Emirates’ latest route takes off – across the River Thames

Emirates Air Line, the UK’s first urban cable car, has been launched, bringing a new and innovative way to cross London’s River Thames.

As of today, passengers can take a “flight” up to 90 metres above one of the world’s most famous waterways, capturing dramatic views of the City, Canary Wharf, historic Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and Emirates Airline President Tim Clark joined Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, on the first official Emirates Air Line flight this morning.

The new river crossing in east London can be used by pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. Every 30 seconds, they can board one of the 34 cabins from two brand new terminals, Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks. A journey across the 1.1 kilometre cable line takes up to 10 minutes.

“It is exhilarating to see the Emirates Air Line take flight for the first time today,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline. “It reflects Emirates’ philosophy of connecting people through exciting, innovative and shared experiences, and will provide residents, commuters and visitors alike with a unique perspective of London.”

Emirates’ AED 204 million (£36m) sponsorship of the cable car project was announced in October of last year in an agreement between the airline, the Mayor’s office and Transport for London (TfL).

“The Emirates Air Line is a stunning addition to London’s transport network, providing a much needed new connection across the Thames,” said Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. “I am sure the Emirates Air Line is now set to be a must-see destination in its own right, giving people the chance to drink in breath-taking panoramic views. Crucially, the Emirates Air Line supports my ambitious plans to revive the neighbouring areas, which have been neglected for decades, creating jobs for Londoners and stimulating growth.”

The main construction of the Emirates Air Line, led by Mace, has involved more than 1,500 people on sites both sides of the river, helping to deliver the newest addition to the capital’s transport network. Mace Macro will employ more than 50 people to operate the scheme.

“This is an historic day for the UK and a momentous day for London,” said Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner. “The Emirates Air Line has been delivered in just two years, an incredibly short amount of time for the capital’s newest mode of transport to be up and running. The engineering achievements that have been delivered have been no mean feat and I’m delighted to have been on board for the first flight with the Mayor and Emirates today.”

The Emirates Air Line knits into London’s existing transport network providing an interchange with the Jubilee line and Docklands Light Railway. It will be open seven days a week and passengers can buy their boarding passes from vending machines or the ticket offices at both Terminals.

The UK remains one of Emirates’ most popular markets with hundreds of thousands of passengers flying with the airline to the UK each year. Emirates’ convenient links to the UK will enable these passengers to experience the Emirates Air Line first-hand, connecting them to the unique experiences London has to offer.

Emirates operates eight daily flights to London and also serves Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.