Emirates launches second daily service from DXB to Seattle-Tacoma

Emirates has announced its second daily service from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
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The new service, EK227, which began on 7th July and is operated by a Boeing 777-200LR, will depart Dubai at 3:15 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 6:55 a.m. The return flight, EK228, departs Seattle at 9:40 a.m. and arrives in Dubai at 10:55 a.m. the following day. The new service will supplement the current EK 230 Boeing 777-300ER flight departing Seattle at 5:40 p.m. and landing in Dubai the following day at 6:55 p.m. 

“This new service will provide passengers with the convenience of both a morning and evening departure from both Dubai as well as Seattle,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West. “This second daily service will provide our passengers in the Seattle area even more choices when flying with Emirates and satisfy their demand for more flights from this gateway. Corporate travelers will also appreciate the ease of conducting business as a result of the improved connectivity between Seattle and a number of international destinations. So when corporate travelers are headed to an Emirates’ destination in the Middle East, Africa, or the Far East or when they require one of Emirates’ frequent daily connections to Hyderabad, Mumbai, or Delhi, the global business community will now seem much more closer to Seattle.” 

Passengers coming from Dubai and beyond can connect to other US cities through Emirates’ partner agreement with Alaska Airlines (AS). Members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan and Emirates' Skywards programs have been able to earn and redeem miles for travel on either carrier since March 2012. These flights offer connectivity to points across the United States such as Portland, Anchorage, Honolulu, Billings, and Boise as well as into Canada including cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Victoria, and Calgary. 

Passengers flying into Seattle will spot the iconic Space Needle from the sky. Much like the souks in Old Dubai, Seattle visitors can taste the local flavors at a day spent at Pike Place Market. Ride along the Puget Sound on Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry or zip from the Seattle Aquarium to Chinatown on the Seattle Center Monorail, a World’s Fair legacy. 

The second Seattle flight will be operated with one of Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which will create a 75% jump in seating capacity with 4,340 weekly seats on offer to Dubai. This second flight will effectively move Seattle into the number two position in the US market in terms of seat capacity, behind New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR features eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class lie-flat beds and 216 Economy Class seats. All passengers can enjoy over 2,000 free channels of films, TV shows, music, games and podcasts through ice, the airline’s multi-award winning in-flight entertainment system, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine and Emirates’ renowned inflight service from the airline’s multi-national cabin crew comprised of over 135 nationalities. Additionally, First Class and Business Class passengers can experience Emirates’ Chauffeur-drive service, available in over 70 cities worldwide. 

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “Launching an additional flight to Seattle on a daily basis strengthens Emirates' links to the city, not just because of its business with Boeing, but also from a trade and commerce perspective too. 

“With the higher payload carrying capability available with the 777-200LR, cargo is seen as just as important, particularly given that Emirates will now boost cargo capacity by another 15 tons, the airline will also be able to further connect its customers through its codeshare partner in Alaska Airlines too.” 

Ahmad added: “Seattle has been a boon for Emirates since launch and this additional flight will bolster revenues further in the absence of competition from US airlines that still refuse to fly directly to Dubai from various US gateways. 

“There's also the possibility that Emirates could deploy the bigger A380 on the Seattle run if demand continues to rise, but such a long range route is probably best suited to the 777-9X which will bring Emirates lower fuel burn and even greater range and payload capability, but that's not going to be for a while yet until the 777X family starts rolling off the Everett production line in bigger numbers starting next decade.”