Emirates Airline granted rights to operate Additional Flights to Australia

Emirates Airline has been granted rights to operate additional flights from Dubai into Australia, after the successful negotiations between the governments of Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai-based Emirates will gradually increase its frequency to the four cities it currently serves – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – and the new agreement will allow Emirates to grow its services from 49 flights a week to 84 flights a week between now and 2011. This will mark an increase of 71% in its services to Australia.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, said, “We thank the Australian Government, airport authorities and the other key stakeholders for their support of our long-term commitment to Australia. Emirates would also like to thank the UAE government for their efforts to conclude these negotiations successfully. While we are yet to finalise our roll-out plan and schedules, our additional flights will boost tourism, trade and business between Australia and the Middle East, and will provide Australian exporters an extensive network of markets globally.”

Australia is an important tourism and trade market for Emirates customers worldwide and the airline has been actively growing its services to the country since the launch of its operations to Australia in 1996.

Emirates currently serves Australia with double dailies to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and a daily flight to Brisbane. In the last decade, the airline has welcomed over two and a half million passengers on its Australian flights. Emirates is a key player in Australia's multi-billion dollar trade relationship with the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region.

Emirates has invested over A$1 billion in Australia in the last decade, including a dedicated Emirates Lounge in each of its four destinations in the country. The airline sponsors some of the most high-profile sports events such as the Emirates Melbourne Cup, Emirates Western Force, Collingwood Football Club, and the Australian Jockey Club; and the symphony orchestras in Sydney, Melbourne and Western Australia. Emirates also sponsors Cricket Australia and the prominent Fly Emirates branding can be seen on the sleeve of the Australian team currently playing at the World Cup in the West Indies.

The airline also invested over A$65 million in the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in New South Wales.

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