Emirates to launch Madrid flights on Aug 1

Emirates would be launching daily non-stop flights to Madrid, providing the only scheduled passenger service between Dubai and Spain, starting August 1, the airline said yesterday.

The move would make the Spanish capital the carrier's 25th destination in Europe, and reveals Madrid as Emirates' fourth destination to be announced for 2010 after Tokyo, Amsterdam and Prague.

"The new Madrid route is particularly significant because we will provide the only scheduled passenger service between Dubai and Spain. It will also give passengers out of Spain much easier access to our international hub in Dubai, where they can travel onwards to popular destinations in Asia and the Far East," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in 2008, Spanish clothing exports to the UAE were worth Dh428 million, while overall trade was worth more than Dh3.6 billion , according to the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in the UAE. And Spain, with a population of more than 45 million, saw nearly 60 million tourists arriving in the country, making Spain a significant destination for world tourism.

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