ON the day that Emirates Airline paid a dramatic tribute to Manchester by making it the first call for its very latest aircraft, the airline announced plans to fly daily from Manchester to Dubai.

Currently operating five times a week on the route, the increase will be from June, with three non-stop services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and four via Zurich.

The 11-year-old airline has achieved remarkable success in the North-west since services from Manchester began.

Cllr Graham Stringer, chairman of Manchester Airport, said: "We are delighted that Emirates has announced that it will operate daily as this will generate spin-offs for business, tourism in the North and create jobs.

"Northern travellers will now be able to fly direct to Dubai every day of the week without having to travel to London or other European airports."

Emirates flies to 41 destinations and has just taken delivery of its latest Boeing 777 - the first of four long-range versions equipped with the most powerful airline engines ever built by Rolls Royce.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.