Monday, September 9, 2024 Emirates, the popular Gulf airline, is set to discontinue its long-standing EK404/405 service connecting Melbourne and Singapore. This daily flight, which has been operating since 1996 (except for a brief halt during the COVID-19 pandemic), will soon be axed. However, Emirates has not yet finalized the exact end date of the route.
The airline is awaiting a final assessment from the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) before determining the termination date. While this marks the end of an era for this route, Emirates will maintain its strong presence in both Melbourne and Singapore. The airline will continue operating its Dubai-Singapore route with four daily flights and its Dubai-Melbourne route with two daily A380 services.
Additionally, Emirates passengers flying between Melbourne and Singapore will still have options through its codeshare agreement with Qantas, which runs double daily flights on the same route. The decision to discontinue the EK404/405 service is significant for Emirates and travelers who have relied on this route for decades. Initially launched in 1996, the Melbourne-Singapore flight has been a key connection in Emirates’ network.
Despite its 2020 hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the route remained one of the longest-serving in the airline’s portfolio. Now, with growing competition and changes in the global aviation landscape, Emirates is making a strategic decision to refocus its operations. For passe.