EMIRATES SET TO CONSOLIDATE FLIGHTS TO 41 DESTINATIONS DURING AIRPORT WORKS
(Posted 18th April 2014)
When on the 01st of May the two runways at Dubai International Airport will undergo scheduled resurfacing and maintenance, an exercise lasting for 80 days until the 20th of July, some 41 destinations will see a reduction of flights from Dubai. Emirates has confirmed that they will ground up to 22 of their aircraft during the work period, which will cost them an estimated 272 million US Dollars in lost revenues.
According to information received will the airline maintain much of their African schedules with Nairobi and the Seychelles, apart from 4 other African destinations, facing reductions of flights. Nairobi will reduce from two per day to one albeit then operated with a B777 instead the present A340, while the Seychelles will see their 12 flights per week reduced to daily services, also using a larger aircraft to make up at least in part for the loss of capacity.
Elsewhere will the two flights a day to Lagos be reduced to just one per day. In South Africa will Johannesburg see their present 3 flights per day reduced to 2 for the duration while flights to Cape Town will be scaled back from presently 2 a day to just one per day. The same fate will befall flights to Cairo which will be cut from 2 a day to just one a day.
The airline’s offices across Africa and local travel agencies are aware of these upcoming changes and will be able to advise travelers accordingly to minimize the impact of the reduction in flights.
Emirates’ cargo flights will all be relocated to the new Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Jebel Ali for the duration. The grounded aircraft will undergo maintenance as well as get various upgrades and cabin interior enhancements, making best use of the downtime the runway repairs are causing. Emirates accounts for half of all traffic at DXB. For more information click on www.emirates.com
