The first of the airline’s new Airbus A350-900 will be used on the Dubai-Adelaide service. Photo: Emirates Airlines
As of December 1, Adelaide will become the first city in Emirates’ global network to receive the airline’s new long-haul Airbus 350-900.
The aircraft’s introduction will also usher in a new premium economy cabin option on the Dubai-Adelaide service.
SA Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison says “it is wonderful” to see the airline launch the A350 into its service in December.
“This investment from an international carrier is an incredible display of confidence in South Australia …” he says.
“The daily direct non-stop Emirates flights are generating more than $62 million per year in tourism expenditure for South Australia … now the flight is even more attractive to potential international visitors.”
The aircraft can stay in the air for up to 15 hours non-stop and has a range of nearly 18,000 kilometres. It can carry 312 passengers.
The airline’s Australasia vice-president, Barry Brown, says the A350’s arrival to Adelaide “has been earmarked for some time”.
“Deploying our first long-range A350 to Adelaide underscores our commitment to South Australia,” he says.
Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox says the new aircraft has more seats, more cabin choice and longer range than the Boeing 777-200 it now uses on the route.
“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,” he says.
In Dubai, the airline’s chief commercial officer, Adnan Kazim, describes the Adelaide deployment of their A350 as “exciting”.
“(It) underscores the importance of Australia as a major eastbound anchor in our network,” he says.
Emirates resumed direct daily flights between Dubai and Adelaide on October 29, 2024, using the Boeing 777.
AIRLINE’S RETROFIT PLANS
The airline also says Perth will become the fourth Australian city to receive its latest-generation A380 as of October 26.
The airline says the A350 is the first new aircraft type to join its fleet since 2008.
It is the most fuel-efficient large wide-body aircraft in commercial service and has the quietest twin-aisle cabin of any aircraft.
The airline is now embarking on a $7.8 billion retrofit of its fleet.
It says that, on average, it takes 22 days to retrofit an Airbus A380 and 18 days for a Boeing 777 with two aircraft rolling out for deployment every month.
