Emirates plans to relaunch its Hamburg-New York flights

According to a report by the local newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt, Emirates is in talks to resume its non-stop connection between Hamburg and New York.

This comes after Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg's first mayor, asked the airline to consider restarting the Dubai-Hamburg-New York service during a visit to Dubai. Emirates confirmed that it had been asked "in the first place".

The Gulf Company had previously operated this route until 2008 using an Airbus A340 aircraft. However, the service was not profitable for the airline and was suspended after only two years of operation.

However, recent developments could make a difference, with United Airlines ceasing the single non-stop service at the US airports in Hamburg in the winter of 2018. As a result, Emirates could potentially fill the gap with a service relaunched in New York. York from the second largest city in Germany. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are likely to restart flights.

To operate this route, Emirates requires so-called "fifth freedom rights", which describe the authorization to operate a flight between two foreign countries, provided that the flight originates in the country of origin. origin of the airline. These rights are difficult to obtain and are not controversial, particularly in the United States. In 2017, members of the government asked the Trump administration to stop Emirates from operating a connection between Athens, Greece and the New York Newark Airport, which takes its source in Dubai . An agreement between the United States and the United Arab Emirates gave Emirates permission to continue operating the route. However, the Gulf airline was asked not to start new "fifth freedom" flights to the United States.

Hamburg and Emirates have a deep relationship. The airline has already served Hamburg airport for 12 years and is the main sponsor of the local sports club "Hamburger SV". Last October, Emirates introduced the Airbus A380 on its Dubai-Hamburg route. The Arabian airline has become the first operator to offer regular A380 commercial flights to the German airport. Currently, Emirates offers two daily flights between Dubai and Hamburg, served equally by the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A380.

German aviation journalist. Editor-in-Chief of International Flight Network.