Emirates Expands South American Network With Flights to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro **Media release**

Two of South America’s most iconic cities will soon have a faster link to Dubai and over 100 destinations worldwide when Emirates commences its daily non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro and extension to Buenos Aires from 3 January 2012.

“Both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are rightly renowned as world-class leisure destinations as well as important business and trading centres.  Our research has shown that there is a high demand for these cities from across our network,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

“Brazil has been part of the Emirates network since 2007 when we began flights from Dubai to Sao Paulo. With the country playing host to both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil will be further catapulted into the world’s spotlight, and we will be in a prime position to transport sports enthusiasts to these renowned events. Meanwhile, our first service to Argentina is a much-anticipated addition to our network which will open important new markets for us,” added Sheikh Ahmed.

“Emirates’ plans to implement services from Dubai to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro will play an important role in increasing tourism, trade and investment between Argentina, Brazil and the UAE, in addition to the airline’s vast global network,” said Carlos Enrique Meyer, Minister of Tourism of Argentina.

“Emirates’ current service to Sao Paulo has been extremely popular since it was first introduced. The addition of Rio de Janeiro will serve to further increase the cultural ties between our two nations,” said Pedro Novaes, Minister of Tourism of Brazil.

The Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires service will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering eight First Class Private Suites, 42 lie-flat seats in Business and 304 seats in Economy.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy over 1,200 channels of entertainment on demand on "ice", the airline's award-winning in-flight entertainment system. 

Passengers flying Emirates from Buenos Aires and Rio will also be able to connect to Emirates' global network across the Far and Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Africa, and Australasia via its hub in Dubai. 

“The arrival of Emirates will be an important bridge between Rio de Janeiro and the East, generating many new trade and tourism opportunities,” said Sergio Cabral Filho, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro. “Rio has, today, one of the world’s most impressive international events calendars including, the 2011 World Military Games, the 2013 Cup of the Confederations, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. This new service, from January 2012, will be an extraordinary gain for our state and our city.”

The bellyhold capacity on the 777-300ER will support key imports and exports including automobile parts, accessories, manufactured goods, fruit and vegetables, machinery and pharmaceutical products from Rio. For Buenos Aires, key imports and exports include perishables, textiles as well as pharmaceuticals.

Over the last few years, South America has experienced record-paced economic growth, even in the shadow of the global downturn of 2008.

Brazil stands as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, thanks to its success in the petroleum sector, a young and active workforce and stability in urban growth.  Trade between Brazil and the Middle East follows the trend: according to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, exports to Arab countries totalled US$12.57 billion in 2010, representing an annual growth of 34%, while imports ended the year with US$6.96 billion, an increase of 33% compared to 2009.

Argentina has also experienced positive economic growth in 2010.  Tourism, one of the country’s major economic drivers, is a good indicator. 

According to INDEC (Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Censuses) there were 2.6 million foreign tourist arrivals at Buenos Aires airports in 2010, (an annual increase of 27%).  Government projections for international visitors for the 2010-2012 period are very optimistic with Asian markets expected to increase their current share of the tourism market.

Starting 3rd January 2012, EK 247 will leave Dubai daily at 0705hrs and arrive at Rio’s Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 1535hrs. It will depart Rio at 1720hrs, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) at 1930hrs. From Buenos Aires, EK 248 departs at 2130hrs, arriving in Rio at 0120hrs the next day. The aircraft will depart Rio at 0255hours, arriving in Dubai at 2235hrs.

Find out more at www.emirates.com/au.