EMIRATES COMES TO HARARE

On the 1st February 2011, EMIRATES AIRLINES made its maiden flight to
Zimbabwe and landed at the Harare International Airport.  Emirates plights
the Dubai - Lusaka - Harare route five times a week touching down at 1720
hours.  The airline is flying in every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
and Sunday.

The Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development,
Nicholas Goche was among the passengers who came on the inaugural flight
to Harare.

On his welcoming speech, Minister Goche said the day was a historic day in
Zimbabwe aviation, being the first time that a passenger airline from the
Middle East was landing in Zimbabwe, thereby establishing a direct service
between Zimbabwe and that region. "This is also historic for Emirates
Airlines, by becoming the first passenger airline from the Middle East to
land in Zimbabwe after its cargo arm operated briefly to Harare sometime
in 2004". he said.  The Minister reiterated that the coming of Emirates
Airlines to Zimbabwe was also a significant development for Zimbabwe as
the country will be hosting a truly global airline, with an extensive
global network, huge fleet and great reputation for quality service.  "It
is therefore a great honour to be part of the route network of such a
renowned airline. The Emirates Airlines base, Dubai, has itself become a
destination in its own right, a commercial hub and an airbus to the rest
of the world" he said.

In his speech, Emirates Airlines senior vice president commercial
operations in Africa Mr Jean-Luc Grillet told journalists at the maiden
flight that they were encouraged by the load on their inaugural flight
into Harare which was about 80 percent on their Airbus 330-200 which has a
carrying capacity of 256 passengers.

Mr Grillet said that they were optimistic about the potential for business
in the country and were very keen to facilitate trade between Zimbabwe and
the United Arab Emirates.