Emirates Starts Hyderabad Operations

Emirates inaugural flight to Hyderabad from Dubai, touched down at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on July 1, 2001. This was the airline’s first daily service from Hyderabad to Dubai.

The chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, received the Emirates delegation headed by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates’ commercial operations director. Ghaith said, “The introduction of this new flight provides a direct link between India’s IT capital and Dubai, the leading commercial centre in the Middle East. Emirates believes that this route will be a major success. It will meet the travel and freight transportation requirements of business travellers in both countries.”

A traditional Indian welcome was given to the delegation with Indian dancers colourfully dressed displaying ethnic dance movements. Besides senior representatives of the company, the Emirates delegation also comprised of key business personalities from UAE and a media contingent.

Flight EK570 will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing from Dubai at 03:45 and arriving Hyderabad at 08:55. The return flight EK571 will depart Hyderabad at 10:20 and arrive Dubai at 12:30. Emirates will operate flight EK572 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays departing Dubai at 22:15 and arriving Hyderabad at 03:25 the following day. The return flight EK573 will depart Hyderabad at 04:40 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving Dubai at 06:50 (all times local).

Emirates now operates eight non-stop, direct weekly flights between Dubai and Hyderabad. Hyderabad is Emirates’ fourth destination in the country and 58th on its global network.

By J Menon