Emirates has announced a new daily service from Dubai to New York’s Newark airport, via the Greek capital Athens.

The new fifth freedom route will launch on March 12, using a B777-300ER aircraft configured for eight first class seats, 42 in business class and 304 in economy.

Announcing the new service Emirates’ president Sir Tim Clark said that “The Greek Government and Athens International Airport approached Emirates some time ago to consider serving the route between Athens and New York”.

“After careful review, Emirates concluded that extending one of our Dubai-Athens flights to Newark would be commercially and operationally feasible,” Clark added. “We are pleased to be able to help meet a strong consumer need long neglected by other airlines, and we would like to thank the authorities and our partners in both the US and Greece for their support of the new route.”

Flight EK209 will depart Dubai at 1050, arriving into Athens at 1425, before leaving at 1640 and landing into Newark at 2200. The return leg EK210 will depart the US airport at 2345, landing in Athens at 1505 the following day, then taking off at 1710 and arriving back into Dubai at 2350.

The new service will add to Emirates’ existing four daily flights between Dubai and New York’s JFK.

Back in 2012 Greek media reported that Qatar Airways was planning a fifth freedom Doha-Athens-New York service, but this did not come to fruition.

emirates.com