T

he Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based airline Emirates is set to launch twice daily flights from Jakarta to Dubai starting March 1.

"The launch of the double daily flight between Jakarta and Dubai is Emirates' response to increasing demand from both business and leisure travelers," Emirates' Indonesia country manager Mohamed Al Nahari said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Al Nahari said in 2009 the airlines flew the route 11 times a week.

He said the additional flights would increase capacity by more than 2,600 seats per week, to bring weekly capacity up to 12,000 seats.

Using Boeing the 777 jetliner, Emirates has 42 business-class seats and 385 to 400 economy-class seats depending on aircraft type.

Emirates flights EK 356 and EK 358 depart Dubai at 4:40 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. respectively. Flights EK 357 and EK 359 leave Jakarta at 5:45 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. respectively.

Emirates sales manager Ilonka Leiwakabessy said the airline was aiming to serve a new corporate travel market in addition to haj and umrah (minor haj) pilgrims.

"Corporate travelers are independent of events like pilgrimages. They can depart at any time," she said.

She said there was sales growth in 2009 without giving any figures.

Al Nahari said Emirates' double daily flight would support government plans to increase arrivals from Middle Eastern countries by up to 100,000 in 2010.

"We are delighted to be able to provide our passengers with a greater choice of flight options," he said.

Emirates will start four new routes including to Tokyo on March 28, Amsterdam on May 1, Prague on July 1 and Madrid on Aug. 1.

In the financial year ending Sept. 30, 2009, Emirates booked US$205 million in net profits.

Emirates announced Tuesday the appointment of PT VFS Services Indonesia, to set up a Dubai visa application and processing Center (DVPC), effective since January 2010.

"The partnership will offer benefits to our passengers who require a visa to enter Dubai. The passengers will get Dubai visas within a short time period of three to four working days," Al Nahari said.

"Passengers who use this service are not required to have local sponsors while staying in Dubai."

VFS head of operations Southeast Asia Bernard Vijaykumar said that the firm would be able to handle about 800 applicants a day.

"Visa applicants only need to submit copies of their passports with their documents and not the original ones," he said.