Not many know, but the Emirates airline, one of the two flagship airlines of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf, and which is considered one of the largest and most influential airlines in the world, operates a great many flights between different destinations that are not necessarily Dubai.
For example, Emirates has a flight line between Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina, and in fact, five percent of all the company's flights operate on such lines.
We asked the manager of the Israel region at Emirates, Mohammed Lota (29), born in Dubai, if his company intends to ask the Israeli authorities to operate Emirates flights from Israel to various destinations around the world.
"As of today, we operate many flights between countries that are not from the United Arab Emirates," he replies in an interview with "Israel Today" - the first he gives to an Israeli media outlet.
"We have a line that operates close to Israel, from Greece to the USA, and thus Israelis can fly with the national Greek airline, Aegean, to Athens - and continue with us from there to New York.
"At the moment all options are on the table. We just started operating flights from Israel, and of course if we make changes to the routes - everything will be on demand and in full coordination with the authorities of all the countries involved. We have just doubled the number of our flights from Dubai to Israel, from one flight to two flights a day, and we We operate in a controlled and orderly manner. Of course, Dubai is our mother base, and we are concentrating on that."
The effect of jet fuel
Dubai is one of the largest hubs in the world for intermediate destinations (connections) thanks to Emirates.
Lotte reveals, from the company's experience, which destinations are popular among travelers from Israel: "We operate about 620 seats every day from Israel to Dubai, and that's only on Emirates planes. Fly Dubai, with which we work in cooperation, also operates flights from Israel, and so many Israelis Fly with us to various destinations around the world.
The Philippines.
"Great demands of Israelis", photo: Moshe Shai
"Currently we see very large demand from Israelis for Australia, South Africa, the Philippines and Vietnam, and there is also quite a bit of demand for various destinations in South America. We fly to 130 destinations around the world, and together with 'Play Dubai' to about 200. Emirates returned to 92 percent of the number of destinations it had before the corona virus. In a rough estimate, about half of the Israelis who fly with us stay in Dubai - and about half continue to onward destinations around the world."
We see that the flight prices of all airlines to Dubai have increased during this period, and it is difficult to find
flights at low prices.
Do you foresee any upcoming changes in this regard?
"There are several parameters that affect the price. It's a matter of supply and demand, and of course the prices of jet fuel and other factors also have an effect. The demand for Dubai at this time is very high, and regarding jet fuel, we have made several moves so that the changes in its prices do not have an effect.
"We always work to make prices accessible to the consumer, but at the same time we have to remember that we are a company that invests a lot in its product to allow passengers with us the best experience. Obviously, the prices in the less popular periods will be lower, and now there is a certain increase that is due to several factors at the same time."
"Window" in the middle row
The entry of Emirates into Israel has quite an impact on many airlines, most notably El Al.
Lota explains what Emirates' goals are in Israel.
"We are not coming to hurt any airline and not to take from any. Our goal is to increase the pie and increase the volume of activity. We grow, in fact, together with our competitors. As a company, we really like competition. Competition makes everyone improve and bring a better product, And we see it in the many upgrades and changes we have brought."
like what?
"In some of our planes, such as the Boeing 777 Game Changer, there is a window for those sitting in the middle in first class. Yes, it sounds strange, but it means special cameras that transmit the beam outside to the passenger sitting in the middle, so that he sees exactly what the passenger sitting sees By the window. It's simply amazing. In some planes, like the Airbus 380, we have two showers that allow first class passengers to shower, and premium class passengers even to sit in the lounge during the flight. All these things come as a result of the desire to be better, with new and special ideas."
Emirates Airbus 380.
When will he also fly to Israel?, Photo: Public Relations
One of the questions that most interests the Israeli traveler is when we will see the Airbus 380, the largest plane in the world, which exists in the Emirates fleet, land in Israel.
"We are always looking at the various options, also in this matter. Sometimes we change the types of aircraft, and there is a chance that the Airbus 380 will also be used on flights to Israel in certain situations, for example during periods of high demand.
"Before I came to Israel, I worked at the Emirates missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and recently in Amman, Jordan. Emirates operates flights with our Airbus 380 to Amman, and if it seems possible to do this on flights to Israel as well, in full cooperation with the authorities - we will do it."
Finally, you recently moved to Israel, as part of your position, in a large city in the center of the country. how do you feel here
"In one word - YOFI. Israel is an amazing country, with excellent food, and I really enjoy it here."
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