Operated by Emirates Airlines, Dublin Airport today welcomed the start of a new daily long-haul service to Dubai.

Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) Chief Executive Declan Collier said Emirates’ new Dublin-Dubai service was a major vote of confidence in the Irish economy. “We are delighted to welcome Emirates to Ireland and I’m sure that this new daily service is merely the beginning of what promises to be a long and very successful partnership between Dublin Airport and Emirates.”

Dublin is Emirates 119th destination worldwide; it follows Rio and Buenos Aires into the Emirates route network. The new route offers Irish passengers a daily direct service to Dubai and convenient onward connections to more than 100 other destinations in Africa, India, China, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

“Additional direct services and enhanced connectivity is the lifeblood of tourism and business and this new service will be hugely beneficial for the Irish economy,” Mr Collier added.

Emirates will operate the route with an Airbus A330-200, offering First, Business and Economy class options for passengers.

“Ireland has seen exceptional improvements in infrastructure in the last 10-15 years. This is yet another factor which my team at Ovation Ireland can use to highlight how accessible Ireland is for Meetings, Events and Incentive travel groups”, commented Ovation Ireland Managing Director, Gerry Nicholls.