to 2,000 movies and many 2024 Academy Award winning movies like Oppenheimer, Zone of Interest, American Fiction and Anatomy of a Fall. New releases onboard in April include The Color Purple, The Lesson, Napoleon, Freud’s Last Session, The Taste of Things and May December. There is also a huge movie collection for kids and kids at heart including Disney Classics, Marvel Studios and Wizarding World, featuring the complete Harry Potter film series and Harry Potter TV specials, as well as pre-school kids TV shows from CBeebies, Cartoon Network and more. In April, there are several family-friendly new release movie highlights including Wish, Migration, Wonka and Trolls Band Together for kids to enjoy on their Easter travel.

March 22, 2024

Dubai, UAE, 22 Mar 2024: This week Emirates was crowned the global winner of the ‘Best Inflight Entertainment Award’ in Airline Ratings 2024 Airline Excellence Awards, announced online.

Emirates scooped the top award for inflight entertainment from an extensive finalist list of global airlines, due to its whopping 6,500 channels of high quality and acclaimed content, the world’s largest entertainment library in the sky – making it a clear winner for the Best Inflight Entertainment award.

Customers enjoying Emirates flights can access a world-class entertainment library of 6,500 channels which includes;

More than 2,000 Hollywood and internationally acclaimed movies including 2024 Academy Award® winning films.
Hundreds of complete TV series and full box sets including the latest shows from leading streaming platforms and media brands such as HBO Max, Discovery+, BBC, Bloomberg Originals and Shahid.
Over 200 documentary movies and popular TV docu-series.
More than 150 Arabic movies and TV shows including a dedicated collection of Emirati movies.
More than 300 Bollywood and South Asian movies and TV shows in 13 languages.
Global cinema in over 50 languages with more than 600 international movies from across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Over 300 movies with ‘Closed Captions’ and 140 movies with ‘Audio Description’, offering accessibility to the visually impaired.
Emirates headphones are provided to customers in all cabin classes, including premium Bowers & Wilkins E1 headphones in First Class, created by the renowned British sound experts exclusively for Emirates, using noise‑cancelling technology to block out ambient cabin sounds and deliver the cleanest output.
Specially designed Emirates headphones for kids’ comfort.
Emirates headphones are also compatible with hearing aids when set to the ‘T’ position.
A music library of over 3,500 albums and curated playlists.
5 channels of live TV, including 3 news channels and two channels with live sports coverage.
Over 250 dedicated kids and family channels including dozens of shows for pre-school kids.
Happiness, wellbeing and self-development content including brands such as LinkedIn Learning and Mindvalley.
Podcasts and audiobooks including Emirates World, dedicated to highlighting the destination of Dubai and engaging with global thought leaders.
An inflight airshow capability that allows customers to follow their flight’s progress on a moving map, and see the world from 40,000ft through external cameras.
Emirates Skywards members can enjoy free connectivity to Wi-Fi onboard.

Emirates continually updates its inflight content every month, adding hundreds of movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music channels each month to its extensive entertainment library and securing exclusive partnerships with the best content providers. Customers can also curate their own ice experience before their flight, simply by browsing and pre-selecting movies or TV shows on the Emirates app, which can then be synchronised to ice the moment they board, maximising the seamless travel experience.

Emirates inflight entertainment journey began almost 30 years ago, when it was one of the first airlines to introduce seat-back videos for economy-class passengers. Emirates is also committed to setting industry standards and accessibility for people of determination and was the first airline in the world to introduce Audio Descriptive soundtracks and Closed Captions on movies on an inflight entertainment system.

Airlineratings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas commented on the award;

“Our editors were unanimous in their praise for Emirates ice system as a step above. That early investment in inflight entertainment has paid off for Emirates and just when you think it can’t do it better – it lifts the bar once again.”

The AirineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards are evaluated by an editorial team with many years of experience, based on a robust criteria including product and safety rating, passengers’ reviews on AirlineRatings.com and Trip Advisor, and overall profitability.

March 20, 2024

The Emirates Group celebrated International Women’s Day 2024 with a bestselling author, by launching a new initiative, and highlighting its unwavering commitment to and steady investments in women and gender equality at the workplace.

The Group launched its very own Gender Balance Council to represent all its women employees, create a knowledge sharing platform, and advance the cause of gender balance. On the council’s agenda are mentorship programmes, professional development workshops, outreach and events that champion women in the workforce. A key focus will be to support the Group’s existing commitments, including the UAE Gender Balance Council pledge, the NOORA network, UN Global Compact principles, and IATA’s 25×2025.

