Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will mark a decade of operations between its base in Dubai, UAE, and Orlando in Florida. According to the airline, the Central Florida destination is among the most popular US gateways where the carrier operates, having started on the route in 2015. The airline operates five flights per week on the route using its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs.
One of the key selling points of the route between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) for the carrier is the range of onward destinations that the airline can offer through its extensive hub system at its home base in Dubai.
According to the airline, some of the most popular points for originating customers heading to Orlando include Mumbai, Manila, Hyderabad, Denpasar, Bangalore, Delhi, Johannesburg, Karachi, Dhaka, Singapore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jakarta, and Bangkok, in addition to Emirates’ own hub city of Dubai.
According to the airline, “During the ten years of operations to Orlando, one of the most visited cities in the world- renowned for its theme parks and events and status as a destination for tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), Emirates’ services to Orlando International Airport have carried over 1.1 million passengers across more than 4,700 flights.”
“In addition to supporting passenger travel and tourism, the airline has also transported over 14,000 tonnes of cargo, facilitating trade through the export and import of commodities,” the statement added.
“It has been a phenomenal decade of connecting Orlando to the world, said Matthew Jones, Vice President (US) of Emirates. In the US, we proudly serve 12 gateways, with Orlando being one of our busiest, being the fourth most visited city in the nation. We are proud to have served as a catalyst for the growth of the local tourism and cargo industry. We would like to thank Orlando International Airport for their long-standing partnership and ongoing support in managing our operations and assisting our passengers.”
“As we reflect on the next 10 years, we will continue to elevate the customer experience in line with the ever-changing travel trends, bringing industry-leading products to Orlando and continuing to offer seamless connectivity to Dubai and beyond.”
“During these past 10 years, Emirates has provided more than a million passengers with premium customer service between two extraordinary destinations, Orlando and Dubai, and supported a thriving cargo operation” said Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages Orlando International Airport. “We are extremely satisfied with our Emirates partnership as they continue to be a gateway to the Middle East to both our business community and to leisure travelers interested in exploring the world. We look forward to celebrating more milestone anniversaries in the years to come.”
Link facilitates global trade
Emirates says that its flights to Dubai have uplifted more than 14,000 tonnes of cargo out of Orlando, with commodities exported ranging from perishable items such as ferns to transporting pets, aquatic animals, and pharma products.
Additionally, global courier service providers are supported by Emirates’ cargo services and include Emirates Delivers, which operates out of Sarasota. In addition, a host of global brands supported by Emirates’ operations include Siemens as well as Disney.
The airline said, “The airline continues to support local industries and businesses by uplifting cargo from Orlando to the rest of its global network. With its vast cargo network and state-of-the-art facilities, Emirates SkyCargo has been instrumental in enabling seamless transportation of goods, promoting export opportunities, and stimulating economic development in the countries it operates in.”
