Taipei became Emirates’ newest passenger destination when flight EK366 arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Monday inaugurating the airline’s daily non-stop service from Dubai International Airport.
“Emirates and Taipei began their partnership in 2003 when Emirates Skycargo launched freighter services from Dubai. I am proud that we have been able to increase our commitment and begin daily, non-stop passenger’s services from today,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.
“Dubai and Taipei are very similar, both are important trading hubs and today’s link will help to build on bilateral trade. We have been working hard to promote Taipei across our network and I am confident that the influx of business and leisure passengers will continue to grow,” added Sheikh Ahmed.
Joining Sheikh Ahmed on the inaugural flight was Mr Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President – Chairman’s Office, Facilities/Projects Management and Procurement & Logistics; Mr. Mohammad AlGhaith; Mr Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President, Cargo; Mr Ravishankar Mirle, Emirates’ Vice President Cargo Commercial; Mr Abdulhameed Ma, Director General, Commercial Office of Taiwan; Mr Shyh Perng Chang, Director, Taiwan Trade Centre, Dubai; Mr Jason Lai, Deputy Director General, Commercial Office of Taiwan;Mr Simon Chih Hua Han, Chairman, Taiwanese Community; Mr Adel Ghafan Al Basti, Senior Executive Director – Engineering, Dubai Airport Freezone along with a group of media from the UAE and the GCC.
The flight was greeted in Taipei with a traditional water cannon salute and the passengers were welcomed by Mr Yin Chen-Pong, Chairman of Taipei Taoyuan Airport Authority, Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations East and Edwin Lau, Emirates’ Vice President Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The inaugural flight to Taipei was operated by Captain Ali Al Jallaf from the UAE along with First Officer Wen Haw Chi from Taiwan and First Officer Shehab Hamza also from the UAE. Captain Hao Chen Huang and First Officer Amy Li Lyons, both from Taiwan, operated the inaugural flight from Taipei along with First Officer Peter Hutchings from the United Kingdom.
Emirates’ Taipei service is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, equipped with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and generous space for 304 passengers in Economy Class. In-flight passengers enjoy gourmet cuisine in all classes, served by Emirates’ multinational cabin crew of over 132 nationalities, including Taiwanese.
The aircraft also features ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system which has over 1,600 channels showing the latest blockbusters, subtitled Hollywood films, music, TV and games.
Taipei, home to nearly seven million people, is an economic and cultural centre with renowned sights, attractions and a myriad of shopping options. The destination is famous for producing and exporting electronics, textiles, plastics and rubber, optical and photographic instruments and chemicals.
As a tourist there is plenty to do in Taiwan, with eight national parks and 13 national scenic areas visitors can enjoy trekking in the magnificence of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; taking a ride on the Alishan Forest Railway or hiking up to the summit of Northeast Asia’s highest peak, Yu Mountain.
Emirates now operates services to 141 destinations in 80 countries from Dubai. So far in 2014 Emirates has launched flights Kiev and from 10th March will fly non-stop to Boston from Dubai, the airline’s ninth destination in North America.
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