Emirates celebrates 10 years of operations in Kolkata

Air carrier major Emirates marked ten years of operations in Kolkata, by deploying a second Boeing 777 on the route, the company said on Thursday.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, deployed last month, replaces the current A330-200 providing higher seat capacity to meet rising demand on the route.

"In addition to the new on-board product, we are able to offer more seats, ensuring capacity to meet growing demand on the route, not just from Kolkata but the entire east and northeast India region," said the carrier's senior vice president (commercial operations- West Asia and Indian Oceans) Ahmed Khoory.

Since the start of its operations, it carried over two million passengers on the route and moved more than 66,000 tonnes of cargo from the city.

With demand for air travel expected to double in the next five to 10 years in India, the carrier is well positioned to bring a growing number of tourists and business travellers to the eastern region of the country, further enabling trade and investment, said a company statement.

Completed 30 years of operations in India in 2015, the third-largest international carrier serving India has grown its operations to serve nine destinations in the country. It operates 10.4 percent of international capacity in the market, the company said.