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 Starting December 2009, Emirates will introduce a fourth daily service to Bangkok, a third daily service to Sydney, two additional flights to Manila and one additional service to Jakarta.

 The 17 flights per week will be added between December 2009 and January 2010, representing 13 per cent growth in seat capacity. Post increase, the airline's operation in Asia Pacific will escalate to 187 flights per week.  

 Richard Jewsbury, senior vice president, Commercial Operations Far East and Australasia, said "The Middle East is one of the few regions that continues to record steady traffic growth, demonstrated by an 8 per cent expansion in passenger demand since the beginning of the year. At the same time, Asian markets are rebounding with reports of resurgent traffic at key airports in the region. We are confident of seeing a recovery soon and are introducing additional capacity to serve the increasing demand."

 Echoing this positive sentiment, Dubai International Airport reported its fourth consecutive month of double-digit passenger growth in September 2009, with a 35 per cent jump in traffic from Asia. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport also roared ahead with 22.4 per cent year-on-year growth.

 For Bangkok, Emirates' fourth daily service to Bangkok comes into effect on December 2 operated by Boeing 777-300 in a three class configuration (12 First, 42 Business and 310 Economy Class seats). The flights will support Thailand's economic recovery by boosting tourist arrivals from Dubai and the larger Middle East - a region the Tourism Authority of Thailand has consistently targeted through multi-million dollar programmes including the recent 'Jump to Amazing Thailand' campaign. The extension of visa fees exemption for Thailand until March 2010 is expected to generate more tourist traffic which will be served by Emirates' additional flights.

On cargo, additional 161 tonnes of capacity is introduced per week per direction on the Dubai-Bangkok route.