Emirates will fly a Boeing 777-200LR direct to Dubai from Auckland in March

AUCKLAND, 29 January, 2016 - Emirates will start its first non-stop service from Auckland to Dubai from March. It will bring New Zealand and Europe, Africa and the Middle East via Dubai much closer than at present, with an estimated flight time of just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand and 17 hours, 15 minutes in the other direction.

The new service, operating out of Auckland from 2 March, will be in addition to the airline's existing flights, meaning that Emirates will then have five services daily from New Zealand - three A380 double-decker services from Auckland via Australia, a daily Christchurch service with a Boeing 777-300ER and the new non-stop service operated with a Boeing 777-200LR.

Operating west-bound as flight EK449, the non-stop service will depart Auckland each night (local summer time) at 9.30pm, arriving in Dubai the following morning at 5.45am (local time). Operating east-bound as EK448, the service will depart Dubai at 10.05am and arrive in Auckland the following day at 11.00am.

News courtesy of Stu Freeman ProMag Publishing