The first of Emirates’ new A350-LR aircraft starts on the Adelaide route, with the lure of less jet lag
In a major coup for South Australia, the first of Emirates’ new long-range A350 aircraft for the Adelaide-Dubai route arrived overnight. See the details.
Adelaide’s international aircraft bonanza has taken another flying leap with Emirates starting the first of its new generation A350-LR aircraft on the Adelaide to Dubai route – with the prospect of less jet lag.
In a triumph for Adelaide Airport and SA’s tourism industry, the huge international airline chose the Adelaide route as the first in the world for the long-range version of its new generation aircraft.
The giant aircraft, which comes with a premium economy cabin, landed on Monday night.
It replaces the Boeing 777-200LR which now fly Adelaide-Dubai after Emirates resumed flights to Adelaide in October 2024 after pausing in 2020 when the pandemic hit.
Emirates’ first short and medium haul A350s entered service from January 2025, but Adelaide is the first city in its network to receive the Airbus A350-900ULR long-range version.
It features business, premium economy and economy classes accommodating 298 passengers.
Emirates’ divisional vice president Australasia Barry Brown told The Advertiser Adelaide is an important market for leisure, and business travellers as well as freight including seafood, beef, lamb and wine.
“This is a much quieter aircraft, more luxurious, the on-board ambience is nice – passengers will arrive feeling more refreshed,” he said.
“Adelaide is hugely important for us as a leisure market but also for companies like Santos, BHP, Saab and so on.
“People will jump at the premium economy cabin, bookings are really strong.”
Mr Brown noted federal Trade Minister, SA Senator Don Farrell, and Premier Peter Malinauskas lobbied hard for Adelaide to get the A350.
Dennis Bunnik from Bunnik Tours who has reviewed Emirates A350 on his YouTube site said it would be a much better aircraft for Adelaide economically but also from a customer experience.
“The A350 is pressurised to a lower altitude so is more comfortable to fly, it is also quieter so you arrive in your destination less tired,” he said.
“We get Emirates premium economy for the first time and it is excellent – it sets the standard for the industry these days.
“It also will be Emirates’ latest economy class product and they do long haul economy class well, with the world’s best in-flight entertainment system.
“Business class on the A350 will be a big improvement on the current 777 business class product.”
The new aircraft comes amid a plane rush of services to Adelaide including new Qantas and Air New Zealand services, the return of Cathay Pacific, United Airlines starting a San Francisco link in December, China Southern resuming Guangzhou services, China Eastern planning a Shanghai service from mid-2026, and Malaysia Airlines increasing Kuala Lumpur services from February.
Mr Bunnik said Adelaide Airport and the state government deserve a massive thanks from tourism operators, the travelling public and exporters who now have the most choice they have ever had.
“This really negates the need to fly domestically to connect to international flights so it is important that we support these new direct services,” he said.
International routes operating or scheduled that directly connect Adelaide Airport to the world are:
Qatar Airways: Doha
Emirates: Dubai
Singapore Airlines: Singapore
Malaysia Airlines: Kuala Lumpur
Fiji Airways: Nadi
Jetstar: Denpasar
Indonesia AirAsia: Denpasar
Air New Zealand: Auckland
Air New Zealand: Christchurch (seasonal)
China Southern Airlines: Guangzhou (seasonal)
Qantas: Auckland (seasonal)
Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong
United Airlines: San Francisco (starting December 2025, seasonal)
China Eastern: Shanghai (from mid-2026)
Originally published as The first of Emirates’ new A350-LR aircraft starts on the Adelaide route, with the lure of less jet lag
