Emirates welcomed to Houston

Emirates has completed its inaugural flight between Dubai and the city of Houston, Texas.

Dubai-based airline Emirates has completed its first flight between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the city of Houston, Texas in the southern United States.

The flight, which Emirates said marks the beginning of a "long-anticipated service", touched down in Houston's George Bush intercontinental airport on December 3rd.

Upon landing, the Boeing 777, which was carrying 266 passengers, was greeted by a water cannon ceremony as it taxied to its gate.

Houston is Emirates' second gateway in the United States following the airline's launch of services to New York in 2004.

The airline claimed that the route is the fastest connection between Texas and the UAE, with a 15-hour flight between Houston and Dubai and a 17-hour return service.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates chairman and chief executive, said: "Emirates has looked forward to bringing business and tourism traffic to America's south and south-west and specifically to Houston and the state of Texas.

"With the growing demand, particularly from discerning business travellers, we are confident that the new service will prove to be very popular and we look forward to serving the region with our growing fleet."

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