Emirates to launch flights to Lusaka (Zambia) & Harare (Zimbabwe) in February 2012

update (06 Feb 2012): If the current load factor is maintained, Emirates could increase its flights into Lusaka & Harare from five to six days a week. Emirates senior vice president commercial operations in Africa Mr Jean-Luc Grillet told journalists on Thursday, 02 Feb 2012, that they were encouraged by the load on their inaugural flight into Harare which was about 80% on their Airbus A330-200 which has a carrying capacity of 256 passengers.
"Normally the load factor on inaugural flights is about 40% to 50% and we are very happy that we were at 80% and we hope that if this is sustained we will be flying into Harare six days a week by October.
"In fact, we are optimistic that by October we will be having daily flights between Harare and Dubai," he said. > Seb: I am not too sure about it! It is probably just rumours.

Emirates, flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates based out of Dubai, will extend its African network by adding flights to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe from 01 February 2012. The two cities will be linked with a five times weekly flight from Dubai.
The Dubai-Lusaka-Harare service will be operated by an A330-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration that offers 12 luxurious First Class seats, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 183 passengers in Economy Class.
Passengers flying Emirates from Lusaka and Harare will be able to connect seamlessly to points across the Far and Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Europe and Australasia via the airline’s hub in Dubai.
Starting 01 February 2012, EK 713 will depart Dubai on every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 0925hrs, arriving in Lusaka at 1450hrs. The service will depart Lusaka at 1620hrs, arriving in Harare at 1720. The return flight leaves Harare at 1920, arriving Lusaka at 2020. It departs Lusaka at 2150 and lands in Dubai at 0710hrs the next day.