Emirates will begin services to Panama City from February 1, 2016, offering business travellers the longest non-stop flight in the world (17 hours 35 minutes in the Westbound direction) and the only one to offer a first class product.

The daily service to Panama City, Panama’s capital and largest city by population, will be operated with a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a three-class layout, with eight suites in First, 42 in Business, and 216 seats in Economy.

Panama City is the economic and financial centre of the country with major industries including international banking, commerce, and tourism. Ideally located between North and South America, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Panama City has developed an unrivalled transportation and communication network. It operates two of the busiest ports in Latin America, including the Colon Free Trade Zone – the world’s second largest free trade zone. Additionally, the ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal has helped contribute to Panama’s economic growth in recent years.

“Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America,” says chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “We’re also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, First Class service to travellers on what will be the world’s longest non-stop flight.”

“It is gratifying to see how diplomatic efforts focused on generating development and prosperity for Panama materialise,” says vice president of the Republic of Panama Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado.  “New doors to the country will open with a direct connection to the Middle East – a strong and thriving region with great synergies to both Panama and Latin America.”

Emirates flight EK251 will depart Dubai at 08:05 and arrive in Panama City at 16:40 daily. The return flight EK252 will leave Panama City at 22:10, arriving in Dubai at 22:55 the next day.

Later this year, Emirates will be adding four additional routes to its global network including Mashhad, Iran and Orlando in September; Bamako, Mali in October; and Bologna in November. Emirates presently operates services to 147 destinations in 81 countries in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Far East and Australasia. www.emirates.com