Emirates, the international Dubai-based airline, made history on Monday when EK261 took off from Dubai International Airport en-route to Sao Paulo, Brazil; representing the first ever non-stop flight between the Middle East and South America.

Emirates is using its technically advanced Boeing 777-200LR on the route, with Brazil becoming the 60th country and Sao Paulo the 94th destination on the airline’s rapidly expanding network.

Passengers from over 12 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Australia, joined the first flight to Sao Paulo after connecting through Dubai from other Emirates flights.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Today marks an important milestone for Emirates; not only is it our first gateway in South America, but it means we now fly non-stop to six continents from Dubai.”

On board the first flight from Dubai to Sao Paulo was His Excellency Flavio Moreira Sapha, the Brazilian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Passengers travelling on the Dubai – Sao Paulo route will enjoy unrivalled in-flight service, including eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy.

Departing Dubai at 10:00 hrs, the flight time was 15 hours and 30 minutes with an arrival time at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport of 18:30 hrs on the same day. The return flight, EK262, departs Sao Paulo at 01:25 hrs and arrives in Dubai at 23:05 hrs on the same day.

Emirates flies five times weekly from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca in Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the Boeing 777-200.