Italian government says Dubai’s airline has asked for more than 50 weekly slots in Milan, Rome, Venice.

ROME - Dubai's Emirates airline has chosen Italy as its European hub and has asked for more than 50 weekly landing slots in Milan, Rome and Venice, the Italian government said Monday.

"Emirates ... has chosen Italy as a hub to access Europe," said Italian UnderSecretary for Economic Development Adolfo Urso in a statement.

"Thanks to this agreement, Italy will more easily become a tourist destination for the newly rich from the Gulf and from southeast Asia."

Urso issued the statement after meeting United Arab Emirates Economy Minister Sultan Ben Said Al-Mansouri for talks in Abu Dhabi.

Government-owned Emirates, which currently has less than 10 landing slots per week in Italy, has asked for 21 slots in Rome, 21 in Milan and 14 in Venice, the statement said.

The group will also launch 28 cargo flights per week.

The deal also covers Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, which is in line for seven landing slots in Rome and the same number in Milan.

Emirates reported earlier this month that its net profit for the first half of the financial year had plummeted 88 percent to 77 million dollars (60 million euros) because of high oil prices.