Emirates has taken the final step in the restoration of its Australia capacity announcing its return to Adelaide with a daily service from Dubai starting on October 28, 2024.

The reinstated service will facilitate the growing travel demand to and from South Australia and allow passengers to travel conveniently between more than 140 destinations across Emirates’ global network, offering a wide range of choice, flexibility, and connectivity.

Emirates first launched its Adelaide services in 2012 and carried more than 165,000 passengers between Dubai and Adelaide in 2019.

By 1 December, when Emirates also reinstates its second daily service to Perth, the airline will offer 77 weekly flights from Australia with the ability to transport 68,000 passengers per week to and from Australia, returning to its pre-pandemic capacity.

“Reinstating Emirates flights to Adelaide has been a key priority for the State Government,” said South Australia Premier, Peter Malinauskas.

“Emirates once again flying daily direct into Adelaide will further drive South Australia’s economic growth – set to deliver an estimated AU$160 million in tourism expenditure and freight exports and create more than 315 full-time tourism-related jobs for South Australians.

“The Emirates service has been very much missed by South Australians – recommencing daily flights will make Adelaide easier to reach from key long-haul markets and make doing business with our state easier.”

South Australian Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, added: “This is a major recovery milestone for our state’s tourism industry, providing a crucial link into South Australia’s traditionally strong European markets, as well as the UK, Middle East, India, and the east coast of the US.

“The reinstatement of direct daily Emirates flights into Adelaide is expected to generate more than $62 million in tourism expenditure alone – a major boost to our state’s visitor economy.

“It is exciting that South Australia will once again feature in Emirates’ global marketing programs, getting more eyes around the world on SA and helping drive an increase in visitors to our state.”

Operating daily on the Boeing 777-200LR aircraft with 38 Business Class seats alongside 264 seats in Economy Class, the Adelaide service will offer 302 seats per flight and over 4,200 weekly seats between Dubai and Adelaide.

Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Australasia, Barry Brown, said: “The return of Emirates to Adelaide has been highly anticipated by passengers and industry for some time.

“We are equally as excited to again service South Australia and provide the state with opportunities across leisure, culture and tourism and support trade growth opportunities through our connection to Dubai and onwards to destinations worldwide.

“The return of our Adelaide service completes our current footprint in Australia serving five points across the country. With special thanks to our partners at the South Australian Tourism Commission and Adelaide Airport, we could not be prouder to be fulfilling Emirates’ commitment to Australia.

“We’re already looking ahead to welcoming our first passengers from Adelaide on board in October.”