Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is celebrating 20 years of operations to Brisbane. Since its inaugural flight in October 2003 on an A330-200, the airline has carried more than five million passengers on over 23,000 flights to and from the river city.
Over the past two decades, Queenslanders have explored the world with Emirates, with top overseas destinations for Queensland locals being London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Dubai and Rome. While solo travellers accounted for 42% of passengers, couples (32%) and families (15%) are also amongst Queensland’s globe trotters.
Emirates began flying its iconic A380 to Brisbane in 2016, offering passengers spacious and comfortable cabins, and its signature products including the Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa.
Earlier this year, on 1 June, Emirates introduced a second daily flight to and from Brisbane with a Boeing 777-300ER, doubling capacity through Brisbane and adding more than a quarter of a million seats per year, both ways. The additional service, combined with Emirates’ daily A380 to Brisbane, means Emirates offers almost 12,000 seats to and from the city every week, supporting tourism into Queensland, renowned for its beautiful beaches, otherworldly outback, and bustling cities.
Emirates flights also bolster trade and business opportunities for Queenslanders by facilitating substantial cargo imports and exports to Brisbane. In the last 15 years, the airline’s freight division, SkyCargo, has carried close to 250,000 tonnes of goods to and from Brisbane on its A380 and 777-300ER aircraft. Top exports from Brisbane are chilled meat, including beef and lamb, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, and tea. The airline also regularly carries high value pharmaceuticals, in addition to industrial parts and equipment. Top imports to Brisbane include laboratory ship spares and aircraft parts, fresh cut flowers, and e-commerce items such as shoes, bags, apparel, footwear, and household electronics.
Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Vice President for Australasia, says that the twenty-year milestone is a testament to increased global interest in Brisbane.
“We began operations in Brisbane with a daily flight served by our Airbus A330-200 in 2003, a linked service that stopped in Singapore first and, after arriving in Brisbane, continued onto Auckland. We progressively grew our services, and now operate two flights daily on our flagship A380 and a Boeing 777, highlighting the growth, tourism, and jobs that Emirates has helped bring to the region”, says Mr Barry Brown.
“We’re proud to have served Queenslanders for twenty years and Brisbane has become an important part of Emirates’ success in Australia. We remain committed to Brisbane and Australia, steadfast in supporting travel demand overseas, the revival of tourism, and bolstering trade and business opportunities. We look forward to continuing to offer travellers with access to Brisbane, as well as seamless connections for Queenslanders via our hub in Dubai to Europe, Africa, and other destinations.”
Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Airport Corporation, paid tribute to the airline’s two-decade long commitment to BNE.
“As the only carrier flying A380s to Brisbane, the sight of the Emirates flagship sitting beside our terminal is an ever-present reminder of the benefits the airline delivers to Queensland. Every week, Emirates provides 12,000 seats in and out of Brisbane, connecting Queenslanders to the world and delivering tourists to the Sunshine State. Thank you, Emirates, for two decades of exceptional service to the people of Queensland. As we edge closer to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we look forward to growing this important connection even further.”
Emirates support for Queensland goes beyond aviation, becoming a Partner of the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane in 2022. Emirates is one of the leading supporters of major golf tournaments across the globe and is the Official Airline sponsor of 15 golf events worldwide.
Emirates has been serving Australia for more than 25 years, transporting over 40 million passengers to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and other destinations via its Dubai hub since 1996. Currently operating 63 weekly return services to Australia and offering close to 56,000 seats to and from its four major gateways, Emirates operates three daily return services from Dubai to Melbourne and Sydney, two daily flights to Brisbane, and a daily A380 service to Perth.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
