Emirates is celebrating the two-decade anniversary of its inaugral flight to New Zealand.
On August 2, 2003, Emirates landed its first two flights at Auckland International Airport. A Boeing 777-300ER flew in from Sydney and an A330 came in from Melbourne.
The milestone was celebrated with pomp. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chief executive and founder of the Emirates Group, received a traditional Maori welcome in Auckland as he arrived from Melbourne.
The two flights were the beginning of a daily flight schedule that totalled 14 weekly trips, going back and forth from Sydney and Melbourne. Flights from Brisbane would also become available later. In 2004, the airline also introduced flights to Christchurch via Melbourne.
In 2009, Emirates’ famous double-decker A380 aircraft began flying to Auckland. Since then, the Dubai airline has begun direct flights to New Zealand, using the A380 for flights to Christchurch in 2016.
The non-stop Dubai-to-Auckland flight is the longest route that the airline provides, covering about 14,000km. Over the past 20 years, it has completed approximately 49,000 flights to New Zealand, carrying more than 16 million passengers.
Besides its commercial flights, the cargo wing of Emirates also runs regular flights to New Zealand, significantly contributing to the country’s economy. In 2018, the group revealed that in three years, Emirates SkyCargo had transported more than 85,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Auckland. These included fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as fish and pharmaceuticals.
Even during the pandemic, when most airlines had suspended their services to the country, Emirates sustained its cargo operations. Its Boeing 777-300ER planes flew to Auckland from Kuala Lumpur and carried almost 18,000 tonnes of medical equipment and vaccines.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
