The expanded service brings greater capacity and connectivity for passengers and cargo, while supporting rising travel demand from business travellers, overseas Filipinos, and key global markets linked through the Emirates network.
Expanded weekly services
The additional flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, offering travellers more flexibility and improved scheduling between the Philippines and the Middle East.
On these days, flight EK330 will depart Dubai at 12:45 p.m., arriving in Manila at 1:25 a.m. the following day. The return service, flight EK331, will leave Manila at 3:25 a.m., arriving in Dubai at 8:25 a.m. All times are local.
The flights will be operated using Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and 304 seats in Economy Class.
Enhanced global connectivity
With the added flights, Emirates will offer greater choice for corporate travellers, marine customers, and the large Filipino diaspora traveling across its extensive global network.
This includes destinations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, the United States, Kuwait, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal, and South Africa.
The new services also provide shorter and more convenient connections for travelers flying between Manila and Canada and the United States, as well as late-morning departures to key European cities such as Milan, London, Budapest, and Athens, all routed through Dubai.
Award-winning onboard experience
Passengers travelling to and from Manila will continue to enjoy Emirates’ signature service across all cabin classes, both in the air and on the ground.
This includes regionally inspired cuisine, complimentary beverages, and access to the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system, which features more than 6,500 channels of on-demand content in over 40 languages, including Tagalog. The system offers movies, television shows, music, games, audiobooks, and podcasts.
Tickets are available for booking through emirates.com, the Emirates App, travel agents, and Emirates retail stores.
More flights, more cargo
Beyond passenger services, the additional flights will also boost cargo capacity between Manila and Dubai. Each Boeing 777-300ER can carry up to 20 tons of cargo in its bellyhold even with a full passenger load.
With four more weekly wide-body flights, Emirates is set to strengthen imports and exports between the Philippines and key trade markets across Europe, the United States, and the Indian subcontinent.
This expansion comes as the UAE and the Philippines recently signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), further deepening economic and trade ties between the two nations.
Three decades strong
Emirates first launched services to Manila in 1990 and has steadily expanded its footprint to include circular services to Cebu and Clark. The airline currently operates 28 weekly flights to the Philippines, increasing to 34 weekly services with the introduction of EK330/331.
Through its partnership with Philippine Airlines, Emirates also connects passengers to multiple domestic destinations via Manila, Cebu, and Clark, with convenient baggage check-through to final destinations.
Last year, Emirates opened its first Emirates World Store in Southeast Asia, located in Manila, showcasing the airline’s products and branded merchandise. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
