Emirates will launch a daily flight from Dubai to Newark, New Jersey via Athens, Greece on March 12, 2017.

The new flight will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, with a bellyhold cargo capacity of approximately 19 tonnes.

“The Greek Government and Athens International Airport approached Emirates some time ago to consider serving the route between Athens and New York,” said Tim Clark, president of Emirates. “After careful review, Emirates concluded that extending one of our Dubai-Athens flights to Newark would be commercially and operationally feasible. We are pleased to be able to help meet a strong consumer need long neglected by other airlines, and we would like to thank the authorities and our partners in both the US and Greece for their support of the new route.”

Clark added that the flight would not just be important for passengers.

“The availability of high-quality, daily international air services is essential for the development of business and cultural ties,” he said. “Trade, especially in high-value and time-sensitive products, will be facilitated by the ample cargo capacity on Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft.”

Emirates currently flies two 777-300ERs a day to Athens, one non-stop and one via Larnaca. The carrier also operates four Airbus A380 flights between Dubai and New York JFK, three non-stop and one via Milan.

The schedule for the new flight is as follows.