Emirates Airline is to continue its expansion in South East Asia with the addition of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to its global network from June 4, 2012. The airline will offer a daily service from its Dubai International Airport hub using a two-class Airbus A330-200 but plans to upgrade the route to a two-class Boeing 777-300ER from October 28, 2012.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, with Ho Chi Minh City, home to over seven million people, recognised as its commercial capital. The city offers tourists the ideal gateway to explore some of the wonders of Vietnam, be it the shopping options in the city, the various UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hoi An, the islands of Halong Bay, the beaches of Nha Trang or the floating markets and restaurants of the Mekong River Delta.

“Following the signing of the Air Services Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates in April 2011, we have been busy planning this route and it comes at a very exciting time for the airline, as our global network continues to expand,” said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. “Emirates will offer tourists and business travellers, particularly from the Middle East, Africa and Europe, a convenient option to access Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most vibrant places in South East Asia and we are convinced that this will prove to be a highly popular route.”

Trade between the UAE and Vietnam exceeded US$24 million in 2010 and Emirates, through its cargo arm SkyCargo, has had an active presence in the market for a number of years. Vietnamese exports – which range the full value chain from high-end tablet PCs, smartphones and printers to garments, sportswear and shoes – have been shipped through other Emirates’ Asian gateways including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong on to European, American, Middle Eastern and African markets.

This will be the first direct connection to Vietnam from the Middle East, but the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can expect to also generate significant traffic from the rest of its global network, connecting at Dubai International Airport. In the past year an estimated 36,000 O&D passengers flew between Vietnam and the Middle East, with around 25,000 flying between the South East Asian country and Africa and a further 1.19 million with Europe, the latter figure up a notable 20.1 per cent on the previous 12 month period.

The route announcement was made as Emirates Airline extended its network in South America by linking Dubai with Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, further broadening the airline's reach across the Americas. The airline’s inaugural flight (EK247) made its maiden landing at Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro on January 3, 2012 where it was initiated by a traditional water cannon salute. The flight then departed for its first onward connection to Buenos Aires, the airline’s first scheduled link to Argentina.

“This new linked service to two of the most economically vibrant cities in South America will not only boost trade ties with the UAE, but will also introduce travellers to Emirates' route network spanning points across the globe,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President - Passenger Sales Worldwide. “Emirates will offer customers in Brazil and Argentina the most efficient and comfortable route to the Middle and Far East, including the airline's four destinations in China and two gateways in Japan, which are key trading partners for both countries."

The Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires flight is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering eight First Class Private Suites, 42 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 304 seats in Economy Class. It operates on a daily basis and will complement Emirates’ existing daily passenger link between Dubai and Sao Paulo, as well as its developing freight network in South America. Emirates now flies to 118 destinations in 69 countries and over the next two months, will launch a further five destinations: Dublin, Lusaka, Harare, Seattle and Dallas.