Emirates will introduce a third daily non-stop service between Dubai and Melbourne, starting in March 2025. The third service will be operated with the Dubai-based megacarrier’s newly retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER, which will feature the airline’s new premium economy cabin plus the latest incarnation of its business class seats.
The airline currently operates two non-stop daily flights between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Melbourne Airport (MEL) using its four-class Airbus A380s. The carrier also operates a daily flight that connects Dubai to Melbourne via Singapore-Changi Airport (SIN) using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. However, with the start of this new direct service, all future operations between Singapore and Melbourne will cease, although the airline will add a fourth direct flight between Dubai and Singapore to compensate.
Starting on March 30, 2025, the four-class Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft will be deployed on flights EK404/405 between Dubai and Melbourne. Flight EK404 will depart from Dubai at 21:15h local time, arriving in Melbourne at 17:40 the following day. The return flight EK405 will depart Melbourne at 23:55 and arrive in Dubai at 07:00 the next day.
According to the airline, the third daily non-stop flight will result in “customers having more convenient schedules and choice, with unrivaled connectivity and travel options via Dubai to 27 European cities served with multiple daily flights including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.”
Emirates’ refurbished Boeing 777 widebodies include 8 first-class suites, 40 business class seats, 24 seats in premium economy, and 256 economy class seats. With the upcoming deployment of Emirates’ four-class Boeing 777 aircraft to and from Melbourne, the airline will offer a total of 3,472 weekly premium economy seats across its Melbourne and Sydney flights combined, rolling out the product more of its passengers flying to and from its two primary Australian gateways.
In addition to another Melbourne service, on December 1, 2024, Emirates reinstated a second daily Perth flight and now offers nearly 12,000 weekly seats to and from the Western Australian city. Emirates flight EK424 departs Dubai at 09:15 arriving in Perth at 00:10. The return flight EK425 departs Perth at 06:00 and arrives in Dubai at 13:10hrs. The flights are operated by three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft accommodating 354 passengers across three cabins (eight in first class, 42 in business class, and 304 in economy).
Additionally, on October 28. 2024, Emirates reinstated direct Dubai to Adelaide services, increasing access to South Australia from a range of worldwide destinations via Dubai. In total, the airline now operates 77 weekly services to and from five Australian gateways – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide from Dubai.
Ongoing commitment to Australia
Emirates has served Australia for almost three decades and according to the carrier, “employs hundreds of Australians” in its activities in the country. The ten-year partnership and codeshare deal between Emirates and Qantas has carried more than 15 million passengers across 543,000 flights in the last ten years.
Under the terms of the agreement, customers of both airlines have access to more than 120 codeshare destinations, including 60 points across Australia and New Zealand. Qantas customers can fly with Emirates to Dubai and access over 65 cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Additionally, the Emirates Group (including handling division dnata) has made an overall investment of over $230 million into a formidable portfolio of sponsorships across sports and art in Australia, including the Australian Open, Collingwood Football Club, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.