KARACHI: Emirates marked 40 years of operations in Karachi on Friday, celebrating the anniversary of its first international flight with a showcase of its retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft featuring the airline’s Premium Economy cabin.
The event at Jinnah International Airport was attended by senior government officials, diplomats and aviation industry representatives, including UAE Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi. Guests toured the aircraft, viewing the Premium Economy cabin, which the airline said would soon be available to Pakistani passengers.
Four decades ago, in October 1985, Emirates’ first international flight departed from Dubai and landed in Karachi, with the airline beginning its global journey from the Pakistani port city, a partnership that has since become one of the region’s most enduring aviation ties.
“Emirates’ 40-year journey began right here in Karachi on the 23rd of October 1985, when flight EK600 landed at Jinnah International Airport, marking the starting point of Emirates’ international footprint and the beginning of its global story,” said Mohammed Alhashmi, Emirates’ Vice President for Pakistan, addressing the gathering.
“Over the last four decades, we have built a deep relationship with Pakistan, its people, its businesses and its communities,” he added.
