Emirates to Begin Flying to Bogota, Colombia via Miami
Emirates, one of the world’s most luxurious airlines, announced on Wednesday that it will begin flying to Bogota, Colombia. However, there’s a twist to this new route – instead of flying nonstop from its hub in Dubai, the airline will operate via Miami. This means that Emirates will offer a “fifth-freedom” flight between Miami and Colombia.
A fifth-freedom flight is operated by an airline between two countries, neither of which is the airline’s home country. Emirates’ new flight will operate daily starting June 3, and tickets are already on sale. In addition to the direct route between Dubai and Bogota, travelers can book the new flight between Miami and Bogota.
Emirates is joining a competitive route, with an average of nine daily flights in each direction. American Airlines operates three flights each way per day in June, and Avianca and LATAM also operate multiple daily flights on the route. Avianca even uses a wide-body Boeing 787-8 aircraft for one of its daily flights, which features 28 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout.
Emirates will be flying its Boeing 777-300ER on the route, which is fully equipped with the airline’s stellar first-class suites and lie-flat business-class seats. However, the fifth-freedom flight doesn’t necessarily mean that travelers can experience Emirates’ luxurious first-class product at a lower price than on the airline’s existing routes. Round-trip fares between Miami and Bogota were listed at $13,870 for the sub-four-hour flight at the time of publication.
In its announcement, Emirates preferred to focus on the broader connectivity between Dubai and Bogota rather than the fifth-freedom route. Emirates President Sir Tim Clark stated, “We’ve long wanted to serve Colombia, and the addition of Bogotá to our network is part of our strategy to deliver better connectivity, expand options and choice for travelers, and provide unparalleled premium experiences on the ground and in the air.”
A nonstop flight between Dubai and Bogota was not feasible due to the Colombian capital’s high elevation. The thin air at higher elevations lowers the maximum takeoff weight for aircraft, making it necessary for a stop somewhere along the route. Emirates chose Miami as the stopover point, offering travelers the opportunity to experience the airline’s renowned service and luxury on the journey.
Overall, Emirates’ new route to Bogota via Miami provides travelers with more options and connectivity between the Middle East and South America. With the airline’s top-notch amenities and services, passengers can look forward to a comfortable and enjoyable journey on this new route.