Emirates, described as the world’s largest international airline, marked 10 years of operations in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Over the last decade, Thiruvananthapuram emerged as an important passenger and cargo destination for the airline in the region. Since the start of its operations, Emirates carried over two million passengers on the route and moved up to 105,000 tons of cargo to and from Thiruvananthapuram.

“Southern India has always been a key market for Emirates and we are proud to complete 10 years of successful operations to Thiruvananthapuram. We’ve had healthy seat load factors on the route since we launched the service in 2006, demonstrating passengers’ demand for Emirates’ unique product and service and our commitment to the market,” said Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ SVP commercial operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean.

“Whether for leisure, business or medical tourism, Kerala remains one of the most popular destinations in India, attracting travelers around the world throughout the year.

With 12 weekly flights and 17 tons of cargo capacity per flight, Emirates continues to facilitate inbound travel to India, strengthen trade links and connect passengers in Thiruvananthapuram to our expansive global network,” he added.

Located a few miles from the Arabian Sea, Thiruvananthapuram is a gateway to India’s traditional Ayurvedic treatments and palm-fringed beaches of the southern coastline. With a trading history that goes back 1,000 years, Thiruvananthapuram is a melting pot of civilizations, all of which have left their mark — from brightly-colored churches and hill-top palaces to colonial-housed museums and delectable cuisine.

Emirates operates chartered freighters to and from Thiruvananthapuram. Emirates’ Boeing 777 freighter aircraft is capable of carrying 103 tons of cargo.

Emirates completed 30 years of Indian operations in 2015 and is serving 10 destinations in the country. It is now the third largest international carrier serving India.