Given that RG is leaving the star alliance- at least some good news here. I read on Emirates Airlines inflight magazine that they will start service from Sao Paulo to Dubai six times a week effective October 1 2007 on a B777-200:
http://emirates.com/usa/AboutEmirate...p?yr=2007&St=2
DUBAI, U.A.E., 23rd January 2007 – Emirates, the fast-expanding international airline, today announced it would make its South American debut on 1st October 2007 with six-a-week, non-stop services to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The 14-hour and 40-minute flight will be the first-ever non-stop service between South America and the Middle East, providing travellers from Emirates' network of 14 cities in the Middle East, as well as from the Far East and Indian Subcontinent, with a new direct connection to South America via Dubai.
On the route, Emirates will fly its brand new Boeing 777-200LR – the first of its ten on order, expected to be delivered this summer.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “We have been looking to expand our operations in the Americas for some time, and we are delighted to be able to launch our first South American destination when we receive our first 777-200LR later this year.
“Sao Paulo is the commercial heart of Brazil and a key financial and industrial centre in Latin America, and Dubai, the Middle East’s premium hub for business and tourism. We believe this new direct air link will stimulate more trade and tourism exchange between these two thriving economies, and we are confident our service would prove popular with both business and leisure travellers. We look forward to introducing the exciting new destination of Brazil to our customers around the globe.”
Emirates’ technologically-advanced 777-200LR will offer eight luxurious private suites in First class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business class, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy. The 777-200LR will also offer shippers up to 18 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Passengers in all classes will enjoy the meals prepared by gourmet chefs; award-winning service from its international cabin crew recruited from over 100 countries around the world; as well as Emirates’ cutting-edge ‘ice’ (information, communication, entertainment) system, which offers a selection of over 600 channels of entertainment on demand; as well as the ability to send and receive email and text messages from their personal in-seat entertainments systems.
Flight details:
EK261 Departs Dubai at 09:30 hrs on all days except Thursday,
and arrives in Sao Paulo at 18:00hrs
EK262 Departs Sao Paulo at 01:25 hrs on all days except Friday,
and arrives in Dubai at 23:05 hrs
*All times indicated are local
This will make it much easier for Brazilians to fly to not only the middle east, but also to India, Asia, and Australia, the big plus being no transit visa is required for Dubai (Emirates will actually issue transit visas for people who need to leave the airport, don't know if Brazilians get automatic visas to UAE). If your flight has over a eight hour connection, and there is no alternative for a shorter connection, they actually put you up in a hotel for no additional charge- if four hours or greater they have a free buffet in the terminal! Dubai airport is great, plenty to do (shopping).
IMO, emirates ranks right up there with SQ as a top notch airline. good food with large portions, excellent service, although average seats. Hope that the flights have ICE entertainment system (which has over 50 movies on demand and 600 channels of video/ audio), as oppossed to the regular entertainment which has only 10 movies not on demand and maybe 30 other channels.