MANILA, Philippines – Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has decided to end direct flights to Dubai from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga starting May 1 due to low load factor, intense competition, and the controversial excise tax imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on jet fuel used for international flights.
Emirates, through an official statement, confirmed that it is suspending its daily, non-stop flights between Clark International Airport and Dubai starting May 1 barely seven months after it started the service due to the flights not filling up.
“The decision was made after a review of the airline’s operations to ensure the best utilization of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives,” the airline said in a statement.
However, the airline said it would continue to fly to Dubai three times a day via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“Emirates will continue to operate its three daily, non-stop flights between Manila and Dubai and is taking all necessary steps to accommodate affected passengers on alternate flights,” Emirates said.
The airline launched direct flights between Clark and Dubai last Oct. 1 using Boeing 777 with 42 Business Class flatbed seats and 216 Economic Class seats.
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Emirates, during the launch of the non-stop flights to Dubai via the international gateway in Pampanga, was confident of attracting overseas Filipino workers mostly residing in the Northern and Central Luzon as well as tourists from the Middle East and Europe.
There are about 1.5 million overseas workers in Saudi Arabia, 600,000 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and 150,000 in Bahrain.
Clark International Airport became the airline’s 135th global station in 77 countries and served as its second hub in the Philippines after launching flights from Manila way back in 1990.
Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), said in a telephone interview that Emirates is indeed ending its non-stop direct flights to Dubai from the former US military naval base starting March 1.
