Emirates Airline will strengthen its Middle East route network with additional flights to Amman, Riyadh and Jeddah starting in February 2009. These additions follow the airline’s recent increase of services to Damascus in December, from nine flights a week to 11.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ senior vice-president commercial operations – Gulf, Middle East & Iran, said: “The Dubai-based airline’s presence in the Middle East has been on a consistent fast-track ever since the airline launched global operations in 1985.

Emirates flew to its first Middle East gateway in 1986 when it launched operations to Amman. Today, Emirates serves 14 cities in the Middle East with nearly 180 flights per week, offering the best connectivity in the region.”

In the first week of February, Emirates will add flights to three cities in the region – one additional flight to Riyadh, two additional flights to Amman, and one additional flight to Jeddah. These new services will enable greater access and facilitate traffic flows between Middle East and key markets in Europe, Africa, Indian Sub Continent, Far East and Australian points.

Emirates, one of the world’s most successful international airlines, operates a modern and efficient fleet of all wide-bodied aircraft to 101 cities spanning six continents.

The airline has an extensive Middle East network covering 14 cities with 176 flights per week. With the additional flights to Amman, Riyadh and Jeddah starting in February 2009, Emirates will serve the region with 180 flights per week.

Emirates operates daily flights from Dubai to Malta with a stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus.