Boeing 777-300ER to be deployed on the Zimbabwe and Zambia route

Emirates is set to enhance its on-board experience and increase capacity on its Zimbabwe and Zambia route with the deployment of a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from 1 February 2016.

The Boeing 777-300ER will replace the current Airbus A340-300 and offer an additional 97 Economy Class seats per flight. The aircraft will have eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.

"As Emirates we are constantly seeking ways to enhance our services, and the upgauge to the Boeing 777-300ER on the Lusaka-Harare route is part of our commitment to offer Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers even more comfort and entertainment on our daily service," said Orhan Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa.

"In addition to the enhanced on-board product, we are also able to offer more seats, ensuring capacity to meet growing demand on the route, not just outbound from Zimbabwe and Zambia, but also inbound from the United States, UK and Australia, as we continue to build and strengthen trade and tourism links between Zimbabwe and Zambia with markets in the rest of Emirates' extensive global network, through seamless and convenient connections via our Dubai hub," he added.

Popular destinations for both Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers include Dubai, London, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, Manchester and Delhi, amongst others.

Emirates' First Class private suites have electrically operated doors to ensure privacy, a flat bed, including a mini-bar and work desk, while Business Class features sleeperettes, and Economy Class comfortable and spacious seats. Across all cabins the aircraft is fitted with Emirates' award-winning ice entertainment system, which offers customers over 2000 channels of on-demand audio and visual entertainment, from the latest movies, TV shows, music, audio books and games.

Customers will continue to enjoy the famous on-board hospitality from Emirates multi-national cabin crew, including Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals, as well as gourmet meals and generous baggage allowances, with 50 kg for First Class, 40 kg for Business Class and 30 kg for Economy Class.

With 155 Boeing 777s in service and a further 190 on order, the aircraft is the backbone of the Emirates fleet and very popular with customers. The deployment of the aircraft on the Lusaka and Harare route also makes Emirates' southern Africa network an all Boeing 777 operation, with flights to Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and Luanda in Angola, highlighting the importance of the region with a growing and vibrant tourism and business sector.

Businesses and traders will also benefit from the aircraft's larger belly-hold to carry cargo, offering 23 tonnes of capacity per flight to support the two countries' exports such as vegetables and flowers, and imports ranging from pharmaceuticals to mining equipment.

EK713 departs Dubai every day at 0925hrs, arriving in Lusaka at 1440hrs. The flight then departs Lusaka at 1610hrs, arriving in Harare at 1715hrs. The return flight, EK714 leaves Harare at 1850hrs, arriving Lusaka at 1955hrs. It departs Lusaka at 2140hrs and lands in Dubai at 0650hrs the next day.