Emirates, the Dubai-based leading airline, will launch flights to Clark International in the Filipino city of Angeles from October 1.

The city will become the airline’s second destination in the south east Asian archipelago after Manila.

Nearly 680,000 Filipinos live in the UAE alone, according to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. A further 342,000 Filipinos reside in Qatar and 186,000 are based in Kuwait.

But the biggest Filipino population in the Middle East, by far, is in Saudi Arabia. The Commission reports that over 1.5 million Filipinos are living in the Kingdom.

“When you see these figures showing the full extent of the Filipino diaspora, it’s clear how important a new route to the Philippines becomes,” said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, senior vice president, Commercial Operations, Gulf Middle East & Iran.

“Over more than 20 years, Emirates has carried millions of passengers on the Dubai-Manila route and I am sure with the number of Filipinos on the move around the world, Clark will be equally successful.”

Manila was one of Emirates’ early routes in south east Asia, starting a service there back in 1990 – just five years after Emirates was established.

“I think it is very significant that Emirates is finally flying into another destination in the Philippines because it will open a whole vista of opportunities for both our countries, said Grace Relucio Princesa, the Philippines’ Ambassador to the UAE.

“First of all, it will help Filipinos all over the world – they’re passing through the Dubai hub and riding one of the largest airlines in the world, Emirates, to fly nearer their communities of origin, like in Pampanga, where Clark International Airport is. It will also mean access to Subic Freeport area and the Bataan area, which will also open tourism and investment opportunities for both countries.”

The new Clark service will be operated by a two-class Boeing 777-300ER.

With a second gateway into the Philippines, Emirates SkyCargo will be able to provide more than 160 tonnes of additional cargo hold capacity each way per week. – TradeArabia News Service