Emirates has announced adjustments to its operational schedules in 2019 to minimise the impact of the closure of Dubai International Airport’s Southern Runway in April and May 2019.
The airline also outlined its fleet plans for the year, and will step up services to Ghana, beginning 2nd June, 2019.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said a significant number of scheduled Emirates flights will be impacted by the closure of Dubai International Airport’sSouthern Runway for maintenance work between 16 April and 30 May 2019.
Given the limitations around operating flights using a single runway at its hub, many Emirates flights will be cancelled, re-timed or have the operating aircraft changed in order to reduce impact on customers.
This will result in up to 48 Emirates aircraft not being utilised, with a 25% reduction in the overall number of flights operated by the airline during the 45-day period.
2019 network adjustments
Emirates will deploy additional flights to several markets in Africa, starting in June 2019.
From 2nd June 2019, Emirates will also augment its current flight frequency to Accra with four additional Boeing 777-300ER flights a week bringing Emirates’ total service to 11 weekly flights.
The extra frequency that will increase Emirates’ weekly passenger and cargo capacities to Ghana, is responding to the strong demand to Emirates top destinations from Ghana, which include the UAE, China, USA, Singapore, India and London.
For Abuja, Nigeria, three additional flights will be operated every week on Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to Abuja starting 01 June 2019, increasing the frequency to the Nigerian city to a daily service; while for Casablanca, Morocco, Emirates will operate a second daily flight starting 01 June 2019 to Casablanca.
The service will be operated by Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which will complement the airline’s existing daily Airbus A380 flight.
In Conakry, Guinea and Dakar, Senegal,they will be serviced by one additional linked flight every week starting 01 June 2019 on Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Multiple destinations across Europe will also be served by additional Emirates flights during peak travel season leading up to and lasting through the summer of 2019.