Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/558086
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2015 17 Events Emirates announces service to Panama City EMIRATES, a global connector of people, places and economies, announced its plans to launch services to Panama City, begin- ning 1st February, 2016. The new service will be the longest non-stop f light in the world (17 hours 35 minutes in the West- bound direction) and will be Emirates' first gateway destina- tion in Central America. Service to Panama City, Pan- ama's capital and largest city by population, will commence with a daily f light operated by a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a 3-class layout - 8 in First, 42 in Business, and 216 in Economy. The aircraft can carry up to 15 tonnes of cargo. Key imports to the country include pharmaceu- ticals, machinery products, iron/ steel rods, and electronics. Serv- ice to Panama City will operate through Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Both a vibrant metropolis and gateway to tropical destina- tions, Panama City is also the economic and financial centre of the country with the major industries being international banking, commerce, and tour- ism. Ideally located between North and South America, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Panama City has developed an unrivalled transportation and communication network. It op- erates two of the busiest ports in Latin America, including the Colon Free Trade Zone - the world's second largest free trade zone. Additionally, the ongoing ex- pansion of the Panama Canal has helped contribute to Pana- ma's economic growth in recent years. "Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a conven- ient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Cen- tral America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. "It is gratifying to see how diplomatic efforts focused on generating development and prosperity for Panama mate- rialise," said Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Vice President of the Republic of Panama. "New doors to the country will open with a direct connection to the Middle East - a strong and thriving region with great syn- ergies to both Panama and Latin America.""This new direct f light between Dubai and Panama City will connect Latin Amer- ica with the Middle East, Asia and Africa," explained Eduardo Fonseca Ward, Consul General of the Republic of Panama, in Dubai. "This link will generate a broader global network with countless commercial and cul- tural opportunities for the two regions." Later this year, Emirates will be adding 4 additional routes to its global network including Mashhad, Iran and Orlando in September; Bamako, Mali in October; and Bologna in No- vember. Service to Panama City to be- gin on 1 February 2016. Emirates f light EK251 will de- part Dubai at 08:05 and arrive in Panama City at 16:40 daily. The return f light EK252 will leave Panama City at 22:10, arriving in Dubai at 22:55 the next day. Tickets for travel to Panama City are now available to pur- chase via Emirates.com or your preferred Travel Agent. Emirates operates a daily scheduled f light between Dubai and Malta via Larnaca, Cyprus. For further information and f light schedules, one can visit the site: www.emirates.com/mt MCAST students take up apprenticeship at HSBC Contact Centre A group of six students from the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) are under- going a rigorous programme of apprenticeship at the HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta (HBEU), the largest contact centre on the island. The two-year long apprenticeship programme, which bridges the gap between education and employ- ment, kicked off on 22 June and will end on 9 October after sixteen rigorous weeks, during which the students will have been trained in the art of excellent customer serv- ices. The group will then return to HBEU three more times for addi- tional mentoring, which would last for four, three, and thirteen weeks, respectively. The participating students are enrolled in Advanced Diploma in Financial Services from MCAST's Institute of Business and Com- merce. HBEU Recruitment Manager Re- becca Durke said: "As an industry leader in Malta, HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta is committed to creat- ing a well-qualified workforce that can fuel the growth of the sector as well as of the Maltese economy. We are realising this ambition by offer- ing a range of world-class training and learning opportunities." At the end of the programme, qualified students are likely to re- ceive full-time employment offers at HBEU, which is known for its informal yet supportive workplace atmosphere. The various support services for staff at HBEU include a concierge service, in-house gym, childcare subsidies, onsite medical health checks, and private health- care, among others. Established in 2006, the Centre has grown through the years with more than 450 employees now assisting UK customers. The centre has expand- ed its call types now also covering many different query types. Exciting opportunities exist to join HSBC UK Call Centre Malta and be part of a great team. More information about these can be had at www.hsbc.com.mt/careers. An age neutral CV can be forwarded to malta.recruitment@hsbc.com. Football legend visits President PRESIDENT Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca received a courtesy call from the leg- endary Argentinian retired footballer Javier Zanetti. Zanetti, who currently serves as vice-president of FC Internazionale, was brought to Malta by Inter Club PUPI Zanetti Malta. During his three-day visit, the former FC In- ternazionale captian held a training camp for bud- ding footballers and at- tended a fund-raising BBQ at Golden Sands resort in Mellieha in aid of the PUPI foundation. Zanetti also visited a number of football nurs- eries, including Lija Ath- letics, Iklin and Zebbug Rangers. From Left: Michael Grech, Claudine Muscat, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Javier Zanetti, Paul Fenech and Malcolm Abdilla Castillo The six MCAST students outside the HBEU