Emirates, one of the world’s most successful and fastest-growing international airlines, has announced its plans to start services to Toronto, a first gateway for the airline in Canada, from 29 October. The international service is subject to government approval.

The non-stop service between Dubai and Toronto is planned to operate three times a week. Emirates will fly its Boeing 777-300ER on the route, offering 354 seats in a three-class configuration with six tonnes of cargo capacity from Dubai to Toronto and 12 tonnes from Toronto to Dubai.

The planned new route will provide travellers with access to all major Canadian centres with excellent connections available through Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Identified as the country’s financial centre, as well as for its world-class restaurants, cultural venues, trade exhibitions and hundreds of festivals each year, Toronto offers business and leisure travellers a host of reasons to fly the northern skies.

The Dubai-Toronto non-stop service will take 14 hours and 20 minutes and a return journey of just over 13 hours.

Making comfort a top concern on the long-haul journey, the aircraft will be fitted with eight luxurious private suites in First class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business class, and a comfortable Economy-class cabin for 304 passengers.

Pending government approval, Toronto will be one of five new Emirates destinations in 2007. Earlier this year, the airline announced plans to start services to Venice in July, Newcastle in September, Sao Paulo in October and Houston in December.

Emirates’ global route network currently spans 87 cities in 60 countries across Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Indian Subcontinent and North America. For flight information and bookings, visit: www.emirates.com

Emirates currently operates five flights weekly between Malta and Dubai via Larnaca in Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the new Boeing 777-200.