Emirates cuts flights from Sydney, Perth

By David Flynn, January 13 2019

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Emirates is reducing flights from Sydney and Perth in a series of "adjustments through the year in response to dynamic market conditions."

The Gulf airline and Qantas partner will cut its Perth flights back to a single daily service from March 31 with the axing of flight EK424/EK425. This will leave the sole Perth-Dubai flight as the Airbus A380 service EK420/EK421.

Last year saw Emirates announce plans to trim its Perth schedule to 11 flights per week on a seasonal basis by dropping EK424/EK425 to run only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, but as of the end of March this flight is being scrapped for good.

Emirates will also drop the Sydney-Bangkok-Dubai stopover service EK418/EK419 as of June 1, 2019, which will see Emirates' Sydney-Dubai route reduced to three – albeit non-stop – flights per day.

"Customers wishing to travel between Bangkok and Sydney will have flight choices provided by Emirates’ partner Qantas," the airline said.

These changes follow a schedule shake-up for Emirates' Australia flights announced in September 2018 which impacted Airbus A380 flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

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49 Comments

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bodez

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bodez

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

16 Apr 2013

Total posts 29

Very interesting to see that the SIN-MEL tag survived this round of cuts.

Sunday, 13 Jan 2019, 11:54:01 pm

TJS

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TJS

14 Jun 2018

Total posts 9

As well as SIN-BNE

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 07:43:01 am

maabbot

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maabbot

06 Feb 2014

Total posts 91

very disappointing. Since the Qantas /Emirates "alliance" Emirates has now dropped Perth from 3x daily (with 2 A380s) to 1 x A380.

Can't say Perth travellers have got much of out that alliance.

Sunday, 13 Jan 2019, 11:54:01 pm

DanV

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DanV

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Nov 2017

Total posts 105

The start of the PER-LHR non-stops would've played a role in the cuts as well. It's one of QF's highest yielding flights IIRC.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 12:01:01 am

aklrunway

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aklrunway

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 May 2011

Total posts 331

If the demand was there, the wouldn’t cut them

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 05:49:01 am

John Phelan

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John Phelan

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 317

Hmmm, I'm booked to fly EK SYD-BKK at the end of June, about 4 weeks after the service is cut. So if I'm now to go on QF, departure changes from early evening to 9.30am!!! Annoying, because the evening service has always been my preferred timing.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 01:16:01 am

MEL Traveller

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MEL Traveller

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 Dec 2014

Total posts 55

I hope that QF introduces a bigger plane - A380 or 787 - on QF23/24 given the demand will increase. Or even better for me would be introduce a MEL-BKK service.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 01:56:01 am

DanV

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DanV

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Nov 2017

Total posts 105

787 would be a capacity decrease on SYD-BKK, as the 787s are premium heavy configured. BKK is traditionally a low yielding market and QF would struggle to fill the premium seats.

Perhaps JQ on SYD-BKK or increasing the existing MEL-BKK (complimenting the existing QF23/QF24) would help with the lost capacity, which is mostly Y flyers on low-yielding/budget tickets anyway.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 07:15:01 am

SYDINI

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SYDINI

16 Jan 2018

Total posts 66

I’m thinking the additional Perth flight cancellation will be because of the QF 787 Paris flight on the cards. QF will probably go double daily on the BKK flight as well and codeshare twice a day with EK. Win win for both airlines on the BKK flights. On the Perth cancellation though I’d say only QF is a winner if that materialises.

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 01:21:01 am

Kevin Luke

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Kevin Luke

05 Sep 2011

Total posts 1

The suspension of EK418/419 services is extremely disappointing as the flight times have been ideal for me over the years particularly as I connect in and out of CBR. In a day or two EK is altering the aircraft type on the SYD-BKK sector from a A380 to a B777 and from June maybe to a Qantas A330. Importantly, Emirates need to confirm there will be no reduction in Skywards Tier Miles/Miles should one elects to fly on a partner airline?

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 04:08:01 am

squeeowl

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squeeowl

04 Jun 2018

Total posts 7

The permanent cancelation of EK424/EK425 doesn't surprise me. While the service is busy a few months of the year, for most of 2018 the load factor of this service was well under 50% (and often lower - during off peak months this service often operated with somewhere between 60 and 90pax) even when EK was running 777-200LRs. The service is full 3 to 4 months of the year, so it wouldn't surprise me if it returns on a seasonal only basis in the future.

