Emirates set to target Portugal in Euro push

Emirates Airline said on Monday it is to launch flights to Portugal from July 9 as part of a recent push to improve links to mainland Europe.

The airline will start a daily service to Lisbon in the south west corner of Europe, just six days after launching flights to Barcelona in neighbouring Spain.

Earlier this month, Emirates said it will expand its services to Milan from June 1 while services to Venice are also being expanded next month.

Emirates will serve Lisbon with a modern Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, the carrier said in a statement, adding that the Portuguese capital will become Emirates’ 31st European destination.

“Lisbon has been on our European wish-list for some time. Our daily flight will link this far western corner of Europe with our strong route network, via Dubai, into Africa, across Asia and beyond," said Tim Clark, president, Emirates Airline.

“We will be the only carrier based in the Middle East operating into Portugal, bringing our refreshing approach to customer service, our dynamic and inspiring approach to business, along with superb value for money,” Clark added.

Portugal has a population of around 10 million, of which nearly 2 million live in Lisbon and its suburbs.

Since joining what became the European Union in the mid-1980s, Portugal’s traditional focus on an agricultural economy has become increasingly diversified, with a steady expansion of the service sector.

As one of Europe’s warmest countries, Portugal is a popular tourist destination. Its better known attractions, such as the resorts of the Algarve, are supplemented by medieval castles and scenic villages dotted around winding coastlines and hillsides.

The new service follows a trend of growing links between Portugal and the UAE. Portugal opened its embassy in the UAE in 2010 and the UAE reciprocated in Lisbon last year.

With a fleet of 169 aircraft, Emirates now flies to 121 destinations.