Emirates Airlines has announced its 23rd route into Europe is going to The Netherlands.

The daily, non-stop service from Dubai to Amsterdam will be operated with a combination of 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft, offering a three-class configuration. Starting 1st May next year, EK 145 will leave Dubai each day at 0825hrs and arrive in Amsterdam at 1330hrs. From Amsterdam, EK 146 departs at 1530hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2359hrs.

This is an important piece of good news for Amsterdam, in a year where passenger traffic has been in decline. It is surprising that it has taken this long for Emirates to serve Amsterdam, given that Amsterdam is Europe's 4^th largest passenger airports and yet it is Emirates' 23^rd European route, but no doubt the dominance of KLM at Amsterdam will have slowed the decision to start Amsterdam.

Emirates will compete with KLM on the Dubai sector, but with two strong hubs at either end the route should be able to sustain both carriers. This is also the first of the big three Middle East hub carriers to serve Amsterdam, despite KLM operating to all three major Middle East hubs.

Cargo was obviously an important element in the decision to announce Amsterdam, as Emirates has served Amsterdam with a freighter service for many years. In the press release from Emirates, his Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group is quoted as saying: "This is also a major freight hub and one of the world's renowned flower centres. Emirates has served The Netherlands as a freighter destination for fifteen years and currently offers six 747-400 freighter flights a week between Dubai and Amsterdam. The daily passenger flight will allow us to bolster our cargo offering by making use of the belly hold capacity."

This is the fourth new destination to be announced this year by the Dubai-based carrier. Durban and Luanda were both launched in October and Tokyo was recently announced with a start date of 28th March 2010.