Still, to think that EK has gone from operating 3x daily 777-300ERs to 1x daily A380 DXB-PER in a little under 4 years... While QR and QF have stepped up competition that is still a lot of capacity that has vanished in a few years (especially consider PER has lost EY as well last year).

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 04:41:01 am

PERflyer

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PERflyer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

15 Aug 2017

Total posts 80

Agree with you but I think DXB has lost its lustre a bit as a destination. Sure you cannot deny it’s superb geographical location for transits especially Aus to Europe. I’m finding myself either on the non stop flight to LHR or going via SIN or HKG simply because I want to stop there instead of Dubai if not going non stop. I also think EK we’re guilty of flooding the market a bit when they had all these flights on with crazy capacity. Now seems they are more yield focussed.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 08:31:01 am

Tube1

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Tube1

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 1

Cutting the SYD-BKK service was a real shock. I flew it in mid December and am flying on EK419 again tomorrow night. Since they changed from an A380 to a B777, loadings looked solid. I don’t know how the loadings looked between BKK - DXB. EK has been cutting in this part of the world for a while now, NZ services got hit hard last year. Is there any part of the world that EK is adding services?

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 07:10:01 am

tattyhead

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tattyhead

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Jul 2017

Total posts 4

This is quite disappointing given that Thai has also recently cut their afternoon SYD-BKK flight. I was booked on that flight and then changed to the morning flight. A day before I flew, Thai called and offered to change me to Emirates (assume Thai was buying the seat) because C & F were overbooked. The return flight was also full. One aging 747 and an A330 a day is not good enough from Sydney to Bangkok.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 07:13:01 am

RTWFF

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RTWFF

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 Sep 2011

Total posts 85

The Thai community in Sydney is going to be disappointed by this decision - many prefer EK over TG

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 08:16:01 am

DGP

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DGP

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

17 Jan 2012

Total posts 169

Hopefully this will be the incentive for TG to improve their offering to Sydney. Maybe they will move forward now with the rumoured double daily A359 to replace the B744? Even though there are a lot of B744 lovers out there....a replacement of this aircraft type to a A359 would be a huge upgrade for passengers.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 10:00:01 am

johnaboxall

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johnaboxall

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 725

And SQ keeps on keeping on.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 08:42:01 am

Trogdor

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Trogdor

11 Dec 2015

Total posts 68

Certainly from the Perth POV it looks like Qantas' direct London flights may be starting to have an impact.

Will be interesting to see what happens if Qantas pushes ahead with its plans for the Perth mini-hub and direct Paris and Frankfurt flights.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 09:28:01 am

Ozshanel

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Ozshanel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

08 Dec 2014

Total posts 30

Unfortunately that will be dependant on Perth Airport who are desperately trying to prevent it from happening.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 10:12:01 am

Mark1

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Mark1

20 Jun 2016

Total posts 2

This is disappointing news, particularly as I’m booked on EK419 in F later in the year. I’m not sure Qantas will be able to offer anything close to replace it. First Emirates take away the chauffeur, now they take away the plane, this is not good!

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 11:32:01 am

NLF

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NLF

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

16 Jun 2016

Total posts 15

Mark1 - the Chauffeur Drive offering hasn't changed on paid tickets. Only on redemption tickets.

Thursday, 24 Jan 2019, 09:53:01 am

Red Cee

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Red Cee

15 Feb 2018

Total posts 45

Emirates would be looking at the overall financial return before making these decisions. Obviously the flights weren’t making money, so why keep them? It is an ideal opportunity for Qantas to increase its BKK services.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 12:01:01 pm

