United Arab Emirates-based Emirates Airline has announced to provide better connectivity between Indonesia and UAE by launching twice daily flights from Jakarta to Dubai from March 1 in line with government's plans to increase arrivals from Middle Eastern countries by up to 100,000 in 2010. The airline operated 11 times in a week in 2009.

Mohamed Al Nahari, the Indonesia Country Manager of the Airline, told, "The launch of the double daily flight between Jakarta and Dubai is Emirates' response to increasing demand from both business and leisure travelers."

The move, according to Al Nahari, would increase Airline's capacity to 12,000 seats by adding 2,600 more seats per week. Emirates flights EK 356 and EK 358 would fly to Jakarta at 4:40 a. m. and 10:25 a. m. respectively while leave Jakarta to head for Dubai at 5:45 p. m. and 12:15 a. m. respectively.

Emirates sales manager Ilonka Leiwakabessy said that the airline would offer extended services to the business, religious and other travelers. She added, "Corporate travelers are independent of events like pilgrimages. They can depart at any time."