Emirates to cut flights on Edinburghdubai route

Emirates has cut back its new Edinburgh to Dubai route – days before its launch next Monday.

Industry sources said the reduction from a daily service to five days a week was because of poor sales.

There will be no flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays over much of the winter. Passengersalreadybooked will be offered seats on flights from Glasgow – from where Emirates flies twice a day to Dubai – or Newcastle instead.

In a memo to the travel trade, Emirates said: “Between 28 October and 10 December, and 15 January and 30 March 2019, Emirates will operate five flights a week between Dubai and Edinburgh instead of a daily service.”

Daily flights will be restored over the busier festive period.

Emirates said: “This decision was made after a recent review of our operations, which was undertaken to ensure the optimal commercial utilisation of our aircraft fleet.”

Ken Mcleod, president of the Scottish Passenger Agents Association, said: “It was always going to be difficult for Emirates to start so quickly, and in an off-season period.

“Many people will have booked their winter holiday, and certainly for Christmas and New Year.

“All they are doing is looking at forward loads and recognising by cutting out two days they can maximise the five other days.”