Emirates touches down in Auckland via Bali

Wednesday, 27 June 2018 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Flight EK450 was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute on arrival in Auckland

Emirates has launched a new daily service from Dubai to Auckland via Bali, reflecting increased interest in the attractive Indonesian island destination and improving connectivity to New Zealand.

The new service offers global travellers a total of three daily services to New Zealand, complementing Emirates’ existing non-stop daily A380 service between Dubai and Auckland and its current daily A380 service between Dubai and Christchurch via Sydney. Travellers will now also enjoy a choice of three daily services between Dubai to Bali in the summer (northern hemisphere), as the new flight adds to Emirates’ two existing daily services which are currently operated by a Boeing 777-300ER in a two-class configuration.

On board the inaugural flight, which was welcomed at both Denpasar and Auckland airports with a water cannon salute, was a group of special guests and media.

Emirates’ new Dubai-Bali-Auckland flight provides the only year-round non-stop daily service between Auckland and Bali, giving passengers an opportunity to visit and/or stop over in one of the most popular islands in Indonesia. The airline is operating a 777-300ER on the route, offering eight seats in First, 42 seats in Business and 304 seats in Economy class, as well as 20 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity. The new service will also be the first Emirates Bali flight to offer passengers the airline’s award-winning First Class product.

Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “We are very pleased to see the interest this new route has created since it was announced in mid-February, reflected in strong bookings from Auckland to Bali and beyond, as well as southbound from our global network. Markets such as the UK, Europe and the Middle East have all responded keenly to the new option provided by us opening up this route. Bali and Auckland are both desirable destinations in the eyes of our customers.”

From New Zealand, most interest in the new route is from leisure travellers of all ages, among them visitors seeking to explore the cultural side of the destination and surfers keen to try Bali’s waves.

The new route also supports increased demand for trade between Indonesia and New Zealand, and will enable Emirates SkyCargo to offer up to 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on the aircraft per flight.

Passengers in all classes of travel can enjoy Wi-Fi to stay in touch with family and friends or Emirates’ multi award-winning ‘ice’ with up to 3,500 channels of movies, TV programmes, music and podcasts. Emirates provides its customers with a host of culinary offerings prepared by gourmet chefs and fine wines that suit the tastes of everyone. Passengers can also experience Emirates’ renowned in-flight service from the airline’s multi-national cabin crew from over 130 countries, including New Zealand and Indonesia.

Emirates Skywards members can earn up to 17,700 Miles in Economy class, 33,630 Miles in Business Class and 44,250 Miles in First Class with return flights on the new Dubai-Bali-Auckland service. Members can also upgrade from Economy to Business on Dubai to Auckland route from 63,000 Miles.