Emirates’ new Dubai-Prague service, which launches 1st July, presents a “crystal clear” opportunity – quite literally.
Nearly a third of all exports from the Czech Republic to the United Arab Emirates are glass products, which can be seen in chandeliers and other decorative features in hotels across Dubai and elsewhere in the UAE.
Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, said: “Bohemian Glass is probably the best known of the glass to be produced in the Czech Republic and Emirates SkyCargo already carries this via road to connect with Emirates’ Vienna flights. There is no doubt that the new non-stop flight between Prague and Dubai presents, excuse the pun, a crystal clear opportunity – not just to support the glass industry, but a whole range of trade, which we can carry in the belly hold of the A330-200s serving the route.”
As well as bringing glass products from the Czech Republic to Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo also ships them to other parts of the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Far East.
In 1993, trade between the Czech Republic and the UAE stood at just under USD 26 million (AED 95 million). In 2008, that figure had shot up to USD 678 million (AED 2.4 billion), according to figures from the Czech Foreign Ministry. A number of Czech companies have offices in the UAE.
Other commodities being shipped include electrical equipment for the construction industry, jewellery, electronics, computer components, beverages, data process machines, machine tools, cars and car parts. Car giants Hyundai and Toyota have both established production plants in the Czech Republic.
Prague will be Emirates’ 24th route into Europe and the second in the region to be launched this year after Amsterdam, which started on 1st May.
The Dubai-Prague route will be served by an Airbus A330-200, offering 27 seats in Business Class and 251 seats in Economy. EK flight 139 will leave Dubai at 1030hrs and arrive in Prague at 1450hrs. EK 140 departs Prague at 1620hrs and gets into Dubai at 0010hrs the following day.
Emirates already employs more than 80 Czech nationals, most of whom are cabin crew, based at the airline’s home base of Dubai.
On Wednesday, 12th May, the airline will hold a major road show event at Zofin Palace in Prague, introducing hundreds of travel industry guests and VIPs to Emirates and Dubai – in readiness for the 1st July launch.
