First class travellers to five destinations with Emirates will receive an exciting duty free bonus and attractive special fares from the award-winning airline’s Colombo office, in a special promotion ending March 31 this year.

Every purchase of a First Class return ticket from Emirates in Colombo to Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London (Gatwick) or Casablanca will be accompanied by a free voucher worth US$ 140 (about Rs. 13,500) valid at the Dubai Duty Free, one of the world’s most exciting shopping complexes, the airline said.

Adding further value to this offer, Emirates Colombo will also provide special promotional fares to the five destinations during this period.

Passengers availing themselves of this offer would travel Business Class to Dubai and First Class on their onward journey, since flights out of Colombo are in two-class configuration. The offer is valid on Emirates flights only and only if all sectors of travel are on Emirates.

"This promotion helps us achieve many things," Emirates Sales Manager Colombo Devika Ellepola explained. "It rewards our regular first class passengers, is an incentive for others to try our award-winning service and also generates more awareness of the Dubai Duty Free. We are aware that increasing numbers of travellers are discovering that transiting in Dubai is one of the many advantages of flying Emirates."

"Our First Class passengers represent the top-end of the travelling public, a segment that we hope to develop further this year," she added.

Members of Skywards, the frequent flyer programme of Emirates, would also earn the bonus points they are entitled to for flying First Class in addition to the Duty Free shopping voucher they receive.

Airline of the Year 2002, Emirates operates 13 flights a week from Colombo to Dubai providing convenient connections to 64 destinations in 45 countries.