Qantas partner Emirates will launch flights between Auckland and Dubai via Denpasar (Bali) from June, using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
As with the airline's other 'Fifth Freedom' flights, passengers will be able to travel solely between Auckland and Bali or between Bali and Dubai as part of the service, without needing to complete the full journey from Auckland to Dubai: although that's also an option.
From June 14 2018, the new Dubai-Bali-Auckland service will run daily using a three-class Boeing 777 aircraft, offering eight private suites in first class:
AusBT review: Emirates Boeing 777 first class
Behind that, a 42-seat business class cabin, arranged in a 2-3-2 layout. On some of Emirates' Boeing 777s, these seats are only angled-flat – not fully-flat – although on newer jets, the seats are the latter, with an updated look and feel:
Read: Emirates' Boeing 777 business class refresh keeps 2-3-2 layout
From Dubai, flight EK450 will depart at 6:55am local time to reach Bali at 8:20pm on the same calendar day, before continuing onto Auckland at 10pm, and arriving at 10am in New Zealand the following morning.
On the return, EK451 pushes back at 12:40pm, touching down in Denpasar at 5:55pm that day. After a 1hr 55m stopover, the aircraft jets onwards to Dubai at 7:50pm, landing just after midnight the following morning, at 12:45am.
This new route also introduces Emirates' first class to Bali, as the airline's current Bali-Dubai flights offer only business class and economy.
While Emirates also runs a daily non-stop Auckland-Dubai Airbus A380 flight, the airline is axing its separate Melbourne-Auckland and Brisbane-Auckland flights from March 2018.
The new service via Bali allows Emirates to continue serving Auckland via a stopover point, to maximise passenger loads on all parts of the journey: including from Kiwi travellers heading to Bali, as the only airline to fly Auckland-Bali non-stop, year-round.
(Air New Zealand runs seasonal flights between the two cities, ranging from two to five flights per week across April to October, however.)
Emirates also serves Christchurch in New Zealand with daily Dubai-Sydney-Christchurch Airbus A380 flights.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
15 Sep 2012
Total posts 95
Good idea capitaising on several markets with this flight! Bali is very popular with Germans and Scandinavians. Also linking Bali with New Zealand which is an under served market also, offering premium and budget travel
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Jul 2016
Total posts 27
Air NZ flies Dreamliner 6 months per year 3 x per week / likely see Air NZ pull out and deploy to more profitable pasture
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
I agree with regarding Air NZ cancelling their season to Bali service using a B789.
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 397
The award for strangest route announcement so far this year goes to...
07 Jan 2016
Total posts 36
All they need to do now is add the Canberra stopover ...
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
When will this service become bookable? Currently with AKL selected as the departure airport DPS is not showing up as a valid arrival airport.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
We'd expect later today or tomorrow, as Emirates hasn't advised us of any delayed 'booking from' dates for this.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 362
Dubai - Auckland is currently showing with the stop in DPS but the two cities can't be booked standalone yet. Weird
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2016
Total posts 8
It's now available
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 88
I think this is a smart move by EK to capitalize on the 'tourist dollar' in both directions. I still fail to understand the appeal of Bali, particularly to Australians who are blessed with any number of first class tropical beach destinations on their own doorstep.
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 437
Because it is incredibly expensive to holiday in Australia. For someone in say Melbourne, the flights to Bali vs say Pt Douglas are about the same whereas accommodation, f&b and activities are all much much cheaper in Bali.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
19 Feb 2018
Total posts 1
Has the town Ubud ever even crossed your mind when visiting Bali? Doesn’t ring a bell? I’m pretty sure you can’t find the temples, royal palaces, architecture, jungles, waterfalls, rice fields and cultural attractions (e.g. royal cremation ceremonies, pre-Nyepi day ceremonies, kecak dance performances, traditional music, dance, clothing and cuisine) all within one area anywhere else in the world, let alone Australia. Not to mention a culture that is incredibly unique to just that one tiny island and is not found anywhere else in the world.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 388
Because Australia is a rip off at times. We have traveled a lot the last 12 months overseas and wanted to go somewhere close to home. We looked at 5 nights in Byron over Easter and it was an insane $3000+ for somewhere nice. A dodgy motel was $1500 at Easter. So we yet again decided on Bali. Return flights from Brisbane and accommodation for around $2800 and then then once arrived, beers are $3 not $10+ like Byron. While our beaches I agree are by far the best in the world, Bali offers so many new experiences which is why it is now the number 1 destination for the Qantas group.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Cheap beer in Bali and it costs less to holiday there than say Tropical Queensland
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Apr 2013
Total posts 29
Interesting to see if Qantas will/can put their code on all or part of this flight.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
Bodez I am not ur this comes under the existing QF agreement with EK as Australia is not part of the planned route, and it would represent a huge backtrack on a short-ish sector.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 362
I'd like to seem them do it
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2016
Total posts 8
I think AKL-DPS will probably appear as a QF codeshare if booked in NZ website as it's operating as a 5th freedom route as mentioned.
15 Feb 2018
Total posts 43
Emirates have stated that they wish to add more ports to their routes.. This is one of those. They are aware they need to capitalise on every route possible. Smart move on there part.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 79
I think EK would win Y over NZ's 789 and NZ PE over EK (has none) and EK J and NZ I'm not sure given EK's 777 layout, and EK F over NZ (NZ has none). And then there's the old price factor! If it lowers prices I'm all for it. I have to agree Bali is a cheaper destination than some of the more local islands.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2016
Total posts 54
Speaking of odd routes I think a good route for EK using a 777 or QATAR using a 787/350 would be OOL to Bangkok or Phuket or Bali and onto DXB/DOH each city served 2 days a week. Lot of pax on the Gold Coast and good connections to Europe after DXB/DOH and would avoid the restrictions with the number of flights to the Australia capital cities. Good for Qantas with Qatar being oneworld and Emirates and Qantas alliance.
09 Feb 2018
Total posts 5
Sweet deal if your an Auckland resident. Bali is a far superior destination to brisbane
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