Emirates Air adds 5 non-stop routes

Vimala Vasan

ABU DHABI, Nov. 19

EMIRATES Airline is adding five new non-stop routes to its fast-growing network from Dubai next year.

The move will help Emirates, founded only 16 years ago, to achieve its aim to become truly global, a transformation to be confirmed in spring 2003 when it launches its first flights to America, the only continent it does not now serve, according to a statement from the airline.

Next year sees the start of services to Osaka in Japan, Khartoum in Sudan and the Indian Ocean holiday island of Mauritius, Casablanca, the commercial capital of Morocco and Perth, Western Australia, a route first announced earlier this autumn.

Boeing 777 Extended Range jets will serve Perth and Osaka non-stop from Dubai four times a week. Airbus A330s will serve the other routes, three times weekly to each.

Emirates will have 19 A330s in service by next month, making it the world's biggest customer for the aircraft. It has eight more on order, as well as 25 Boeing 777s, 22 double deck Airbus A380s, eight A340-600s and six A340-500s. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates Commercial Operations Director, said: "Despite today's challenging business conditions, the long-term future for air travel is for steady growth. ``We expect our own passenger numbers to rise at least in line with this growth -- or exceed it -- thanks to Emirates ultra-modern fleet, excellent service on the ground and in the air, and attractive fares, holidays and freight rates."