Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has awarded Directions Travel in Malta for being the top Emirates supporting agent for 2004/2005. Directions Travel is located in Mellieha and is owned and run by the Vella Family.
Emirates’ senior vice-president commercial operations Europe Keith Longstaff presented the award to Directions Travel director Rachel Vella in the presence of Emirates’ district manager Paul Fleri Soler. The award ceremony was held at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel. The staff of Emirates Malta office and Directions Travel were present for the occasion.
Commenting on the award, Mr Longstaff said: “Our awards acknowledge travel agents who exceed the target sales of our holiday destinations. The award is a result of the total passenger sales from Malta for the financial year 2004/2005.”
On thanking Emirates, Ms Vella said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by Emirates Airline. We have always believed in Emirates. Incidentally, Directions Travel was the first ever tour operator to launch group tours to Australia and also Dubai seven years ago. From then on our monthly group tours have been sold out, due to the high level of service and product. One must note that we operate from Mellieha and people from all over Malta and Gozo come to our office. I would like to thank our staff and also Emirates staff in Malta who have truly supported us throughout the last seven years.”
Emirates is the world’s fastest-growing intercontinental airline, one of the world’s five most profitable and among the 20 largest ones. Since its launch in 1985, Emirates Airline has received more than 250 international awards in recognition of its efforts to provide unsurpassed levels of customer service.
Emirates began its operations from Dubai to Malta in March 1998.
The airline currently operates three flights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on Airbus A330-200. Dubai is becoming a very convenient destination for Maltese travellers, either as a holiday destination or as a stop over on long-haul flights such as to Australia or Far Eastern countries.
The airline operates services to 77 cities in 54 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. Since January 2004 the airline has launched services to nine new destinations, including the Seychelles in January 2005 and Seoul on 1 May 2005. Later this year it will start services to Geneva and Hamburg, and to Beijing in February 2006.