DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (BNO NEWS) Emirates on Thursday announced the launch of second daily flights to Los Angeles and Houston.

Starting October 31st for Los Angeles and November 1st for Houston, Emirates will fly non-stop to both cities twice a day on Boeing 777 aircraft. The services will provide luxurious private suites in First Class and lie-flat seats in Business Class.

"The additional services will provide customers in the Middle East and Asia with even easier access to the largest cities in Texas and California" said Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline.

According to the company, over 750 U.S. firms have set up offices in Dubai and 400,000 American business and leisure travelers visited the Emirate last year, a 23 percent increase from 2007-08.

Emirates currently flies nonstop from New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The airline will reinstate its flagship A380 aircraft on one of its double-daily JFK services from October 31st.

Last month, Emirates ordered 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and placed a $2.0 billion order for US-manufactured GE90-115B Engines to power the US-built aircraft, which will add to the airline's fleet of 65 777-300ER and 777-200LR that are currently in service.

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