UAE-Thailand travel: Emirates adds third daily Dubai-Phuket flight
Extra frequency targets rising summer demand from Europe and the Gulf
DUBAI – Emirates is strengthening its presence in Thailand with the launch of a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket, expanding travel options to one of the country's most popular holiday destinations.
The additional frequency will be operated by the airline's new Airbus A350 and will also introduce its award-winning Premium Economy cabin on the route. The move comes as demand for summer travel from Europe and the Middle East continues to grow, while also increasing cargo capacity through Phuket.
With the latest addition, Emirates will operate 21 weekly flights to Phuket using a mix of Boeing 777 aircraft and Airbus A350s, offering passengers greater flexibility and more convenient connections through Dubai.
New Dubai-Phuket flights
The new daily service will operate as Emirates flight EK390, departing Dubai at 10.40pm and arriving in Phuket at 8.10am the following day. The return service, EK391, will leave Phuket at 10am and arrive in Dubai at 1.05pm. All timings are local.
The schedule has been designed to improve connectivity for travellers arriving in Dubai from major European cities including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt, as well as from Kuwait and Bahrain. The early morning arrival into Phuket provides a smoother transfer for passengers heading to the island.
Passengers departing Phuket will also benefit from improved onward connections through Dubai to destinations including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich and Amman.
Tickets for the new service are available through the Emirates website, the Emirates mobile app, travel agents and Emirates retail stores.
A350 experience
The new route will be served by the Airbus A350-900 in a three-class configuration featuring 32 lie-flat Business Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy Class seats.
Passengers travelling in Premium Economy can expect additional legroom, upgraded dining, curated amenities and a checked baggage allowance of 35kg, along with 10kg of cabin baggage.
The aircraft also introduces several next-generation cabin features, including wireless charging for Business Class passengers, electronically controlled window blinds displaying the Emirates Ghaf tree motif in premium cabins, and digital inflight menus integrated into the airline's ice entertainment system.
The latest version of the ice platform delivers a cinematic viewing experience with 4K and 4K HDR displays on responsive touchscreen monitors. The aircraft is also equipped with high-performance Wi-Fi powered by ViaSat's Global Xpress satellite network, while upgraded wireless access points are designed to provide up to 10 times the average onboard bandwidth currently available.
Emirates in Thailand
The expansion of services to Phuket forms part of Emirates' broader investment in Thailand. In recent months, the airline has opened its renovated lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's SAT-1 terminal and launched a new Emirates World Store at Gaysorn Centre in Bangkok.
It has also introduced fifth freedom services linking Bangkok with Siem Reap in Cambodia and Da Nang in Vietnam, further strengthening Bangkok's role as a regional aviation hub in Southeast Asia.
Alongside the expanded Phuket operation, Emirates also offers its Premium Economy cabin on flights EK372 and EK373 between Dubai and Bangkok, operated by the airline's four-class Airbus A380. The latest Phuket service also enhances cargo operations by adding an extra daytime departure to Dubai, supporting shipments of perishables, electronic components and general cargo to destinations across Europe, the UK, Africa, the GCC and North America.