Emirates Airline is set to boost its Far East schedule in a bid to meet increased demand from conference-related business.Â
The carrier will start double-daily services from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur and will introduce three additional weekly flights to Jakarta from May 1.
The Far East’s tourism market recorded healthy growth rates throughout 2008 despite the global economic crisis and the World Bank forecasts a 5.3% rise in the GDP of the Far East region this year.
Emirates divisional senior vice president Commercial Operations Worldwide Richard Vaughan said the conference market was driving significant investment across the region.
“While Malaysia continues to be a leading holiday destination, Indonesia is investing significantly in developing its MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) infrastructure in order to get a slice of the bustling conference market in the Far East,” he explained.
Vaughan added that the airline had noticed a growing outbound tourism market from these countries as Malaysians and Indonesians increasingly embark on overseas holidays.
Emirates’ Far East route expansion takes the number of its flights to Jakarta to 10 weekly, and to KL, 14 flights weekly.
Both routes will be served by Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft.