The Emirates Connection

Last month, Emirates began service between Seattle and Dubai, primarily using the 777-200LR. Seattle was an unexpected destination for Emirates when announced last year, and at the recent Cargo Facts Asia aircraft symposium, we learned a little more about this route.

Alan Hedge, ACMG’s research director, writes:

At Cargo Facts Asia, Ram Menen, VP of Emirates SkyCargo, reports that Emirates’ new (March 2012) Seattle-Dubai (SEA-DXB) service is building and performing beyond expectations. Menen says that one of the components of the route’s early success is demand from the Puget Sound region’s affluent Indian technical community for convenient connections via Dubai to ten cities in India. Emirates is considering up-gauging the SEA-DXB service from a 777-200LR to 777-300ER. Separately, international cargo out of Seattle is growing due to the worldwide demand for Pacific Northwest agricultural products, especially perishables and wine.

Seen here is A6-EWJ (msn: 35590) beginning the journey to Dubai from Seatac’s runway 16L.

Photographer: Alex Kwanten.