Emirates To Operate Longest Air Route Between Dubai - Panama

(RTTNews) - Emirates, the flagship carrier of United Arab Emirates, will introduce the longest non-stop airline route from Dubai to Panama City. The flight will cover 13,821 kilometers or 8590 miles in 17 hours and 35 minutes in the Westbound direction. The new schedule will start operating from February 1, 2016.

Currently, the longest air route is between Sydney and Dallas, operated by Qantas.

Emirates, wholly owned by the the government of Dubai's investment arm, plans to use Boeing777-200LR aircraft, which has a flying capacity to cover 17,000 kilometers. The new flight will have 266 seats in three classes. There will be 8 first class seats, 42 business class and 216 economy. Emirates said the aircraft will carry 15 tonnes of cargo.

Tocumen International Airport in Panama City will be the first destination of Emirates in Central America. The UAE airline is currently offering the Dubai to Los Angeles flight, a distance of 13,420 kilometers.

Emirates operates has a fleet of 230 aircraft and operates to 140 destinations in more than 80 countries around the world.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group said, "Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America. We're also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, First Class service to travellers on what will be the world's longest non-stop flight."