DUBAI – Emirates recently commenced service to two influential Asian cities, with inaugural flights to both Guangzhou, China and Kozhikode, India departing from Dubai International Airport on July 1. Both destinations will be served by six flights a week.Passengers traveling from the United States will be able to connect to both destinations via Dubai. Both cities are popular with American business travelers and tourists – Guangzhou is China’s third major air hub and a leading manufacturing center while Kozhikode is a key commercial and tourist gateway in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

In the United States, Emirates currently operates two daily non-stop flights from New York’s JFK, one daily non-stop flight from Houston, and will commence non-stop service from Los Angeles on October 1 and from San Francisco on November 20.

Guangzhou is Emirates’ fourth destination in China and increases the airline’s weekly frequency to the country to 48 flights. Kozhikode, Emirates’ third gateway in Kerala and its tenth in India, advances the airline’s Indian presence to 125 flights per week – the highest frequency operated by an international carrier serving India.

Emirates has been steadily building up its presence in the two Asian economies, having previously announced additional frequencies to Shanghai and Beijing in China, and New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad in India.

Guangzhou is known for its historical sites that include 123 state-protected areas, which large numbers of foreigners visit each year. Richard Vaughan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations East Asia and Australasia said, “Emirates’ efficient and reliable air links will facilitate inbound arrivals from over 60 countries on six continents and will support the Chinese authorities as they ready to welcome over half a million international tourists for the Beijing Olympics 2008.”

Kozhikode is frequented by international visitors attracted by the city’s tourist sites such as Kappad beach, which welcomed Vasco Da Gama in the 15th century. Salem Obaidalla, senior vice president, Commercial Operations, West Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa, stated, “Emirates presently operates services to Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin. The launch of Emirates’ flights to Kozhikode will allow international tourists to cover the length and breadth of Kerala more conveniently, by enabling them to arrive in Northern Kerala and depart from the state’s southern region or vice versa.”

Emirates will operate an Airbus A330-200 on the Guangzhou route. It will operate both Boeing 777-200 and A330-200 aircraft on the Kozhikode route.