Emirates Airline launched its first Boeing 777-300ER on its Durban service on June 1, according to a report by iol.co.za.

The 345-seat aircraft replaces the smaller Airbus A330-200 and will boost passenger capacity by almost 30% and cargo capacity by 90%.

Fouad Caunhye, Emirates’ regional manager for Southern Africa said: “Durban is one of South Africa’s most popular tourist destinations and the introduction of the Boeing 777 is a direct response to increasing passenger demand on this route.”

Caunhye said last year Emirates carried more than 165 000 passengers on flights to and from Durban and, with the introduction of the new aircraft, expected to grow this number by almost a third.