Emirates non stop green flight to San Francisco arrives to warm
welcome
Released
on: December 19, 2008, 5:43 am
Press
Release Author: Emirates
Group
Industry:
Travel
Press
Release Summary: Emirates airline marks the arrival of its non-stop
eco-efficient service between Dubai and San Francisco
Press
Release Body: Emirates, one of the world's fastest-growing
international airlines, marks the arrival of its first non-stop
service between Dubai and San Francisco, at San Francisco International
Airport (SFO).
At
a media briefing held after the arrival of the flight, His Highness
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive
Emirates Airline and Group was joined by Steve Kava, San Francisco
Mayor's Chief of Staff, and San Francisco International Airport
Director John Martin.
"Emirates
promises Bay Area travellers and businesspeople an opportunity
to reach Dubai and key transit markets including the Indian Subcontinent
and Africa easily and more quickly than ever before," said
Sheikh Ahmed.
"This
new service from SFO creates a critical new connection between
Northern California and Dubai - a destination for business
flights and tourism unlike any other in the world. We look
forward to contributing a significant, positive economic impact
for San Francisco and its surrounding region with our new service,"
he added.
The
arrival of Emirates
airline will increase tourism and business traffic,
bringing in travellers from the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent
and Africa; creating new jobs in the Bay Area while generating
state and local tax, and business revenues. The non-stop air link
will also help the growth of trade between California and the
UAE which in 2007 saw close to $950 million worth of exports.
"The
arrival of Emirates Airline to San Francisco is an economic boon
for the city of San Francisco," said San Francisco Mayor
Gavin Newsom. "Emirates' new route will bring new jobs and
revenue to San Francisco, while creating a vital new corridor
for business and tourism between the Bay Area and Dubai."
"The
greater the global connections the greater the success for regions
like the Bay Area and Dubai within the new global economy,"
said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council.
"The Bay Area has the fourth highest concentration of Forbes
2,000 Global Companies and 645 foreign-owned company subsidiaries.
In uncertain times, the Bay Area needs the economic stimulus and
expansion of business opportunities this launch represents."
Emirates'
inaugural flight
to Dubai also demonstrated the best the airline industry can
offer in environmental efficiency. The first Dubai-San Francisco
non-stop service marked the world's longest green flight, on which
Emirates employed multiple eco-efficient initiatives to save fuel
and emissions.
Emirates
has made a multi-billion-dollar investment in new, eco-efficient
aircraft, and on its San Francisco route it will deploy the state-of-the-art
Boeing
777-200LR. Emirates worked closely with government agencies
in Dubai, Iceland, Russia, Canada the United States and other
countries to plot the most environmentally-conscientious trip
possible to save approximately 2,000 gallons of fuel and 40,000
pounds of carbon emissions on the 16-hour direct service.
The
777-200LR is a member of the most fuel-efficient airplane family
operating today. Along with its ability to connect Dubai
International Airport and San Francisco non-stop, the 777-200LR
brings better environmental performance to destinations around
the world. In one year, a fleet of 16 twin-engine aircraft powered
by GE90 engines will emit 141,000 fewer tons of greenhouse gas
emissions than airframes requiring four engines.
About
the Emirates Airline:
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, is one of the
world's most successful and rapidly-expanding airlines. With a
focus on high quality service and industry-leading products, Emirates
has received over 400 international awards and accolades for excellence
since its inception in 1985. Emirates is currently the only airline
to operate non-stop flights to six continents from one hub.
Web
Site: http://www.emirates.com/
Contact
Details: For further information, contact:
Valerie Tan
Emirates Corporate Communications
The Emirates Group Headquarters
P.O. Box 686
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971 4 708 2145