Emirates ends Melbourne-Singapore route

Disappointing, especially the loss of the civilised daytime flight SIN-MEL.

This flight made more sense pre-COVID when it offered a daytime SIN-MEL sector and a late departure out of MEL that got you into SIN around 1AM but enabled you to work a full day in MEL before flying out.  

Post-COVID, the ridiculous schedule meant it was attractive to no one.  It is no wonder it was easy to find reward seats on the flight.

I have used this service quite a few times over the years, and also the BNE one before it was axed. The main thing enjoyed about it was the timing into SIN, which was why i flew it. The EK 777 J product is tired, angled bed, 7 across - not ideal for an overnight flight.

Agree with @nixjet. I won't miss the 7 across angled beds, but if I'm not wrong, this was the only daytime flight bookable from Singapore to Australia on Qantas. I will miss that.

Used to love this daytime flight back home from Singapore, so much nicer than the later red eye options...

Never been a fan of 'coffin class' on the B777, irrespective of airline or soft-product. Noisy cabin and cramped narrow seats. Perhaps if EK had upgraded their old layout with the current (in progress) refit, it might have garnered a little more popularity.

However, with the return of additional QF A380's from the refit ptoject, I'm wondering if QF *might* be brave enough to provide MEL - SIN travellers with a decent daytime service by flagging in an A380 ?? Years ago pre-COVID, QF ran a similar daytime service ex SIN to SYD, departing SIN around 9:00 am - and it was quite a popular flight. The demographics between SYD and MEL are almost identical, so it would be great to see something like this eventuate.

Would have been nice if they had taken the opportunity to do something innovative and switch MEL for another smaller city they don't currently serve, like CBR perhaps or, at a stretch, NTL. Oh well! 

My recollection is that the SIN-MEL leg pre Covid  was a night time flight leaving at about 10.30pm, with a 6pm MEL departure on the way back.  That was great for Singapore residents as they could do a full day’s work or school before leaving, and on the way back be able have most of the day in Melbourne and still get back to Singapore to get a night’s sleep before work/school the next day.  For a period they used the A380 on this route and it was fabulous in economy.  The shift back to 777s (with 10 abreast in a narrower cabin) and change of flight times made it much less attractive.  Was our preferred option for family travel on this route.

Back in 2015-16 the flight times were:

EK404:   DXB - SIN - MEL   0900 - 2000;  2200 - 0800

EK405:   MEL - SIN - DXB   1800 - 2350;  0130 - 0430

This was popular then and even an A380 was deployed which was amazing.  This schedule also was timed for passengers from MEL going to Colombo (CMB) via SIN (and return) before Sri Lanka Airlines starting direct flights to MEL.  How this flight could dovetail into the Colombo flight was because EK was also doing the route DXB - CMB - SIN that leaves the same time as EK404.  Therefore passengers could do CMB - SIN - MEL and MEL - SIN - CMB.  When direct flights started between CMB and MEL, little incentive to keep this route plus the downside of EK 404/405's timing meant the aircraft would sit idle in MEL for 10 hours before repatriating to DXB via SIN.

As EK already has two daily direct flights between DXB and MEL at the following times:

DXB - MEL   1000 - 0630 and 0230 - 2230

MEL - DXB   2130 - 0530 and 0600 - 1300;

it only made sense for EK to provide another timing DXB - MEL at 2130 for the 3rd catchment from Europe.  This 2130 timing does not have as much load as the other 2 DXB - MEL timing. So EK made the right choice of making this 2130 flight via SIN to capture some SIN passengers to fill the plane hence: 

EK404:   DXB - SIN - MEL   2130 - 0800;  0930 - 1930

EK405:   MEL - SIN - DXB   0230 - 0800;  1000 - 1300

This timing unlike the 2015-16 timing, the 777 aircraft only sits in MEL for 7 hours from 1930 to 0230.

EK used to operate fifth freedom flights to Australia via Asia given Asia is almost in the middle between Dubai and Australia. We used to have these on top of the direct services:

DXB - SIN - MEL (last to go)

DXB - BKK - SYD (2nd to go)

DXB - SIN - BNE (3rd to go)

DXB - KUL - MEL (first to be cancelled)

Not happy Emirates! My wife and I loved the break in Singapore for a few days on the way home to Melb. And business seats were easy to get with Qantas points. (Could never get them on Qantas flights).

Hi Everyone, 

Does anyone think people with existing rewards tickets on the returning leg will be offered another route i.e. Dubai - Mel ?

Thanks in advance, 

Hi David - do you know if Emirates has provided an update about this route? Qantas appeared to remove this codeshare flight from its booking engine once the announcement was made notwithstanding Emirates continued to offer it, but the flights have reappeared on Qantas (for Sept 2025, and presumably all other dates). 

Are you aware of a change to Emirates’ withdrawal or delay in the timing? Or it could just be Qantas aligning with Emirates’ approach. Thanks! 

Hi Pieman – no update from Emirates on this, as you've noted those SIN-MEL flights remain on the board through to October 2025. However, I have little doubt some announcement will be forthcoming, given Emirates' application to the relevant authorities to scrap the route.