THE closure of Dubai
International Airport’s
southern runway
between April 16 and
May 30 next year will affect
Emirates’ flights in and out
of Dubai.
According to Routes Online
(organiser of airline and
airport networking events
and reports on flight route
changes), the airport’s
runway closure will see flights
from Dubai to Johannesburg
reduced from 28 to 23
weekly.
Flights between Dubai and
Durban will also be affected,
with frequencies reduced
from seven to five flights
a week.
At the time of publishing,
Emirates could not provide
the exact details of which
flights would be affected but
said it would share details
with the trade shortly.
David Pegg, md of Sure
Visa Travels, told TNW that
this would have a significant
impact on agents who
regularly book clients on
Emirates. “It’s an estimated
2 000 fewer seats on the
Johannesburg route, per
week.”
“This will impact both
corporate and leisure clients
as we often use Emirates
Airline as an alternative to
our national carrier,” says
Michelle Rance, key account
manager at Harvey World
Travel based in Benoni.
She says the reduction in
frequency on routes outbound
via Dubai could potentially
impact an agent’s ability to
secure convenient connecting
times and short layovers.
Key routes outbound from
Dubai that are expected to
be impacted include flights
between Dubai and London,
New York, Mahé, Perth and
Prague, according to Routes
Online.
The full list of the more
than 100 reduced routes
is available on www.
routesonline.com.
