Dubai: Emirates airline's inaugural Dubai-Toronto flight EK241 reached Toronto yesterday evening, marking the airline's first destination in Canada.

It is the first non-stop service between Dubai and Toronto and the second from the UAE. Etihad launched a Toronto service from Abu Dhabi in October 2005. The arriving dignitaries were welcomed by airport officials at a formal ceremony.

Emirates yesterday launched two non-stop flights from Dubai - a three-times-a-week service to Toronto, and a six-a-week service to Ahmedabad, India - expanding its global route network to 97 cities in 61 countries.

Emirates also held a news conference in Toronto marking its launch of services with a gala dinner for its business partners in Canada.

Earlier this month, Emirates also launched a service to Sao Paulo, Brazil.