Emirates slashes Australia flights
In a decision that is likely to cause a further bottleneck for Aussie travellers stranded overseas, Emirates is suspended most flights to Australia.
The gulf carrier said it is halting flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The sudden move comes as Australia drastically reduced the number of daily passengers allowed into the country.
The cancellations, which took effect starting on 16 January, will continue ‘until further notice’ due to ‘operational reasons.’
That leaves only Emirates’ Dubai-Perth route still operating, which flies twice a week.
There are thought to be more than 30,000 Australians still overseas wanting to come home.
"Australia remains an important market for Emirates. We continue to serve Perth with twice-weekly flights and we are working hard to prepare for the resumption of services to our other points," the airline said.
The cap on inbound travellers was reduced last week ‘to manage the flow of returning Australians and other travellers who have been potentially exposed to the new variants,’ Aussie PM Scot Morrison said.
Australia remains an important market for Emirates," the business said in a statement. "We continue to serve Perth with twice-weekly flights and we are working hard to prepare for the resumption of services to our other points."
Meanwhile Australia is planning another 20 chartered repatriation flights to get more Australians home.
They will operate from ‘priority areas from around the world’ such as the US and UK, said Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.
They will operate over the next two months, he said.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025