Emirates’ Australia services look set to continue expanding following the confirmation of a third daily flight being added to its Dubai-Brisbane route starting December 1.
The move follows Emirates’ announcement late last month that it would be replacing the B777-300ER on its Dubai-Melbourne route with its high-capacity A380 next March, turning the route into an all-A380 service.
The new non-stop EK430/EK431 flights will join the route’s own existing A380 service – also non-stop – along with a direct B777-300ER service that stops through Singapore. Emirates will be operating the third daily route using its B777-200LR – the smallest of the three in terms of overall capacity, being laid out in a 266-seat, three-class set up with eight first, 42 business and 216 economy seats.
“More and more international travellers are choosing Brisbane as their main port of entry into Australia and Emirates’ third daily flight will certainly help meet the increased demand created by this influx,” said Brisbane Airport Corporation managing director, Julieanna Alroe.
“Importantly, three times daily direct flights will help further stimulate international travel between Queensland and Dubai Airport, a global hub which holds the title of being the busiest airport in the world, welcoming more than 83 million passengers last year.
The route changes come as Emirates weathers what it described as “a turbulent year for aviation and travel”, reporting a 70 per cent drop in profits in its recent annual report.
