UAE-Philippines travel: Emirates adds four weekly Dubai-Manila flights from April
Boeing 777 services add seats, bellyhold freight and onward links
DUBAI – Emirates is expanding its operations to the Philippines with the introduction of four additional weekly flights between Dubai and Manila from April 2, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Southeast Asia.
The move is part of the airline’s broader growth strategy and reflects sustained demand on one of its longest-serving routes in the region.
With the expansion, Emirates will offer increased capacity, improved connectivity and greater choice for both passengers and cargo customers.
Flight schedule
The additional services will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight EK330 will depart Dubai at 12.45pm, arriving in Manila at 1.25am the following day. The return service, EK331, will leave Manila at 3.25am and arrive in Dubai at 8.25am. All timings are local.
The flights will be operated by Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The wide-body jet features eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 seats in Economy Class. The deployment of the 777-300ER adds significant capacity on the route while maintaining the airline’s premium onboard offering across all cabins.
Passenger benefits
With the additional frequencies, Emirates aims to better serve corporate travellers, marine customers and the large Filipino diaspora across its global network. The expanded schedule improves access to destinations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, the United States, Kuwait, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal and South Africa.
The new flights also provide shorter connection times for travellers flying between Manila and key markets in North America and Europe. Improved onward links are available to destinations in Canada and the United States, as well as late-morning departures from European cities including Milan, London, Budapest and Athens via Dubai.
Passengers travelling to and from Manila will continue to benefit from Emirates’ service standards both in the air and on the ground. Onboard, travellers can enjoy regionally inspired meals, complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system, which offers more than 6,500 channels in over 40 languages. Content includes films, television programmes, music, games, audiobooks and podcasts, with dedicated options in Tagalog.
Cargo boost
Each Boeing 777-300ER can carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo in its bellyhold with a full passenger load. By adding four weekly flights to Manila, Emirates will significantly increase cargo capacity on the route. The additional space is expected to support imports and exports between Manila and Dubai, as well as key trade corridors across Europe, the United States and the Indian subcontinent.
The capacity increase comes as the UAE and the Philippines move forward following the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. With established operations in Manila and Cebu and Clark, Emirates is positioned to support growing bilateral trade and economic activity between the two countries.
Emirates in Manila
Emirates launched services to Manila in 1990 and has steadily expanded its footprint in the Philippines over the past three decades. The airline currently operates 28 weekly flights to the country and will increase this to 32 weekly services with the addition of EK330 and EK331.
Through its partnership with Philippine Airlines, Emirates also offers onward connections to domestic destinations beyond its own network. Travellers can connect to five points via Manila, seven via Cebu and three via Clark, with convenient baggage check-through to final destinations.
Last year, Emirates opened its first Emirates World Store in Southeast Asia in Manila, located at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The store allows customers to explore signature onboard products and purchase Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories.