Dubai-based airline Emirates launched its sixth US destination on Thursday with an inaugural nonstop flight to Seattle. Following a drenching from the fire department under an unusual partly sunny northwest sky, the first flight taxied to gate S16 at SeaTac International Airport following an early arrival. Local community leaders and representatives of the massive Middle Eastern airline were on hand to welcome the plane’s arrival with speeches and a tour of the large Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
“Emirates has looked forward to the day when we would connect Seattle to our home hub in Dubai, on flights operated by state-of-the-art, Seattle-built aircraft,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group.
The flights are scheduled to arrive in the Pacific Northwest hub at 1:10 pm Pacific Time following a slightly more than fifteen hour scheduled flight from Dubai. The return flight is scheduled to depart at 5:10 pm, arriving into Dubai at 7:40 pm the following day for a total of fourteen hours, thirty minutes.
The exceptionally long air-time will be comfortably offset by the premium level of service & product that Emirates is known for and prides itself upon. The cabin will be outfitted in three classes: the luxurious (and luxuriously expensive) private suites in First Class, lie-flat seats in a generously sized Business Class, and a ten-across coach class cabin.
NYCAviation had the opportunity to tour the cabin and get a closer look, and we’ll just say — as we have before (see our look at Emirates inaugural to DFW) — that we hope to find ourselves on board some time in the future. Some of the features on board the aircraft that we liked included the large individual IFE system and flexible tray tables in coach; lie flat business class clam shell seats; and the palatial first class suites. Both business and first class seats are controlled by a wireless control panel. This unit is used to adjust the seat, control the massaging functions, lights, IFE, and the business class privacy screens and first class suite doors to name a few.
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Besides travel and tourism the new route is expected to generate significant trading opportunities between the Puget Sound region and the Middle East.
“This new service will serve as a gateway to an important part of the world that is essential to create jobs, new business and tourism opportunities in our state,” said Gael Tarleton, Port of Seattle Commission President. “This direct service connects the Puget Sound region to an entire new continent of economic possibilities.”
More specifically, the airline anticipates exports including fresh fruits and vegetables, machinery, medical equipment, and — unsurprisingly — aircraft parts.
Emirates is the worlds largest Boeing 777 operator, with a fleet of approximately 100 of the popular widebody jet. The airline is due to receive the 1,000th 777 aircraft built early this spring.