Emirates plans big route expansion in 2004

Emirates is launching six new destinations in 2004 including flights to Scotland, China, West Africa, the US and Europe. In a statement the carrier said it was finding success with leisure and business travellers, who used Dubai as both an end destination and connecting point for onward travel in the Middle East and to Africa, the Indian sub-continent, and Asia. From 2 January four flights per week launch to Lagos in Nigeria, continuing on to Accra in Ghana. Then from 10 April, the carrier will launch its first destination in mainland China – Shanghai, which will operate four times a week until 15 May when the service will go daily. Daily flights to Glasgow will also launch on 10 April. From 1 May, the carrier is adding flights to Vienna, which it hopes will act as a gateway to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The flights will operate four times a week until 15 May, when Emirates hopes to push it up to a daily service. Emirates is also hoping to launch direct daily flights to New York from 1 June, but is waiting for regulatory approval. Currently Emirates passengers travelling from Dubai to New York go via a European destination.