Emirates to launch daily services to Mexico City via Barcelona this year

Dubai airline Emirates will launch a new daily service from Dubai to Mexico City International Airport, via the Spanish city of Barcelona, starting on December 9, 2019.

The new route will mark the airline’s first service to Mexico, and also cater to “underserved demand” between Spain and Mexico, a statement said.

It will be operated with a two-class Emirates Boeing 777-200LR which offers 38 business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 264 seats in economy class.

Emirates flight EK 255 will depart Dubai at 3.30am, arriving in Barcelona at 8am before departing again at 9.55am and arriving into Mexico City at 4.15pm on the same day.

The return flight EK256 will depart Mexico City at 7.40pm local time, arriving in Barcelona the next day at 1.25pm. It will depart from the Spanish city at 3.10pm and arrive in Dubai at 12.45am the following day.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline said: “We are excited to be able to introduce new air connectivity between Dubai and Mexico.

“Due to the high altitude of Mexico City airport, it is not possible to operate a non-stop flight from Dubai, and Barcelona was a natural choice for a stopover.

“We are pleased to offer a direct connection on the route between the Spanish city and Mexico City that has long been neglected by other airlines and remains underserved despite the strong customer demand.”

The new 777 flight will also offer up to 14 tonnes of cargo, opening up access for Mexican exports such as avocados, berries, mangoes, automotive parts and medical supplies.

Emirates SkyCargo has been flying freighters to/from Mexico City since 2014 already and in the last year carried over 22,500 tonnes of cargo on the route.

“The availability of high-quality, daily international air services is essential for the development of tourism, business and cultural ties,” said Clark.

“Trade, especially in high-value and time-sensitive products, will be facilitated by the ample cargo capacity on Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft. We also expect tourism to receive a major boost from the daily flights on our newly-refurbished Boeing 777-200LR.”

Citizens from Mexico, Spain and the UAE currently have visa-free travel to each respective country.

In the first five months of 2019, Mexican visitor numbers to Dubai rose by 32 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to Dubai Tourism.

Mexico is also looking to boost its tourism sector with more international arrivals.

“Mexico supports the launch of the long-awaited flight Dubai-Barcelona-Mexico City, which responds to Mexico’s government tourism policy towards opening new markets and strengthening connectivity between the Middle East and Mexico,” said Mexico’s minister of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués.

“We are eager to receive tourists from this part of the world.”

Passengers flying with Emirates can book a ‘Dubai stopover package’ which will allow them to stay in Dubai for a few days on their way to/from one of over 140 destinations.

Passengers on the route can also decide to stop over in Barcelona on their way to/from Mexico or Dubai.