Adelaide: Emirates on Thursday launched its first commercial flight from Dubai to Adelaide in South Australia.
Initially Emirates will operate four times weekly service on the route using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, increasing to daily services from February 1, 2013.
“Emirates has long held ambitions to operate flights to Adelaide so it is exciting to be here as we look forward to the benefits that will flow from this launch, which includes publicising ‘destination Adelaide’ across our ever expanding network,” said Salem Obaidullah, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Far East and Australasia.
Passengers on board were happy to fly directly to Adelaide from Dubai, which some said they were long looking forward to. “More than that, the efficient and pleasing service of the crew made the travel more than enjoyable,” said one of the business class passengers onboard Emirates’ flight on Thursday.
“In comparison to Australia’s other capital cities, Adelaide is underserved by international carriers, relative to its population size. When our service goes daily from February 1, it will mean nearly 5,000 additional international seats per week on the route, representing a 30 per cent increase for the market, which will boost jobs and investment in South Australia’s A$5.3 billion tourism sector, and with trade benefiting from the 14 tons of commercial cargo space on each flight,” said Obaidullah.
The service is expected to carry more than 200,000 passengers per year between Adelaide and Dubai, with the UK and Europe expected to be strongest markets for both inbound and outbound travel. It will also open up Adelaide’s first direct flight links with the Middle East, leading to increased opportunities for local businesses and exporters.
