Bogota is a mix of 500 years of history and people, while Dubai is a rich collection of nearly 200 nationalities
Strategic thinking transforms locally successful companies into global businesses. In the world of aviation, Emirates recognizes that past success is no guarantee of future growth. Too many national and international airlines that once dominated their markets are no longer around.
Capital and strong leadership alone do not deliver profitability; it is strategy that defines growth. Thinking short and long term from different perspectives and considering key variables is the secret to transforming what was once a local company into a global brand.
Emirates, founded in 1985 with just two aircraft, has been consistently voted one of the world’s best airlines and now operates the largest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, serving more than 130 destinations.
On Wednesday afternoon, representatives from Emirates and Colombia spoke about the growth opportunities for both countries at a press conference at Gate A14 of El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia’s capital, located about 2,500 meters above sea level in the central Andes Mountains.
The new daily service from Dubai to Bogota via Miami, following a codeshare agreement signed in May between Emirates and Avianca, the national airline of Colombia, was no easy move. It was a move to strategically connect Dubai and Bogota.
But what are the benefits of connecting a city of 3 million in the Middle East with a nearly 500-year-old city with over 11 million people in South America, 13,000 kilometers away?
Nabil Sultan, vice president of passenger sales and country management at Emirates, had the answer. “The new flight will be a channel to improve trade flows, increase market access and pave the way for investment in various sectors between Colombia and the UAE.” In April, the UAE and Colombia signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. UAE’s state news agency
WAM reported that the agreement with Colombia will reduce tariffs, remove trade barriers and promote investment in the energy and tourism sectors.
President Sheikh Mohammed said building a strategic partnership is part of the UAE’s efforts to build relationships with countries that share the UAE’s vision for the future.
On a more concrete level, Dubai and Bogota work well together because both cities see themselves as gastronomic destinations. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants just released its 2024 list this week, with Dubai’s Tresindo Studio coming in at 13th and Bogota’s El Chato at 25th.
The day after a press conference at El Dorado International Airport, in a boardroom at the Grand Hyatt Bogota, tourism officials cited some of the awards as evidence of the booming of Bogota’s culinary scene.
But this service from Dubai to Bogota via Miami will do more than just attract foodies interested in South American destinations.
Non-oil trade between the two countries has reached record levels and continues to grow. Cargo deliveries are on the rise (on the new route, aircraft can carry 20 tons of cargo per day) and red tape is being cut (Colombians and Emiratis can enter Dubai and Bogota visa-free for up to 90 days).
Bogota is a mix of 500 years of history and people, while Dubai is a rich collection of Russian, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, British, and more than 180 other nationalities.
These people have helped make the emirate a cosmopolitan city that boasts a thriving nightlife and a culinary smorgasbord while maintaining a traditional Middle Eastern core. In the age of digital consumption, both cities are also attractive to content creators and offer the ideal visual backdrops essential for social media posts to go viral.
Travel from the Middle East to Latin America really began in earnest about 150 years ago as the Ottoman Empire declined. In 2024, Colombians have become one of the fastest growing diaspora communities in the UAE. In fact, it is the largest amongst the Latin American communities.
Almost half a millennium of history in Bogota is now connected to the modernity of Dubai. This strategic move to connect these two cities means that Emirates is a modern-day, aviation linchpin.
What to know
Service:
Emirates daily flight EK213 departs Dubai at 0215hrs and arrives in Miami at 1005hrs. The flight then departs Miami at 1205hrs, arriving in Bogota at 1455hrs. Emirates return flight EK214 leaves Bogota at 1719hrs and arrives in Miami at 2215hrs. The flight then departs Miami at 0045hrs the next day arriving in Dubai at 2300hrs. All times are local.
Aircraft:
Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft
Visa:
Passengers on flights in both directions between Dubai and Bogota should meet entry regulations for the United States and hold the required documents, due to immigration procedures in Miami.