Emirates Airlines appears to have started a drive to increase capacity to Australia, as a four year agreement between the UAE and Australia ends next year. The deal provided for the phased growth of Emirates Airline, and negotiations for a new air service agreement between the two countries are expected to start soon.  The Dubai based carrier currently operates 70 flights each week, up from 49 in 2007, and this is scheduled to increase to the 84 flight ceiling by the time the current agreement expires. 

Emirates currently flies to Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne. Richard Jewsbury, an executive with Emirates, said “Australia has been generous to Emirates and we reciprocated more than 14 years with very significant Australian investments and tourism promotion.  We seek long term moderate growth that is in Australia’s national interest.”  Mr. Jewsbury is Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for the Far East and Australasia.