Emirates to Push on with Australian Routes

[Mike W]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html

Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | November 07, 2008

EMIRATES will push ahead with plans to expand to Australia, despite the global economic uncertainty.

East Asia and Australasia commercial operations senior vice-president Richard Vaughan said demand was softening in some markets but the outlook for Australia was positive and the airline's plans here were on track.

This included the addition in February of a non-stop Brisbane-Dubai Airbus A340-500 service, a non-stop A340-500 Melbourne-Dubai flight, and the start of an A380 superjumbo Dubai-Sydney-Auckland service.

"As far as Australia is concerned, there are no changes for us," Mr Vaughan said.

"We'll be up to 63 flights a week in February and, of course, 28 trans-Tasman."

Mr Vaughan said the airline still had permission to operate more than 63 services to Australia and agreed the market could benefit from the airline's strategy of concentrating on existing routes during the economic crisis.

Long-term plans would depend on aircraft deliveries and markets, but Emirates expected to start A380 services to Melbourne late next year, he said.

"The A380 will replace one of the 340-500s in Melbourne, then at the end of next year you'll see a third Sydney service as well," he said.

Continues

[James Smith]

Saw on Airline Routes Updates that due to the delay of the delivery of the 5th Airbus A380, Emirates is reducing planned Daily A380 Dubai - Sydney - Auckland operation to 3 weekly.

A380 is still scheduled to operate starting 01FEB09, but will only operate on Day 357, with a day 146 arrival into Sydney. Day 1246 from Dubai is operated by Boeing 777-200LR.

Another 777-200LR to Sydney.

[Tim Bowrey]

Yeah due to that Matt Mcdonald, Blake Riley and I are forced to return to Sydney on the 77L rather than the A380 as planned. Still relieved were doing the Inaugural on the 2nd of Feb on the A380.

I was on the phone to EK yesterday and they said that the 1st flight would still depart on the 1st Feb from Dubai and 2nd out of Sydney by A380 but the 2nd flight from the A380 was the 5th of Feb.