Today, Group employees were treated to talks by Liz Wiseman, bestselling author of multiple leadership books, including Multipliers, and CEO of leadership research firm, the Wiseman Group. Liz left her audience with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance their leadership skills.

The Emirates Group’s gender balance strategy is three-pronged: equal pay and fair compensation; equitable recruitment, development, and promotion; and balanced policies, inclusivity programmes and initiatives. The Group’s pay and remuneration structures are free of gender bias.

The Group has long been an employer of choice, and its appeal is clearly growing among women from Gen Z and Millennials to experienced professionals. As of 1 March 2024, women in the Group workforce –

increased by 1% to 26,896 or 43% of the workforce, of which 1,240 are UAE Nationals
represent
- 39% of middle management and 15% of executive management
- 56% of new joiners and 55% of those promoted
- 50% of movements from middle to senior management level
- 67% of lateral moves
- 1,218 roles, of which 462 roles have only women
account for 26% overall of leadership and management training, which includes partnerships with premier institutions such as Global Business Consortium, INSEAD and top universities. INSEAD for Emirati women leaders is designed to help them build networks with professionals worldwide.
continue to enjoy their careers at the Group after becoming mothers as post maternity leave, 88% of women overall and 85% of cabin crew returned to work.
were recognised for their achievements – 3,659 women or 30% of total employees rewarded

The key initiatives that showcase the Group’s commitment to achieve gender balance and women empowerment include:

UAE Gender Balance Council pledge: signed in January 2023 to achieve 30% women in the workforce and increase female representation in middle to senior management by 2025.

NOORA, Aurora 50: signed a two-year partnership with Aurora50 and is one of the cofounders of NOORA, a network of women from diverse professional backgrounds who support like-minded, ambitions individuals.

UN Global Compact (UNGC): In April 2023, Emirates and dnata joined UNGC and reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Four women employees represent the Group in in the UNGC’s Target Gender Equality accelerator programme.

IATA 25×2025 – dnata signed this initiative in 2021 and have rolled out a range of programmes – from career development workshops and mentoring to maternity coaching for return to work, a mum’s support group and more.

The Group has also rolled out unconscious bias training to minimise employees’ hidden prejudices, launched a chapter of the global movement #IAmRemarkable to amplify women’s stories, a Women in Leadership (WIL) forum and Women in the Emirates Group community. All these initiatives take members on a journey of discovery, knowledge and discussion with speakers, webinars, workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Not just its employees, the Group goes beyond borders to protect, educate and empower girls in economically disadvantaged areas. The Emirates Airline Foundation supports the IIMPACT Girls Education Project, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of women, families and communities in the most remote and rural areas of India by empowering girls through education. IIMPACT educates girls in over 1,100 villages in 11 states of India, and now has more than 4,200 girls enrolled at its learning centres. The Foundation fully funds operating expenses of Saint Rita de Cassia Orphanage, which houses more than 96 orphaned 4 to 12-year-old abandoned girls in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

March 11, 2024

Reflecting the spirit of togetherness and generosity during the Holy Month of Ramadan, Emirates will be serving thousands of meal boxes for fasting passengers both onboard and at boarding gates, screening an array of religious content and popular TV shows on ice, and offering traditional Ramadan dishes in the lounges.

Ramadan refreshments in the lounges

At the Emirates lounges in Dubai International Airport (DXB), traditional Arabic sweets, dates and coffee will be offered during Ramadan. Meals available in First and Business Class lounges will include a selection of hot and cold Arabic mezze, lentil soup, main courses of Arabic mixed grill with tahina, chicken kabsa served with dakous and raita, and desserts of kunafa pistachio cream, basboussa saffron, walnut kathayef ashta and ice cream flavours of Arabic coffee and dates or baklawa, alongside a host of traditional Arabic sweets and pastries. Emirates lounges are also equipped with dedicated prayer rooms and ablution facilities to ensure a peaceful environment for worship.

Emirates Iftar boxes at Boarding Gates

For fasting customers at select Emirates Boarding Gates during iftar time, complimentary iftar boxes to help break the fast – containing water, laban, a banana, and dates.

Captain announcements of Iftar time

To ensure the highest levels of accuracy for fasting Muslim passengers, Emirates uses a unique tool to calculate the correct timings for imsak (the time to commence fasting) and iftar while in-flight, based on the times of the sunrise and sunset of the location the flight is passing by using the aircraft’s longitude, latitude, and altitude. When the sun sets, passengers will be officially informed of the iftar time by the captain.

