Emirates launches flight to Yangon, Hanoi

Flight EK388 from Dubai to the capital city's Noi Bai International Airport was welcomed with a traditional water cannon ceremony. "With an extensive global network of 155 destinations in 81 countries and territories, Emirates will help enhance connectivity for Ha n oi and its neighbouring areas, providing more convenience and choice for travellers, additional opportunities for inbound tourism and more export markets for regional products," Haitham Al Battawy, Emirates' country manager for Viet n am, said at the launching ceremony. "We are confident that the launch of this service will enable us to contribute to the development of tourism and trade in Viet n am, particularly in the country's capital Ha n oi," Battawy said. Deputy Director of Noi Bai International Airport (NIA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the launch of Emirates Airlines service had brought the total number of airlines operating at NIA to 50, comprising 45 international airlines and five domestic ones. This new service expands the airline's network in the Southeast Asian region to 12 cities in seven countries and offers more choices and convenience to passengers travelling between Hanoi and Yangon and to Dubai and beyond. Hanoi is the airline's new passenger gateway in the country, following the launch of services to HCM City in 2012 and the cargo-only service to Hanoi in 2013. Flight EK389 departs from Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport at 10.50pm, and arrives at Yangon at 12.20am. The flight then departs from Yangon at 1.50am and arrives at Dubai International Airport at 5.05am. Inbound, flight EK388 departs from Dubai at 3.30am and arrives in Yangon at 11.40am. It then departs from Yangon at 1pm, arriving at 3.30pm in Hanoi. A three-class configured Boeing 777-300ER will be operated on this route.-VNA