Announced yesterday and appearing in O Globo today, EK says it will begin daily flights GIG-DXB beginning next January. The equipment was not announced. The flight will also serve EZE as an extension. No word about whether they might have 6th freedom EZE-GIG, but many of us hope they will get it as unlikely as it might be.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - daily flights start 03 January 2012. EK 247 DXB-GIG departure 0705, arrival 1535 at Galeão Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (airport code GIG). Return flight EK248 departs GIG 0255, arrives DXB 2235. Aircraft type Boeing 777-300ER (press release 06 April 2011). Buenos Aires (via Rio de Janeiro), Argentina - daily flights, start date 03 January 2012. EK247 depart DXB 0705, arrive GIG (Rio de Janeiro) 1535, depart GIG 1720, arrive Ministro Pistarini/Ezeiza International Airport (airport code EZE) 1930. Return flight EK248 depart EZE 2130, arrive GIG 0120 next day, depart GIG 0255, arrive DXB 2235. Aircraft type Boeing 777-300ER with 8 First Class Suites, 42 Business class lie-flat seats, and 304 Economy class seats (press release 06 April 2011).
I will have escaped the travails of South American flying by then (having hopefully relocated elsewhere) but this is good news and will offer travellers a real choice I also understand that Emirates may be given space to open their own lounge in GIG so there will be a proper lounge of global standard in Brazil for the first time
Yes they will have 6 freedom to EZE I can confirm that I called the Ministry here in Brasilia just now and checked.
