Dubai, March 26, 2025 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is celebrating 25 years of service to Sydney, marking a significant milestone since its first flight to the city in March 2000. What began with four weekly flights via Singapore has grown to three daily, direct flights between Dubai and Sydney, connecting Australians to over 140 destinations worldwide.
Over the past quarter-century, Emirates has flown over nine million passengers on more than 35,000 flights to and from Sydney, strengthening its position as a key player in the Australia-Middle East aviation corridor.
Key Milestones Over 25 Years
- Expanding Services and Connectivity
- 2000: Emirates launches its first service to Sydney with four weekly flights via Singapore.
- 2003: Introduced service between Dubai and Christchurch via Sydney, strengthening links between Australia and New Zealand.
- 2016: The A380 was introduced on the Sydney-Christchurch route, offering the only Trans-Tasman A380 experience.
- 2023: Transitioned to an all-A380 operation on Sydney routes, offering over 20,300 weekly seats and enhancing access to Emirates’ Premium Economy product and upgraded cabins.
- Premium Customer Experience
- 2006: Emirates opened its Sydney Airport Lounge, providing First Class and Business Class passengers with a luxurious pre-flight experience.
- 2022: Sydney became one of the first cities globally to feature Premium Economy on Emirates’ refurbished A380, as part of the airline’s multi-billion dollar retrofit program.
- 2024: Emirates introduced Premium Check-In Ascent in collaboration with Sydney Airport, offering First Class passengers a seamless check-in experience.
- Commitment to Australian Culture and Community
- Since 2002, Emirates has been the principal partner of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, supporting the arts and connecting Australian culture with a global audience.
- Emirates continues to play a pivotal role in cargo transportation, facilitating trade and enhancing the benefits of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Australia.
Emirates Today: A Major Force in Australian Aviation
Emirates currently operates 77 weekly return services to Australia, providing over 68,000 seats across its five major Australian gateways:
- Three daily return services from Dubai to Sydney and Melbourne.
- Two daily flights to Brisbane and Perth.
- One daily service to Adelaide.
Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia at Emirates, highlighted Sydney’s importance to the airline:
“Sydney is such an iconic city, and it remains one of our top destinations from Dubai. With over 15,000 passengers flying between Sydney and Dubai weekly, we are committed to enhancing the customer experience while responding to growing travel demand.”
Special Anniversary Celebration
To commemorate 25 years of service, passengers flying between Sydney and Dubai on March 26, 2025, will be treated to Australian-inspired dishes, including pavlova, Lamington Cake, and Bundt Cake—a tribute to the airline’s strong connection with Australian culture.
As Emirates looks to the future, the airline remains dedicated to offering world-class service, expanding global connectivity, and strengthening its ties to Australia through both passenger and cargo operations.
