Emirates flew a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to Adelaide last week, as a precursor to the launch of scheduled flights to the city on 1 November 2012. More than 250 guests, including the Deputy Premier of South Australia, John Rau, and the Governor of South Australia, Kevin Scarce, turned out to witness the aircraft’s arrival, which was marked by a traditional water cannon salute. The dignitaries were then given a tour of the aircraft, which is fitted with three cabin classes and the ‘ice’ digital wide-screen seatback monitors. “Emirates has long held ambitions to operate flights to Adelaide, so it is exciting to be here today,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Far East & Australasia. “When our service goes daily from 1st February, it will mean nearly 5,000 additional international seats per week on the route, representing a 30% increase for the market, which will boost jobs and investment in South Australia’s AUS$ 5.3 billion tourism sector. “Today’s event builds on the momentum of the recently announced Emirates and Qantas Global Aviation Partnership that, subject to regulatory approval, from April 2013 will give travellers a seamless Australian and international network – including direct connectivity from Emirates’ global network,” Obaidalla added. Emirates will initially serve the Dubai-Adelaide route four times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) before moving to daily operations in February next year. From traveldailymedia