Emirates Australia network at "optimal point"

Emirates Australia network at "optimal point"
By admin


Emirates is unlikely to expand its Australian footprint after acknowledging that 14 daily flights from Dubai is sufficient to satisfy demand – at least for now.

The carrier operates 84 weekly services to five Australian ports – Adelaide became its latest destination last November – a number which Emirates president Tim Clark described as “optimal at this point”.

With Qantas operating 14 weekly services, the alliance will offer just shy of 100 services each week between Australia and Dubai.

In addition, Clark said Emirates would operate a second daily A380 flight to Sydney from June 1, further increasing capacity.

“We have just opened Adelaide, have a third [flight] into Perth and have a second A380 into Sydney,” Clark said. “We operate 84 services a week now which is pretty significant. With Adelaide as our fifth point I think we’re at a level where the number of points we are serving is probably optimal at this point in time.”

But he added it was still early days for the alliance and left the door open for future expansion should the need arise.

If there is “enormous demand”, Qantas and Emirates would discuss where the growth is coming from and determine how best to serve that demand, he said.

Clark repeated his description of the tie-up as “seismic”, arguing that the aviation world had not “contemplated a partnership of this scale”.

“Neither did they believe an airline like Emirates, traditionally opposed to joining major alliances, constructing a partnership on this basis would ever happen,” he said. “But it was the smart thing to do, and it is the smart thing to do.”

It is a “game changing partnership”, he added.

Customers of both airlines are at the heart of the alliance, Clark continued, with every decision “made, taken and considered” based on providing “added extras” for passengers.

The coming together of the two carriers “provides one of the most formidable aviation networks in the world today”, he said.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • Tour Operators

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours advises final call for Anzac Day 2025

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours has advised that the final call for Anzac Day 2025 is on 31 January 2025 with pre-registration also available for Anzac Day 2026. Travellers are encouraged to book their spot for either the 10-day Anzac Day on the Western Front departing on 19 April from Paris or the 8-day Anzac Day […]

  • Destinations
  • Hotels

Two destinations to visit in Mexico for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and here are two romantic getaway destinations in Mexico to make any traveller’s day with their special someone even better. Casona Roma Norte, Mexico City This Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to visit Mexico City, as the streets come alive with roses, heartfelt gifts, and the city basks in […]

  • Aviation
  • Luxury

Emirates debuts new uniform for Premium and VIP Passenger Services team

Emirates has debuted a new uniform designed for its Premium & VIP Passengers Services team, who are responsible for the seamless transfer of VIPs through Dubai International Airport. The new uniform has echoes of the iconic Emirates cabin crew look, however, exclusively represents Emirates’ elite unit that caters to high profile customers. A new look […]

  • Appointments
  • News

BEIA appoints Rachel Cook as its new chair

The Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Approved Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Group has appointed Rachel Cook as its new chair. Cook is the business director of Conference Innovators (CI) and since joining CI 20 years ago has been instrumental in the company’s continuing growth and success. She plays a pivotal role in building and supporting […]

  • Hotels

Gaya Island Resort unveils its Wildlife Wonders package

Gaya Island Resort has unveiled its Wildlife Wonders package, a meticulously crafted 4-day, 3-night adventure designed for nature enthusiasts eager to discover the island’s rich biodiversity. The resort is nestled on the tranquil shores of Pulau Gaya, the largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park just off Kota Kinabalu. Its location makes it the […]

  • News

New Caledonia is open and ready for business as Smartraveller downgrades warning

Eight months after the civil unrest, the South Pacific destination of New Caledonia has reopened and is ready to welcome Australian tourists. Smartraveller has recently downgraded its travel advice to the destination following the removal of the nation’s curfew on the 2nd of December. The island is currently rated as amber – ‘exercise a high […]

  • Business Travel
  • Hotels

Atura Wellington unveils newly refurbished rooms in the New Zealand hotel

Atura Wellington, the former Thorndon Hotel by Rydges, has unveiled its newly refurbished rooms in the New Zealand hotel. The rooms were completed following a full refurbishment of all public spaces as part of a broader redevelopment plan. All 108 guest rooms have now been upgraded. The hotel is in the historic Thorndon neighbourhood and […]