Emirates ups capacity, returning Melbourne, Sydney services to pre-pandemic levels

Sydney Australia November 23, 2015 Boeing 777-300 wearing Emirates Airlines livery approaching for landing at Kingsford Smith airport at Dusk , with the city Skyline in the background
By James Harrison


Emirates has taken another step in the resumption of its Australia capacity by increasing its service to two major cities – Sydney and Melbourne.

The airline will also restart services to Christchurch, New Zealand via Sydney, offering a new path for Australians across the trans-Tasman route.

From 26 March, Melbourne will increase from two to three daily services between Emirates’ Dubai hub via Singapore, with a third direct service to also begin to Sydney from 1 May. The service increase follows the airline’s recent announcement around double daily flights to Brisbane, starting from 1 June.

The two services will operate on a three-class Boeing-777 300ER offering passengers economy, business and first class seats.

By mid-year, Emirates will be operating 63 weekly services to Australia with the capacity to transport more than 55,000 passengers per week to and from its major cities, bringing the airline’s Melbourne and Sydney services back to pre-pandemic levels.

The Christchurch service via Sydney, beginning 26 March, will offer the opportunity for passengers between the two cities to fly on an A380.

“Adding a third daily service to Sydney and Melbourne will offer over 500,000 additional seats to and from Australia in a year,” Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer Emirates Airline, said.

“To have the two cities operating back at pre-pandemic frequencies is a phenomenal milestone in our restoration of Australia capacity and testament to our longstanding commitment to flying down under.”

Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus, says “We’re thrilled that Emirates is enhancing its commitment to Melbourne. The resumption of the Melbourne to Singapore route means Emirates will operate three daily flights from Melbourne, returning to pre-Covid levels of capacity.

“It’s great news for customers as it provides extra capacity for the strong demand we’re seeing for travel from Melbourne to Europe and Asia. It’s also great news for Victorian exporters, with the Boeing 777-300 aircraft providing additional freight opportunities into Asia and the Middle East.”

Emirates’ reinstated services

Sydney – Dubai: third daily non-stop service

From 1 May 2023, Emirates will add a third daily flight between Dubai and Sydney, served by a Boeing 777-300ER. Emirates flight EK416 will depart Dubai at 2130hrs, arriving in Sydney at 1720hrs the next day. The return flight EK417, will depart Sydney at 2010hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0430hrs. The airline currently serves Sydney with double daily A380 flights, and both services offer premium economy seats.

Melbourne – Dubai: third daily service via Singapore

Emirates has added a third daily flight to Melbourne via Singapore, starting 26 March 2023. The third flight will operate as EK404 using a Boeing 777-300ER and will depart Dubai at 2115hrs, arriving in Singapore at 0850hrs. The flight will then continue on to Melbourne taking off at 1025hrs from Singapore, arriving at 2035hrs local time. The return service to Dubai EK405 takes off from Melbourne at 0325hrs, arriving in Singapore at 0815hrs. The flight will then take off for Dubai at 0940hrs, arriving at 1300hrs local time.

 Restart of Christchurch via Sydney

Emirates will restart services to Christchurch via Sydney from 26 March 2023, and the A380 flight will operate as EK412 an EK413. Emirates flight EK412 departs Dubai at 1015hrs, arriving in Sydney at 0700hrs. The flight will then continue, taking off from Sydney at 0845hrs, arriving in Christchurch at 1350hrs. EK413 will then depart Christchurch at 1820hrs, arriving in Sydney at 1940hrs. The final leg of EK413 will depart to Dubai at 2145hrs, arriving at 0515hrs local time.

Featured Image: Emirates Boeing 777-300 landing at Kingsford Smith (iStock/Boeing746)

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