After obtaining authorization from the Civil Aeronautics of Colombia this week, Emirates Airline officially announced today the launch of its flights to Bogotá, with the inaugural operation scheduled for June 3.
The Colombian capital will be Emirates’ fourth destination in South America after Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires, as well as the 19th across the American territory.
The company will also compete in the Bogotá – Miami market by taking advantage of fifth freedom rights. It faces competition from American Airlines, Avianca, and LATAM, which operate up to nine daily flights. Its differentiator will clearly be its premium cabins.
Flight EK213 will depart from Dubai daily at 2:15 to arrive in Miami at 10:05. From there, it will take off at 12:35, landing in Bogotá at 15:25. The return flight as EK214 will be at 17:25 to arrive in Miami at 22:15, from where it will depart at 00:45, landing in Dubai at 23:00. This itinerary applies from June 3 to November 2.
In the winter season, flight EK213 will depart from Dubai at 2:15 and arrive in Miami at 9:50, from where it will leave at 12:20 to arrive in Bogotá at 16:10. The return as EK214 will depart from El Dorado airport at 18:10, arriving in Miami at 22:05 to depart for Dubai at 00:35 and land at 23:50.
Flights between Dubai, Miami, and Bogotá will be operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with a capacity for 357 passengers in First, Business, and Economy. This will also strengthen the cargo market with a hold capacity of 20 tons per direction.
“e’ve long wanted to serve Colombia, and the addition of Bogotá to our network is part of our strategy to deliver better connectivity, expand options and choice for travellers and provide unparalleled premium experiences on the ground and in the air. The launch of our daily operations to the dynamic capital of Colombia also underscores our deep commitment to South America, and is poised to foster increased business and leisure travel opportunities for customers,” said Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, who also thanked the authorities for supporting their plans and making this route possible.
Germán Umaña Mendoza, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, said, “the launch of the new route between Bogotá and Dubai marks a major milestone in expanding the connectivity of our country, allowing us to strengthen trade, investment and tourism.”
The Director General of Aerocivil, Sergio Paris Mendoza, added, “the Arab nations bear witness to a thriving and diverse Colombia, poised to cultivate bonds of friendship and prosperity transcending geographical boundaries. At this pivotal moment, we reaffirm our dedication to collaborating closely with our Arab counterparts towards mutual development and peace.”
Emirates seeks to connect the Middle East with Central America and the north of South America once again
Once again, Emirates aims to establish itself in the heart of the Latin American region, currently dominated by Turkish Airlines with its flights to Bogotá, Caracas (CCS), Panama City (PTY), and Havana (HAV).
In February 2019, the airline announced plans for a non-stop route connecting Dubai and Panama City, promoting the operation as one of the ten longest flights in the world, covering a distance of 13,821 kilometers with a duration of 17 hours and 35 minutes.
Despite initially cooperating with Copa Airlines through a code-share agreement, low early bookings and intense competition, particularly from Turkish Airlines, led Emirates to abandon the Dubai-Panama City route, removing it from its website in August 2019.
