Dubai residents travelling to the Philippines will soon have more options after Emirates announced it will add four extra weekly flights between Dubai and Manila from April 2, strengthening one of its longest-serving routes in Asia.
The new services will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight EK330 will depart Dubai at 12.45pm and arrive in Manila at 1.25am the following day. The return service, EK331, will leave Manila at 3.25am and reach Dubai at 8.25am. All times are local.
With the additional frequencies, Emirates will raise its total services to the Philippines from 28 to 34 flights a week. The airline has served Manila since 1990 and has steadily expanded its network in the country to include Cebu and Clark through a circular routing.
Emirates said the expanded schedule will improve connectivity for passengers travelling between the Philippines and destinations across its global network. The timings are designed to offer shorter onward connections to Canada and the United States, along with late-morning departures to European cities such as Milan, London, Budapest and Athens via Dubai.
The announcement follows the recent signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the Philippines, which aims to strengthen trade and investment links. Emirates said its strong presence in Manila and Cebu/Clark places it in a favourable position to support the agreement’s objectives and growing demand for travel and cargo between the two countries.
All four additional flights will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The wide-body jets are configured with eight private First Class suites, 42 lie-flat Business Class seats and 304 seats in Economy Class.
Passengers will continue to receive Emirates’ full onboard and ground services, including regionally inspired meals, complimentary beverages and access to the airline’s ice entertainment system. The platform offers more than 6,500 on-demand options in over 40 languages, including Tagalog, with a broad range of films, television programmes, music, games, audiobooks and podcasts.
The airline said the expanded schedule is intended to serve a diverse customer base, including corporate travellers, marine industry passengers and the large Filipino community spread across Emirates’ network in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, the United States, Kuwait, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal and South Africa.
Tickets for the new services are now available through the Emirates website and mobile app, as well as via travel agents and the airline’s retail outlets.
The increase in flights will also strengthen cargo links. Each Boeing 777-300ER can carry up to 20 tonnes of freight in its bellyhold even with a full passenger load. Emirates said the additional capacity would help support trade flows between Manila and Dubai, while also improving access to key markets in Europe, the United States and the Indian subcontinent.