Emirates Ramadan Meal Boxes onboard

From the 11 March, customers breaking their fast across all cabin classes to select destinations will be offered nutritionally balanced Ramadan meal boxes. Iftar meals will be served in bespoke boxes, designed by Emirates to represent the rich Emirati heritage of the Al Sadu weavers. This traditional community weaving practised by Bedouin women of the UAE who handmade accessories in distinctive geometric patterns, reflects the community aspect of the Holy Month.

The Ramadan meal boxes will include light bites from hummus with spinach and Arabic bread, to tabbouleh with baba ghanoush, alongside sandwiches of Moroccan or zaatar chicken with pickled garlic mayonnaise, and some sweet treats of almond chocolate or Arabic baklawa, cashew nut and pine seed baklawa flowers, as well as staples like traditional dates and refreshing laban. Emirates’ Ramadan boxes will be served in addition to the regular hot meal service.

Supporting Emirates customers on Umrah

Ramadan boxes will be served on flights catering to Umrah groups travelling to Jeddah and Medina during the month of Ramadan. Passengers are also entitled to check in one bottle of Islamic holy water ‘ZAMZAM’ containing up to 5 litres per person at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and various airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ramadan content and popular series on ice

For the duration of the Holy Month, Emirates ice will feature special religious content including Rehlet Hayat, Qawafel Al Samaa, Hom Al Omr, Fatawa and Al Ayyam Al Khaliya in Arabic. In Urdu, ice will feature Ramadan Mah e Rehmat, Niyamat-E-Ramadan, Mahe Ramadan as well as Ramzan Mehfil-E-Zikr in Hindi. The Holy Qur’an is also available on ice.

Popular series and dramas will be available such as Seeb Wa Ana Aseeb, Safah Al Giza and El Ghareeb as well as AB Talks, the classic Darb el Zalag, and popular Turkish series dubbed in Arabic such as Ehtiram, Behzat and Al Hob Al Ghayr Muktam. Amongst more than 6500 channels of on demand entertainment on ice are 550+ channels of Arabic movies and TV, as well as 450 channels of Arabic music and podcasts.

Ramadan Awareness Training for Emirates staff

Emirates provides Ramadan awareness training for its cabin crew and on ground teams in Dubai and across its network. Special training resources have been provided to ensure operational teams are aware of the Holy Month, understand the cultural significance and nuances of this time and recognise specific practices that Muslims engage in, so they are prepared to provide the highest levels of service to customers throughout their travel journey.

March 8, 2024

Airline signs series of strategic partnerships on the sidelines of Europe’s leading travel and trade show
The airline received close to 6,000 visitors at its stand and conducted more than 260 on-site meetings with key stakeholders

Emirates has successfully wrapped up its participation at ITB Berlin 2024, welcoming close to 6,000 visitors who experienced its latest products and initiatives, while hosting more than 260 meetings across the three-day travel and tourism event. The airline also sealed deals and collaborations with eight companies including cruiseliner operators, tourism boards and airlines across Europe.

The stellar visitor numbers to the airline’s eye-catching stand is a testament to its standout products and onboard experiences, clever use of space, balanced with ample meeting areas ready for doing business.

The airline leveraged its much-awaited return to ITB Berlin by showcasing its latest signature products including the Emirates Premium Economy seat and game-changer First Class suite for the first time in Germany. Visitors flocking to the stand got a close look at Emirates’ other iconic products such as the First Class Shower Spa and the latest version of its A380 Economy Class seats, as well as innovative onboard features including the newest generation A380 Onboard lounge.

Emirates’ sustainability initiatives were also on display. Visitors were able to touch and feel the airline’s sustainably sourced onboard amenities and products as well as its sought after ‘air-crafted By Emirates’, a unique capsule collection of luggage, bags and accessories, all sustainably fabricated from upcycled materials from retrofitted aircraft.

Reaffirming partnerships and creating opportunities to collaborate

The new collaborations forged with the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) and Tourism Ireland build on Emirates’ ongoing commitment to support incoming tourism into the three markets, as well as the wider region, and further strengthen the appeal of these unique destinations to the airline’s customers.

In line with Emirates’ continued efforts to expand its network footprint in Europe, the airline signed MoUs including ITA, Icelandair and GO7. The new partnerships, which will be activated over the course of the next few months, provide customers even better connectivity and more travel options across Europe. These agreements will also pave the way for Emirates to help customers wanting to venture beyond its own gateways to exciting leisure and business centres across Europe with easy one stop connections, simplified itineraries, and baggage transfers.

