EMIRATES’ Middle East operations will receive a boost this August as the airline increases its daily capacity to both Kuwait and Doha, adding a total capacity increase of almost 29 percent across the two routes. In line with Emirates’ rapid global expansion Qatar and Kuwait will each benefit from an additional daily frequency, bringing operations to Doha to six services per day and Kuwait up to five flights per day. With six flights per day, Doha has the highest number of daily frequencies in the Middle East region, followed by Kuwait. “These additional frequencies have been added to accommodate increasing demand from our customers. Both Doha and Kuwait are extremely viable markets for Emirates and there is a clear indication that they will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years,” said Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ senior vice president commercial operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran.

“The Middle East is one of the most active aviation markets in the world and these additional daily frequencies, to two of the region’s key destinations, will provide even more convenient connections to onward travel through our international hub of Dubai” he adds.

In response to its strong passenger demand in Tunis, Emirates has also launched an extra frequency introducing the Airbus A340-500 on the Dubai- Tunis route, from March 25, 2012. Emirates also launched the first direct air bridge between the Middle East and America’s Northwest, as its launched services to Seattle’s Tacoma International Airport. The American capital city is next the airline also announced that it would start flights to Washington Dulles International Airport from September 12, 2012.

The airline has also announced plans to boost its operations in Italy this October as the airline adds a third daily flight to Rome. This will take the total number of flights offered to Italy to 56 a week. Rome is currently served twice daily by Emirates. Coupled with a triple daily service to Milan commencing on June 1 and a double daily flight to Venice beginning March 25, the increased weekly frequencies will contribute to a burgeoning trade relationship between Italy and the UAE worth $4.6 billion.

Already this year, Emirates has launched new routes to Rio and Buenos Aires, Dublin Lusaka, Harare and Dallas with more destinations including Ho Chi Minh City from June 4, Barcelona from July 3 and Lisbon from July 9, 2012 planned for the year.