Emirates celebrates 100,000th Lusaka passenger

Passenger milestone marked with surprise upgrade

Pictured: Kennedy and Valentina Kaira, with Airports Services Agents Nancy Mulenga (left) and Jean Lundu.

Emirates, which flies daily direct from Lusaka to Dubai and Harare, celebrated a new milestone when it welcomed its 100,000th passenger from Lusaka on Saturday (April 19).

Delighted Emirates passenger Kennedy Kaira was greeted at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by Emirates Airport Services Manager Patricia Milimo and her team, who presented him and his wife Valentina with complimentary upgrades to Business Class for their flight to Dubai.

Since Emirates’ Launched its service from Lusaka to Dubai and Harare on February 1, 2012, the airline has connected 100,000 outbound passengers on the route, and carried over 2,200,000kgs of cargo, whilst supporting Zambian exports at the same time.

Emirates Country manager Husain Alsafi said: “To celebrate reaching our 100,000^th passenger on the Lusaka – Dubai route is a landmark occasion for us and it’s a remarkable achievement in such a short space of time. Zambia is, after all, an extremely important passenger and cargo market for Emirates.

“To us Emirates appears to be the best in the region. It’s very reliable and always on time, and the hospitality is just first class, whether you are in Economy or Business Class,” said Mr Kaira, who was travelling to Dallas, Texas, to visit his son Lameck.

Emirates flies to more than 140 destinations in 80 countries through its Dubai gateway.

On the Lusaka route the airline operates modern Airbus A340-300 aircraft with 256 seats: 12 luxurious sleeper seats in First Class, 42 deep-reclining seats in Business Class and 213 in Economy Class.

EK 713 departs Dubai every day at 0925hrs, arriving in Lusaka at 1435hrs. The service departs Lusaka at 1605hrs, arriving in Harare at 1710hrs. The return flight leaves Harare at 1850hrs, arriving Lusaka at 1955hrs. It departs Lusaka at 2140hrs and lands in Dubai at 0650hrs the next day.

Bookings can be made through the Emirates sales office at Acacia Park, next to Arcades on the Great East Road, online at www.emirates.com, or through any travel agent.