Silverjet to launch Dubai flights

Business class airline Silverjet has announced plans to launch a new service between Luton Airport and Dubai later this year.

The daily flights will begin in November and will offer inflight services and amenities exclusive to the route, including halal and Arabic meal menus and a qibla service to ensure those in Muslim prayer are able to face the direction in which Mecca lies.

A female-only lavatory and a specially trained crew will also feature on the new service, which is set to make use of the 5,000 sq ft Executive Terminal at Dubai International Airport for both customer arrivals and departures.

"With premium air traffic to the UAE growing at 20 per cent year-on-year, this new route represents an exciting opportunity for Silverjet," commented Silverjet chief executive Lawrence Hunt.

Silverjet currently offers daily business class flights to New York from Luton Airport. It recently announced plans to launch a second daily service to the Big Apple from September 23rd.

• Less than a week until Esta launch
• US connecting flights proving popular at Bristol Airport
• Record year for London City Airport
• Virgin Atlantic to celebrate 25th year
• Record passenger growth for Etihad in 2008
• KLM to turn 90 this year
• Continental to launch new Heathrow flights
• Aer Lingus to launch flights from Gatwick Airport
• British Airways orders 11 new aircraft
• Milestone reached in Birmingham Airport pier project