When you fly on Emirates Airlines, the pilots need several full breaths to list the languages spoken by the staff, usually including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Afrikaans, Bulgarian and half-dozen others.

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After he then collapsed at Heathrow Airport in March 2008 while waiting to fly out with Somerset for a pre-season tour to the United Arab Emirates, he formally announced his retirement from international cricket.

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It is discussing a co-operation deal with Emirates, so that passengers from the Gulf carrier can connect in Vienna to fly to other European cities.

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