Emirates is ending its daily Brisbane-Singapore-Dubai flight
Emirates confirms an exit from the Brisbane-Singapore route due to "substantial losses".
By David Flynn, November 15 2019
Emirates will no longer fly between Brisbane and Singapore, citing "substantial losses" on the route due to a combination of declining revenues and increasing costs.
The daily 8-hour flights EK432/EK433 will cease from March 30 2020, following approval of the axe-drop by Singapore's competition watchdog, which noted it was satisfied that Singaporean passengers will not be affected by the change.
A spokesman for the airline said "Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused. Both Singapore and Australia are important business and leisure destinations for Emirates."
Passengers booked on these flights from March 2020 will be contacted by Emirates or Qantas, depending on which airline the booking was made through, to discuss alternative arrangements, although the Emirates spokesman suggested that people who booked through a travel agent should contact that agent for assistance.
The Gulf airline and Qantas partner currently flies a Boeing 777-300ER on the Brisbane-Singapore route as an add-on let to the main Dubai-Singapore service.
However, in September 2019, Emirates announced its plans to shutter the route due to "overcapacity, declining revenues and rising costs that have resulted in substantial losses."
"As a consequence of these adverse changes in market conditions and ensuing poor financial performance, it is no longer commercially feasible for Emirates to operate this route."
Emirates in particular noted "increased competition from Singapore Airlines, which has in the past year increased frequency and used larger capacity aircraft."
The Singaporean flag-carrier's four daily flights between Brisbane and Singapore now account for close to two-thirds of the seats flown on the route, with Qantas edging close to 17%, and Emirates has previously stated that as "capacity exceeds demand", Qantas will not need to increase its own Brisbane-Singapore capacity to absorb the ex-Emirates passengers.
Beyond issues of capacity, however, the timing of Emirates' Brisbane-Singapore leg – which departs at 2.35am – has always put the airline at a disadvantage, compared to Singapore Airlines' choice of departures at 6.10pm for those wishing to head straight from the office to the airport, or an 11.50pm flight if you'd rather have dinner at home and head to the airport in the late evening.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
22 Oct 2014
Total posts 14
Any chance they will go to 3 x DXB non stop daily?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 344
Little to no chance.
Rumours at this stage is that the 77W used on the other BNE-DXB non-stop may be up-gauged to an A380 instead to make it double-daily A380s (as opposed to the current daily A380 and 2x 77Ws ex-BNE)
27 Jul 2018
Total posts 3
I was booked on that flight in early June 2020 in Business(Frequent Flyer Classic Rewards). Got an email last night saying it was cancelled. Contacted QF Res and was told the flight is in the control of the "airport" whatever that means and to wait to be notified of any changes. He seemed to think the flight was still operating and there may just be a timing change. Looks like they haven't been told yet.
Will be interesting to see what happens next
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1208
Airport control is usually what happens when airport check-in is about to open and the airport staff are controlling loads, seating etc. A flight in June 2020 wouldn't be under airport control. I think the person you were speaking to misunderstood your query and thought you were talking about last night's flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2017
Total posts 3
Flew the BNE-SIN leg last week. It was great. Drank enough Veuve in the Emirates lounge to put myself to sleep on the flight. Woke up in SIN to a hot breakfsst of omelette. Got to the city by 9:00 and spent day day at Gardens by the Bay. Friendly helpful staff on the plane. Same can't be said of the SIN-BNE leg on the way back . Shame it's going . I'd do it again, but there were hardly any passengers so the writing was on the wall to cancel it.
21 Aug 2019
Total posts 64
Splendid. Champagne is the only way to travel.
29 Mar 2014
Total posts 78
I remember taking the SIN-BNE leg 5 or 6 years back, and then MEL-SIN on the way back, as I wanted to fly daytime both ways and SIA was much too expensive. EK timing was fantastic, the cabins were great, and service was amazing.
15 Nov 2019
Total posts 2
Oh, no! we travel this route to get to Europe every year for holidys. Business class is a bit cheaper because of the unsociable time and was good to stretch the legs and visit the Emirates lounge in Singapore. I'll miss this route:("
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jun 2017
Total posts 6
I use this flight quite regularly to give myself the biggest choice of connections around Asia from Singapore. The departure time isn't a big deal for me - the arrival time is far more important. Really very sorry to see it go. I don't expect I'll get to visit the nifty BNE lounge after my next and final EK433.
17 Jan 2018
Total posts 83
Qantas should up the ante and take the slot. The SIN to BNE leg is a great timed flight leaving at 10am getting in at 7.30pm. The timing of the BNE to SIN is rediculous and needs to be changed somehow. Qantas Business Class is better than Singapore Airlines in my opinion but they seem to have an inferiority complex. Take them on!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Feb 2015
Total posts 124
Excuse me? How can they stop them from pulling out of a route??
Singapore to EK... you must continue to operate this money loosing route, EK.. Sure not a problem...lol I don't think so.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
Emirates had previously agreed with the authorities to continue its Brisbane-Singapore flights as part of the regulatory approvals required for its joint venture with Qantas, and codeshare traffic rights over Singapore. The concern, at the time, was that Qantas and Emirates wouldn't cut capacity as a result of being able to codeshare on the other airline's flights. Therefore, ending those flights while retaining the JV and codeshare rights requires government permission to vary the agreement.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1208
I believe EK and QF accepted conditions of maintaining capacity to win approval of their JSA. As this cancellation represents a reduction of capacity, they had to get approval from competition authorities or risk having the JV cancelled.
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