Emirates has announced that flights EK408 and EK409 will begin operating as nonstop services from Dubai from 30 October, instead of going via Kuala Lumpur.
The airline said the change improves one-stop connectivity on its Melbourne flights from its six UK gateways – Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Manchester.
The flight changes will save passengers approximately two and half hours in travel time in each direction.
Operated by an Emirates B777-300ER aircraft, EK408 will depart Dubai at 03:00hrs and arrive in Melbourne at 23:20hrs.
The return flight, EK409, will leave Melbourne at 06:00hrs and land in Dubai at 13:05hrs.
It means that from October 30, the airline’s four daily services will include two daily nonstop flights to Melbourne from Dubai on Emirates and one flight on Qantas aircraft, as well as one daily Emirates flight to Melbourne from Dubai that operates via Singapore.
From this date, passengers travelling to Malaysia will continue to be able travel to the country on Emirates’ three daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from Dubai, two of which operate on Emirates 777-300ER and one an A380.
Emirates is currently working with travel agents and tour operators to find alternative travel plans for passengers booked for travel to Kuala Lumpur on the EK408 or EK409 services after October 30.
