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Emirates celebrates 10 years of service to Zambia

Lusaka, Zambia, 7 February 2022: Emirates marks 10 years of service to Zambia this February. The airline made its maiden flight from Dubai to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) on February 1, 2012 and as of December 2021 has carried close to 820,000 passengers and recorded more than 6,000 flights between Dubai and Lusaka.

A steady rise in demand in the market over the years prompted the airline to increase its flights between Lusaka and Dubai and onward to more than 120 destinations in its network to six times weekly. The route was initially serviced with Emirates’ Airbus A330-200 aircraft and later the Airbus A340-300 and then the current B777-300ER aircraft.

Mohammad Bin Hafiz, Country Manager for Zambia said: “We are very pleased to share this milestone with the market. Zambia is a growing market both on the passenger as well as cargo side and we look forward to seeing how the next decades unfold. Emirates remains focused on delivering the best all-round service and travel experience with innovative ‘industry firsts’ in the form of upgrades and customer centric products.”

Emirates SkyCargo is a significant participant in the Zambian logistics and export landscape. The airline’s cargo freighter operations have been key in linking people to goods, produce, medical supplies, among others – particularly in light of constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Emirates SkyCargo announced a major milestone in the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines with 600 million doses flown on its flights, including close to 3 million doses transported to Zambia. Since October 2020, the carrier has transported more than 2.8 million kilograms (2800 tonnes) of COVID-19 vaccines from 35 origins to over 80 destinations.

Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, until March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world. Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans as well as food and technology enthusiasts can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more.

Flexibility and Assurance: Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, which have been extended to 31 May 2022, Covid-19 medical travel insurance, and is helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

Health and safety: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers even more opportunities to utilise the  IATA Travel Pass, which can now be used across 50 airports served by Emirates.

All passengers travelling from Lusaka with Dubai as their final destination require a 48 hour PCR test. Passengers must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility. Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will undergo an additional Covid-19 PCR test and remain in self quarantine until the results of the test are received. Passengers travelling from Lusaka and transiting in Dubai are required to follow the rules and requirements of their final destination.

For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai visit: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/covid-19/dubai-travel-requirements/tourists/

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About Emirates
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.
We inspire travelers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.
For more information see www.emirates.com/zm

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