Portugal on cusp of Emirates’ connectivity

Emirates got the final count down to its flights to Lisbon well and truly underway yesterday with a series of activities in Portugal’s capital city.
The airline will begin a daily, non-stop service to Lisbon from July 9, the only Middle East carrier to serve Portugal.
“I have only been in Lisbon for a short time, but I am really feeling a buzz about Emirates’ new flight, which will start in just over six weeks’ time,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president, passenger sales worldwide, who attended an Emirates’ gala dinner last night in Lisbon.
“I know it means a great deal to this city — and this country — to be connected to Emirates’ vast and exciting route network. We will offer the only non-stop flight to the Middle East, which opens the world beyond our international hub in Dubai,” said Antinori, speaking to more than 700 guests at the Pavilhao Atlantico, as they savored their starter, Atlantic fresh Spiny Lobster with grilled vegetables served with Vinaigrette
dressing.
More than 500 years after Vasco da Gama set sail from Portugal to India in a trip that took nearly a year, Emirates will deploy a modern Boeing 777-200ER on the Lisbon route.
Earlier, senior Emirates’ executives met members of the media to elaborate on the new Lisbon service.
Antinori was joined on the press conference panel by Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe and Russian Federation; Cecília Meireles, Portugal’s secretary for tourism and Francisco Vieira Pita, deputy director, Lisbon Airport.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be active in Portugal, offering 17 tons of belly-hold capacity aboard each 777-200ER flight, in support of Portuguese exporters and
importers.
Portugal will be the airline’s 10th new route for 2012. Services to Washington start on September 12.