Emirates to resume direct Adelaide to Dubai flights

The move is tipped to pour millions of dollars into SA tourism as a major new direct route returns.

International airline Emirates has officially reinstated its direct services to and from Adelaide, a move tipped to put millions of dollars back into the state’s tourism industry.

The Dubai-Adelaide return service kicked off on October 28 via a Boeing 777-200LR in a multimillion-dollar sign of confidence in the state’s post-pandemic recovery.

The first plane was expected to land back in Adelaide on Monday, having travelled just over 12 hours from Dubai.

Dubai bound passengers will then jet off on the same aircraft from Adelaide from about 10.40pm.

An Emirates flight landing in Adelaide. Picture Supplied

One passenger at Adelaide Airport on Monday, Owen Wood, said he hoped the resumption of the route would bring down ticket prices.

“I think people will get a little bit cheaper flights, which I think has been over the top, so hopefully it’s all good,” Mr Wood said.

“A major airline like Emirates with a record like they have and the services that we all know they provide,” another passenger said.

In March 2020, Emirates pulled out of the Adelaide market due as the Covid-19 pandemic shut down global travel.

Tourism spending from daily direct Emirates flights is estimated to generate more than $62m per year and create more than 315 full-time equivalent tourism-related jobs for South Australians.

The value of freight exports is estimated to be $98m per year, bringing the total estimated expenditure generated by daily Emirates flights to Adelaide to $160m.

Originally published as Emirates to resume direct Adelaide to Dubai flights