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Adelaide will be the first destination to see Emirates’ new fleet of long-range Airbus A350s.
Flights with Emirates’ new Airbus A350-900ULR variant, which can stay in the air up to 15 hours, will launch on the EK440/441 Adelaide-Dubai service from 1 December, or earlier if the first of the planes comes sooner.
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“Deploying our first long-range A350 to Adelaide is an exciting development and underscores the importance of Australia as a major eastbound anchor in our network. It also represents our commitment to delivering the best possible long-haul experience on our latest generation aircraft,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, said.
Brenton Cox, managing director of Adelaide Airport, said the A350s, which include premium economy, will offer “more seats, more cabin choice and longer range than the current Boeing 777-200LR”.
“The introduction of Premium Economy seats is a significant upgrade and we think will prove very popular with South Australian travellers,” Cox said.
“These new generation aircraft are a game changer because they are ideally suited for connecting Adelaide with cities around the globe due to their size and range.”
Additionally, Perth will be the fourth Australian city to see flights from Emirates’ refurbished A380s, which will take over the EK420/421 service starting 26 October or sooner.
“The latest rollout of refurbished Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s and new A350s offer more opportunities for customers in over 70 dynamic cities and growing economies to enjoy our latest generation premium onboard experience combined with our award-winning service,” Kazim said.
Emirates relaunched non-stop flights from Dubai to Adelaide last October after a four-year hiatus.
This is the first time Emirates has served Adelaide since it halted flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and the South Australian Tourism Commission expects the route to generate more than $62 million per year for the state’s economy.
“This reconnection to Dubai and beyond will benefit our economy, creating jobs and opening up new opportunities for trade and tourism,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said at the time.
“With an estimated $160 million annual economic impact, including $62 million in tourism expenditure, this service will play a crucial role in our state’s growth. This is a clear vote of confidence in South Australia’s future, and we’re ready to make the most of it.”
Emirates is a codeshare partner of Qantas, which is yet to resume international services from Adelaide in its own right, though subsidiary Jetstar operates flights to Bali.
Premier Malinauskas in 2023 called on the Flying Kangaroo to bring back Qantas-branded international flights out of Adelaide, which have not been seen since the axing of a Singapore service in 2013.
