8-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) Dubai-based airline Emirates has announced plans to discontinue its long-standing flights between Singapore and Melbourne, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. This decision comes just five years after the carrier terminated its Singapore-Brisbane route in 2019, signalling a broader reassessment of its presence in the competitive Australian market.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) revealed on 8th August that Emirates had formally requested to cease operations on the Singapore-Melbourne route. The airline, which has been serving this corridor since 1996 with wide-body Boeing 777s, is now awaiting the CCCS’s final assessment regarding the impact of being released from its capacity commitments, as outlined in its alliance with Australian flag carrier Qantas.
Emirates has assured passengers that it will continue to maintain strong connections between Singapore and Dubai with four daily flights, as well as offering two daily non-stop services between Melbourne and Dubai. The carrier also emphasised that travellers will still have access to direct flights between Melbourne and Singapore through its codeshare partnership with Qantas, which operates twice-daily flights on this route.
The Singapore-Melbourne air corridor has become increasingly congested in recent years, with six airlines vying for market share. Alongside Emirates, the route is currently served by Qantas, Singapore Airlines (SIA), Jetstar, Scoot, and Turkish Airlines, which joined the fray in March. Emirates’ impending withdrawal will see it relinquish approximately 11% of the total seat capacity on this route, based on September figures from aviation data consultancy OAG Aviation.
Industry analysts have attributed Emirates’ decision to the intense competition on the Singapore-Melbourne route. Mayur Patel, head of Asia at OAG, described the sector as facing “intensive competition” from both full-service and low-cost carriers. He suggested that Emirates may be opting to streamline its operating costs by focusing on non-stop flights between Dubai and Melbourne, potentially improving scheduling options and connectivity between Europe and Australia.
The move has sparked concern among frequent travellers who have come to rely on Emirates’ service. Lieh Lim, a 54-year-old real estate investment adviser who has been a regular on the route for two decades, expressed disappointment, describing Emirates’ withdrawal as a “sad loss” and the “only real competitor” to Singapore Airlines in terms of quality and pricing.
Despite the setback for some passengers, aviation experts do not anticipate a significant impact on ticket prices. Mr Patel noted that the market has always been segmented, with price-sensitive travellers opting for budget carriers. He added that Emirates’ codeshare arrangement with Qantas would allow the airline to maintain its market share to some extent.
The CCCS held a public consultation from 8th to 19th August to gather feedback on the potential effects of lifting Emirates’ and Qantas’ capacity commitments for their routes between Singapore and Australia. The regulatory body is expected to publish its decision in due course.
