Dubai: Emirates is ending flights to Clark, Philippines just seven months after launching the route, the airline stated on Sunday.
“Emirates can confirm that it is suspending its daily, non-stop service between Clark International Airport and Dubai from 1st May 2014,” a spokesperson said.
Emirates launched daily route back in October 2013, operating in addition to its three-times daily Dubai-Manilla route.
The airline has decided to end the route “after a review of the airline’s operations to ensure the best utilisation of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives”.
Clark International Airport is roughly 100 kilometres north of Manilla. The route was launched last year under much fanfare with Emirates executives bullish on its passenger and cargo potential.
The route added around 160 tonnes of cargo capacity each week to the existing Emirates Dubai-Philippines services.
In January aviation analyst CAPA - Centre for Aviation wrote that capacity reductions in the UAE-Philippines market were “inevitable.”
“Fares between Manila and Dubai or Abu Dhabi have dropped as the three Philippine carriers have struggled to fill new A330s ... Losses for all the carriers are likely if current capacity levels are maintained year-round,” it stated.
The Emirates spokesperson stated that it’s three daily non-stop flights between Manila and will continue to operate and that alternative flights will be arranged for impacted passengers who have booked after May 1.
Etihad Airways flies to Manila twice daily.
Qatar Airways operates daily flights to Clark and Manila.
