Emirates launches new flights to Japan

  Japanese investors who hold assets in the UAE will find it much easier to travel between the two countries after Dubai-based airline Emirates added new flights to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda).  Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president of passenger sales worldwide, said the firm first started providing services to the Far East in 2002 when it established a route between Dubai and Osaka. He insisted that relations between the two nations have blossomed since then.  In fact, figures provided by Japan External Trade Organisation confirmed that traders in the two countries completed deals worth $53.1 billion (£9.43 billion) in 2012, which was a 5.4 per cent upturn on the previous year.  Mr Antinori described Haneda as Emirates’ “third gateway” into Japan and is confident that demand for passenger and cargo services is high enough to justify laying on another daily 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,” he remarked.  By adding this new service, Emirates SkyCargo – the firm’s freight transport division – will be able to carry an additional 23 tonnes of goods per flight, which equates to an extra 160 tonnes each week.  Emirates now operates services to 134 destinations in 77 countries from Dubai and plans are in place to increase this in the near future.  The business has already underlined its commitment to the European market and new flights to Stockholm in Sweden will be launched in September 2013.  Australia is another important destination for Emirates and the firm revealed last month that Brisbane would be the third city in the country to accommodate its double-decker A380 aircraft.  With so many new flights being added, it is no surprise that experts are predicting Dubai International Airport will become the world’s busiest aviation hub within the next few years. Taylor Scott International