Through the renewal of Emirates’ partnerships with TUI and AIDA Cruises, the airline will further help bolster Dubai’s already growing cruise industry in the lead-up to the next two cruise seasons. The city houses some of the most modern maritime infrastructure in the world, with the capacity to handle thousands of cruise passengers at any one time.

Emirates was honoured to receive a VIP delegation at its ITB stand on the first day of the show. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer warmly received Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin; Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator of the Maritime Industry and Tourism, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and other senior officials. The airline showcased its Economy Class seat display with its latest amenities as well as the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge to the VIP delegation, demonstrating its signature and industry-leading products during the official opening tour and to the wider public. The Emirates stand with its signature cabins on display were also visited by His Excellency Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. Volker Greiner, Emirates Vice President North & Central Europe greeted the Thai Prime Minister and the VIP delegation.

ITB Berlin represents Emirates’ largest trade-fair presence outside its home market of Dubai.

March 4, 2024

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Classic Travel, Inqbaytor Group, 2nd Chance Travels, Traveller Global, George Steuarts Travel, Acorn Travels, Metro Voyage, Mackinnon’s Travels, BOC Travels and MSA Travels & Tours recognized at gala event

Colombo – 3 March 2024: Emirates has recognised its leading travel agents in Sri Lanka at a special gathering in appreciation of their support and dedication to the airline for the year 2023.

The awards gala dinner held at Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo was attended by representatives of Emirates’ top 20 travel agency partners and celebrated the airline’s sales achievements during the year.

Distinguished guests of honour included His Excellency Khaled Nasser Al Ameri, Ambassador of the UAE to Sri Lanka, and His Excellency Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations – West Asia and Indian Ocean.

Speaking on the importance of travel trade partners in the airline’s sales strategy, Emirates’ Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Rashid Al Ardha said: “Our travel trade partners contribute significantly to the airline’s achievements in Sri Lanka. Recognising the strategic role that our travel partners have to play in our sales and distribution efforts, we put a great emphasis on nurturing these collaborations. By leveraging their local expertise, we are able to address the demand for travel to and from and across our network. We are delighted to have the opportunity to be here today to recognise the partners who have steadfastly supported Emirates.”

“Emirates is committed to Sri Lanka and is optimistic about the future of its travel industry,” continued Mr Al Ardha. “Through our deep strategic partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau we’re playing an active role in promoting the island’s tourism and trade industries and broadening the nation’s appeal in key global markets, through our ongoing support of its strategy to attract 2.5 million tourists in 2024 and 5 million by 2029.”

More than 175 guests including business leaders from Sri Lanka’s travel trade, representatives of airport and aviation services and Emirates local office team in Sri Lanka were present at the awards gala, where ten travel agency partners were presented with awards.

The top ten travel agency partners honoured were Classic Travel, Inqbaytor Group, 2nd Chance Travels, Traveller Global, George Steuarts Travel, Acorn Travels, Metro Voyage, Mackinnon’s Travels, BOC Travels and MSA Travels & Tours.

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, began operations to Sri Lanka in April 1986 and this year celebrates 38 years of supporting the country’s tourism and export industries with passenger and cargo services. The award-winning airline has carried more than 12 million passengers to and from Colombo in this period, and currently operates two direct daily flights to Colombo as well as an additional daily service via Male, using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Emirates is the only international carrier to serve Sri Lanka with First Class services – offering passengers world-class products and superior comfort in the air and on-ground. The airline has also invested in a dedicated Emirates Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the use of First Class and Business Class passengers as well as members of select tiers of Skywards, its award-winning frequent flyer programme.

The Emirates story began in 1985 and today, the airline operates the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies as it serves a global network of 140-plus destinations. Emirates inspires travellers around the world with its growing network of worldwide destinations, industry-leading inflight entertainment, regionally-inspired cuisine, and world-class service.

Older Posts

Emirates’ lounge at BIA joins premium class passengers in celebrating ‘Avurudu’

Emirates Awarded Certified Autism Center™ Designation for all Check In Facilities in Dubai

Classic Travel Honoured with Gold Award as No.1 Travel Agent at the Emirates Awards Night

Emirates and AC Milan Unveil Unique Art Installation at Dubai World Cup 2024

Emirates embraces Easter onboard and in lounges

Emirates wins ‘Best Inflight Entertainment Award’ globally at the 2024 Airline Excellence Awards

Women power and empowerment take centre-stage at the Emirates Group

Emirates supports customers observing the Holy Month of Ramadan

Emirates concludes an action-packed ITB Berlin 2024

Emirates honours Sri Lanka’s top travel agents for supporting ticket sales