SuzanneCromie

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SuzanneCromie

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 14

Qantas have already jacked the fares up after Emirates stops

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 09:27:01 pm

Chris_PER

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Chris_PER

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

19 Feb 2014

Total posts 451

This is reflective with the swap in fare prices, with QR now becoming a lot more expensive ex-Perth. Looks like QR is mopping up those remaining passengers quite nicely.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 12:01:01 pm

squeeowl

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squeeowl

04 Jun 2018

Total posts 7

This is very much apparent as QR only promised A380 service to Perth until October 2018, but now it appears to be a permanent change. The load factors have been extremely high (90%+) in the last few months which would indicate they won't be going back to 777s any time soon.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 04:45:01 pm

aniljak

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aniljak

15 Sep 2012

Total posts 84

Have to cut schedules as runway closed at Dubai in April and May for works

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 12:46:01 pm

aklrunway

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aklrunway

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 May 2011

Total posts 331

This is a permanent cancellation, not a temporary reduction

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 12:51:01 pm

simiguelito47

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simiguelito47

Asiana Airlines - Asiana Club

09 Feb 2017

Total posts 41

Was only a matter of time on the SYD-BKK. I wonder who would want to arrive somewhere at 1.30 am if they had the choice? Would always go for SQ or TG on the sector, the stopover made no difference especially against the quality.

Reminded me of the old SQ flights from Narita touching down at 3 am - why, when you could save time going to Haneda, flying out at midnight, and landing in SIN at a more reasonable hour?

To those who have flown 418/419, what were the load factors like?

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 02:59:01 pm

SuzanneCromie

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SuzanneCromie

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 14

I took this flight every 6 weeks and Business Class was always 80 percent full or higher.

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 09:23:01 pm

MikeMac

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MikeMac

19 Mar 2018

Total posts 2

I am so disappointed with the cancellation of EK418/419. I took that flight 6 times last year, the load factors in J were pretty low, that's true, but Y looked full - the Thais really do prefer Emirates from Thai in economy...The good thing about the low load factors in business was the fact that one could use their QFF points on Emirates premium cabins out of Sydney, there were much more seats available on EK than on QF on that route

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 04:33:01 pm

SuzanneCromie

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SuzanneCromie

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 14

Shocking decision to cut flights to Bangkok. I cannot stand Qantas, the A330 and the lazy hide behind the curtain (read magazines and chat) business class service

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 09:21:01 pm

SuzanneCromie

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SuzanneCromie

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 14

Take a look at Qantas business class fares in second half of 2019. They are already on the gouge, up $1200 to $1500 return over current $3100 return. Looks like Thai will be swamped, At least the Thai crew smile and don’t hide behind curtains and their gates are close to Immigration

Monday, 14 Jan 2019, 09:25:01 pm

aklrunway

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aklrunway

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 May 2011

Total posts 331

So an airline cuts a route, places their passengers on their partner airline hence filling seats on that airline and you don’t think fares will rise? Supply and demand...

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 05:54:01 am

josh559

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josh559

01 Jun 2017

Total posts 6

Wow. emirates EK 419 Sydney to Bangkok was all ways full They have to many flights around the same time 6 am then 5 pm then 10 pm 7.30 pm via Bangkok The 5 pm should be 12 or 2 pm

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 03:27:01 am

josh559

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josh559

01 Jun 2017

Total posts 6

The 5 pm on 777 should be axed the 10 pm is A380

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 03:30:01 am

AfricaTraveller

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AfricaTraveller

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

20 Jan 2018

Total posts 30

Good ol' Qantas eh. Predatory and ordinary. I couldn't agree more with SuzanneCromie's sentiments

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 04:49:01 am

oliverfreeman

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oliverfreeman

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Dec 2017

Total posts 6

As a regular flyer between PER-LHR, I always take QR. Their J and Y are at a high load factor even in a typically low yield part of the year their flight time leaving Perth is the same as EK but the J flights and the Y flights are always cheaper. QR is wanting to expand more in a Australia but they can’t. It will be interesting to see if they opt to add technical stops for flights they can’t add because they are maxed out. EK is expanding in other parts of the World.

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 12:46:01 pm

jasepalm

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jasepalm

03 Nov 2018

Total posts 2

Is the SYD-CHC leg impacted by this change?

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019, 09:57:01 pm

evilbrian

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evilbrian

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

07 Sep 2012

Total posts 151

No Jasepalm - that flight number is EK 412/413, but given the light loads on that flight at times, it'll probably be the next to go. I'm told that flight has quite a big freight component out of CHC sending delicious fresh chilled Kiwi food to the Middle East, so maybe that's enough to keep it viable for the time being. I'll really miss it when it's eventually gone.

