Bangkok--21 Oct--Spark Communications
Sheikh Ahmed announces Emirates’ first flight and phased operations from T3
Emirates threw open the doors of its swanky new home — Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport — to its passengers, in a phased operation that commenced.
The first Emirates flight EK843 Dubai-Doha, an Airbus A330-200 with 136 passengers, four in First, 27 in Business and 105 in Economy Class — and 73 pieces of baggage weighing more than 1,000kgs was flagged off from Gate 213.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Today our customers tasted the fruit of years of planning, investments and commitment. While we were quite confident of the robust systems and facilities, today was still a day of reckoning and we are delighted that our operations worked as planned. My warmest congratulations to all the stakeholders involved with Emirates Terminal 3, and particularly to the staff of the Emirates Group for their unflagging dedication and teamwork.”
Jamal Nasser Lootah, Executive Director for Industrial Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy and a Skywards Gold member was the first passenger to check in at First Class in the new terminal. He was presented with a commemorative certificate by Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, and flowers by an Emirates cabin crew member.
Referring to Emirates Terminal 3, Mr Lootah commented: “I would like to thank HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HH Sheikh Ahmed and Emirates for giving us this additional gift of a new terminal. This terminal will be a pillar that contributes to the prosperity of Dubai and will benefit us all. Both Emirates and the new terminal will prove to be the world’s gate to Dubai and our gate to the world. It is beautiful and I’m sure has top-class facilities and service.”
With a total built-up area of 515,000 m2, the gargantuan terminal has more than 250 check-in counters at Departures including 126 for Economy Class passengers; 32 for First and Business; 60 Self Service Kiosks both with and without baggage; 10 dedicated counters for Skywards premium members; and best of all, 18 counters for outsized baggage located right in the car park.
Emirates has designed an entire floor of luxurious, themed lounges in the 10-storied concourse for its premium passengers, with a capacity for more than 2,000, serving the finest international cuisine and offering full-fledged spa facilities. Lounges for unaccompanied minors and special needs passengers are specially-designed to take the stress off travel.
Passengers at T3 will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food and beverages — from coffee shops and fast food to seafood and tapas — this airport has it all. And then there’s the duty free and retail shopping meandering a course of 15,500 m2, running the gamut of top brands worldwide, and designed to satisfy the palate of the most fastidious of shoppers, from fashionistas and gizmo-lovers to bookworms.
Emirates Group staff have been fully-trained in the new advanced systems and facilities at T3. Commenting on Emirates’ readiness Sheikh Ahmed said: “Our staff are both eager and ready to welcome passengers to our brand new home. With any new facility, and especially one as mammoth as the new terminal, some teething problems can occur, but we do have robust back-up plans in place. The continuing trials and the phased opening will go a long way in minimising unforeseen disruptions.”
About Emirates Thailand
Emirates Airline has been operating in Thailand for over 17 years. Currently, Emirates operates 19 flights per week to Dubai, 7 flights per week to Hong Kong, and 7 flights per week to Sydney and Auckland. For further information, please visit www.emirates.com/th or contact Emirates Bangkok office 0-2664-1040-4.
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Warangkana Paungsiri/Nattakan Jitchansakul
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Visit: www.emirates.com