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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.

He said the airline was proud to have supported Pakistan’s travel, trade and tourism sectors.

“We’re proud to have been a major partner in the country’s growth story, supporting not only the travel needs of millions of people into and out of Pakistan, but also facilitating trade through our cargo capabilities, providing employment opportunities to thousands, supporting the tourism sector and enabling business to flourish,” Alhashmi said.

According to Emirates, the airline has carried more than 19 million passengers between Dubai and Karachi on over 87,000 flights in the past four decades.

Across Pakistan, more than 36 million passengers have flown on 146,000 flights connecting Dubai with five cities: Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Sialkot.

The airline also transports over 73,000 tons of cargo annually to and from Pakistan.

“Our flights support many of the 1.7 million Pakistanis who live and work in the United Arab Emirates, as well as leisure travelers and those visiting family and friends,” Alhashmi said. “We mark 40 years of trust, partnership and shared progress with Pakistan at this event.”

Speaking to Arab News, Alhashmi described Emirates’ four-decade partnership with Karachi as “40 years of excellence” and “40 years of growth.”

“It’s beyond even my imagination, to be honest with you,” he said. “And I’m very proud that Karachi is still there; Pakistan remains our key market, and we really look forward to growing even further.”

Alhashmi also maintained Pakistan remains an “underserved market” despite growing competition.

“Even though there’s growing competition, if I compare it to the earlier era, Pakistan used to have a lot more international carriers,” he said. “With Pakistan’s future, there’s a lot of growth we can still witness.”

He said Emirates had continued to grow steadily since its first flight.

“The world needs better air services, better aircraft, newer destinations and better cargo operations,” he said. “Since the beginning, we’ve been growing in this market and, except for exceptional periods like COVID, we’ve never seen a time when we did not grow.”

During the celebration, Emirates showcased its Premium Economy product in Karachi for the first time.

“Premium Economy represents an innovative, comfortable choice designed for travelers who want an elevated experience, including enhanced amenities and attractive price points,” he said, adding that Emirates’ connection with Pakistan was not only commercial but also emotional.

“You can imagine flying is a dream for the people,” he told Arab News. “When they get married, they want to have a honeymoon, they want to fly. The same goes for new jobs, new business deals and fun trips.”

“I think we are touching every single heart in Pakistan,” he said.

“This anniversary is as much Pakistan’s celebration as it is Emirates’,” he added.