Emirates has resumed flights to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires in Argentina for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The resumption of the services means that the Dubai airline is now operating with more than 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic network active, flying to 130 plus destinations around the world.
Emirates flights to the two South American destinations operate via a Boeing 777 aircraft and the jet received a warm welcome on its first trip to Rio de Janeiro, with samba dancers and a water canon salute.
The onwards service to Argentina was just as warmly received with a tango dance performance, courtesy of the Argentina Tourism Board, greeting the aircraft.
Flights to Argentina's capital city are via a connection in Rio, and the resumption of the flight from Dubai means travellers once again have direct service between the two cities with Emirates.
The airline, which this week ranked among the world's best, is operating four weekly flights to and from Dubai, and linking Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
Flights depart Dubai at 8.05am and land in Brazil at about 3.30pm. Passengers continuing to Argentina have an hour and 45 minute stopover, before the flight departs to Buenos Aires, where it lands at 8.40pm.
Return flights leave Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires at 10.20pm, landing in Rio a little after 1am the following day, and in Dubai at 11.35pm.
Rio is the airline's second destination in Brazil, as it already operates to Sao Paulo via its A380 superjumbo.
Brazilians and Argentinians travelling to Dubai can avail of a visa on arrival service, making a stop in the emirate hassle-free. Passengers flying to South America can take advantage of Emirates' codeshare and interline partnerships with other airlines including Avianca, Latam and Azul to continue on to other regional destinations.
Emirates airline through the years
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Emirates' first flights in October 1985 used leased aircraft. Photo: Emirates -
An Emirates A380 in flight. Photo: Emirates -
Emirates Premium Economy is the airline's newest cabin class. DXB Terminal 3, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Skydiver and stuntwoman Nicole Smith-Ludvik stars in Emirates' latest ad campaign at the top of the Burj Khalifa. Emirates -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, takes a tour of the Emirates A380 airliner during the opening ceremony at Dubai Airshow in November 2013. AFP -
Airbus workers celebrate in front of the Airbus A380 on July 28, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany. The world's largest passenger liner was built for Emirates airline. Getty Images -
Terminal 3, the exclusive terminal for Emirates airline, was opened in 2008. Photo: Emirates -
Emirates chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in November 2001, with a model of the Airbus A3XX superjumbo jet (now known as the A380) at the Farnborough Air Show. Reuters