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 03:49:01 pm

NLF

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NLF

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

16 Jun 2016

Total posts 15

No, the SYD/CHC is a continuation of EK412/413 so not affected.

Thursday, 24 Jan 2019, 09:56:01 am

Doktor

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Doktor

24 Jan 2018

Total posts 3

Just to remind everyone, airline alliances are about maximising each other's profit, not conveniencing each other's clients.

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 02:36:01 pm

biggles69

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biggles69

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Oct 2015

Total posts 26

How can QF's single daily 330 cope with SYD traffic being shed by Emirates, especially as TG is now down to 1 flight a day ? Surely either QF or TG will increase capacity??

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 02:56:01 pm

heathcor

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heathcor

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Oct 2012

Total posts 16

Yes its short sighted to cut the SYD / BKK flights... For Mel oneworld travellers it now restricts options to either head up to Sydney on an early morning flight to connect to QF23 (seriously Qantas bring back a direct flight to BKK); or go via singapore. and no Jetstar is not an option... the later Emirates flight was a good option...

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 03:04:01 pm

P1

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P1

24 Apr 2017

Total posts 37

interesting, the EK418/EK419 A380 used to go to from Sydney to Auckland too, and that was scrapped a year ago, giving the route to Qantas, now the entire route is being scrapped, giving Qantas that as well, and even more passengers...

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 03:58:01 pm

CitizenF

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CitizenF

11 Jan 2017

Total posts 15

Such a frustrating news- Now only TG that offers First Class service, and it seems like they will stop that soon along with their classic B747.

No more F on direct and non-stop flight between Sydney and Bangkok is quite surprising considering both cities are this important for its regions.

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 04:07:01 pm

athols

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athols

27 May 2016

Total posts 5

I seem to recall the 3rd daily EK flight ex Perth was a result of the delay in A380 bay being finished when EK wanted to introduce A380. (about 18 mths delay) Once the new gate opened the mid afternoon flight was dropped - pity it was as it was a great time to leave if terminating or laying over in Dubai. I guess the death knell has come with QR introducing A380 as well on almost same timing as EK A380 service and the popularity of the QF PER LHR service. Although handy for building status credits and points the QF EK alliance has been very limiting for QFFs as no upgrades available on non QF equip and no PE on EK. My corp budget only allows PE which makes all the difference. Plus very limited QF code shares into Africa where most of my business is done. Just Nairobi and Accra. QF certainly dispensed with Perth when it suited but slowly that is rebuilding.

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2019, 05:29:01 pm

Melvin

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Melvin

01 Jun 2017

Total posts 9

I seriously wonder how Emirates is going to reduce flights to 3x daily from 4 without altering the timing. Currently, the flight DXB-BKK-SYD (which to be cut for good) becomes SYD-DXB (departs SYD 1600); and the DXB-SYD(departs DXB 2130) becomes SYD-BKK-DXB. Unless Emirates is also thinking of culling CHC then this is possible to maintain the existing timing of all its direct flights; i.e. DXB - SYD ===> SYD - DXB

Flight 1: 10:00 - 06:30 ===> 16:00 - 00:00

Flight 2: 02:00 - 22:30 ===> 06:00 - 13:00

Flight 3: 21:30 - 18:00 ===> 21:30 - 05:30

The other option is for Emirates to follow Brisbane's timing to be as such:

DXB - SYD ===> SYD - DXB

Flight 1: 10:00 - 06:30 ===> 21:30 - 05:30 (enroute CHC)

Flight 2: 02:00 - 22:30 ===> 06:00 - 13:00

Flight 3: 21:30 - 18:00 ===> 22:30 - 06:30

Monday, 21 Jan 2019, 07:13:01 pm

SuzanneCromie

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SuzanneCromie

14 Jan 2019

Total posts 14

See QANTAS has already jacked up the business class fares from SYD to BKK post June 1 (when EK stops) Like 48%!! $4600 v $3100 return. Looks like Thai is the way to go. at $2650 return. I can buy a lot of tailor made clothes for $2000.

Thursday, 24 Jan 2019, 10:03:01 am