Although Emirates has been operating flights to Auckland since mid-2003, its new Dubai-Bali-Auckland flight has become the only year-round non-stop daily service that travels between Auckland and Bali.

Emirates’ daily flight from Dubai to Auckland via Bali was recently inaugurated, offering three daily services in total for travelers between Dubai and New Zealand, adding to the Dubai-based airline’s non-stop daily A380 service between Dubai and Auckland and its daily A380 service between Dubai and Christchurch via Sydney.

The inaugural flight was welcomed at both the Denpasar and Auckland airports with a water salute.

Reflecting a rising interest in the Indonesian island destination and improving connectivity to New Zealand, the new service uses a 777-300ER, offering eight seats in first class, 42 in business and 304 in economy, as well as a 20-ton capacity of belly-hold cargo.

“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,” said Emirates president Sir Tim Clark in a press release.

He went on to say that markets such as the UK, Europe and the Middle East had all responded keenly to the new option provided by Emirates, as Bali and Auckland were both desirable destinations in the eyes of the airline’s customers.

The southbound flight, EK 450, departs from Dubai at 07:05 a.m., arriving in Denpasar at 8:20 p.m. local time, before flying on to Auckland at 10:00 p.m., arriving in New Zealand’s biggest city at 10:00 a.m. the following day. Northbound, the new service will depart Auckland as flight EK 451 at 12:50 pm, arriving in Denpasar at 5:55 p.m. local time. It will depart Denpasar at 7:50 p.m., arriving in Dubai just after midnight at 12:45 a.m.

The new flight is expected to provide new opportunities that include the export of perishable goods such as cut flowers, fresh produce and chilled food, such as fish. (mut)

Source :  www.thejakartapost.com