Emirates halves Dubai flights from major city
The early morning flight, which only recommenced in December 2024 after being scrapped in 2019, will stop operating from October 26, 2025.
'As part of our adjustment to the winter 2025 schedule, our second daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK424/425) will be suspended from 26 October 2025,' an Emirates spokesperson told PerthNow.
The move comes less than a year after the service was brought back, and is expected to remove about 2000 seats a week from the route, a change that is tipped to lead to higher airfares.
'The decision follows a periodic operational review to optimise aircraft fleet utilisation and support our broader operations across Australia,' the spokesperson said.
'Emirates is committed to serving our customers, and those impacted will be booked on our other daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK420/421), which will continue to operate as scheduled with an Airbus A380.'
Travellers booked on the discontinued flight have been notified and booked on other services.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Major Aussie e-bike 'licence trial' looms amid crackdown on misuse
E-bikes are a hotly debated point of contention, with uptake soaring around the country as their popularity rises. Supporters argue they offer a sustainable, efficient alternative to cars, especially for younger commuters drawn to their affordability and convenience. But critics point to concerns around speed, reckless use, and — when it comes to rideshare fleets operated by international companies like Lime, Beam, and Neuron — a lack of clear accountability in the event of accidents or misuse. With teenagers among the most frequent users of e-bikes, New South Wales is proposing to launch a new program targeting schoolkids and aimed at promoting the safe use of e-bikes. Launched by Bicycle NSW, the Student Bicycle Licence Scheme is due to commence in some schools "around mid to late September". Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter McLean, said the trial is all about "education and awareness". While councils may support and encourage the scheme, the decision to participate and how the program is implemented will rest with individual schools. Some schools in Sutherland and Newcastle have already expressed interest in the trial, and there is hope that Sydney Northern Beaches schools will join as well. Further details about participating schools and the broader rollout are expected to become clearer as the trial progresses later in the year. "[The trial] focuses on a number of the basic rules for bicycle users, but also on etiquette and respect," McLean told Yahoo. "It also includes helpful knowledge around bicycle security and equipment. "We are beginning the trial with schools in Sutherland and Newcastle, and hopefully Northern Beaches, as well. We will hopefully test this with a few students in schools later this term and then more schools in Term 4 of this year." How would an e-bike licence scheme work? The program includes a simple online assessment designed to confirm that students understand fundamental bike safety, road rules, and appropriate riding behaviour. Those who complete it would receive a digital licence featuring council-branded recognition. Schools will be allowed to decide how the scheme fits within their community, for instance, whether to require the licence for students who cycle to school. Northern Beaches Council Mayor Sue Heins introduced the idea during a council meeting on July 15, citing its low cost, and adding that, "at a state level, there is currently no consistent bicycle education or awareness programs" for schools. Councillors voted to participate in the scheme, meaning they agreed to support and promote the initiative across the local area, including working with schools to encourage uptake and reporting on participation levels. But on Monday, Northern Beaches confirmed to Yahoo it had paused on the idea, pending a rescission motion — a formal request to revoke or reconsider a previous decision, which will be discussed at the next Council meeting on August 19. But elsewhere, McLean said many regions have expressed sharp interest. "I have discussed it with councils in the Central West of NSW, for example, and they are very keen," he said. "We just want to make sure we develop the program thoroughly first before we broaden the offering to others." Why are e-bikes controversial in Australia? E-bikes have surged in popularity across Australia, especially among young people who see them as a fast, convenient, and eco-friendly alternative to cars or public transport. When used responsibly, they provide an accessible way for people to cover longer distances with less effort, encouraging more active and sustainable lifestyles. Elderly clash with youths on e-bike in 'battle of the beaches' Recurring e-bike complaint 'disgusting' Aussies Little-known rule could see you lose licence without driving a car Properly handled, e-bikes improve urban mobility by bridging the gap between walking, cycling, and public transport, making it easier for people to get around quickly and efficiently without relying on cars. This not only benefits individual users but also contributes positively to overall community health and the environment. But the rise in popularity hasn't come without controversy. Concerns around safety, speed and rule compliance are growing, especially as more inexperienced or underage riders take to the roads and footpaths. Local councils have fielded complaints about e-bikes being dumped haphazardly, ridden recklessly, or used in places where they're not allowed. The issue is especially complicated when the bikes are owned by international rideshare companies, which operate under different agreements in each city. In the event of an accident, accountability can become murky, leaving councils and communities to debate who should bear responsibility. In Australia, e-bikes are generally legal nationwide, but each state and territory has its own specific rules around power limits, speed, age restrictions, and where they can be ridden. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Skift
44 minutes ago
- Skift
Uber's New Way to Reach Chinese Travelers Runs Through WeChat
Uber has found its way back to users in China, just not on Chinese roads. It's targeting Chinese outbound travelers by partnering with the app nearly everyone in China uses: WeChat. Uber on Monday announced the launch of a Mini Program inside Chinese social media superapp WeChat (called Weixin in China). The program allows users to book and pay for rides in other countries without downloading the Uber app or entering foreign payment information. Uber said travelers can simply log in with their WeChat account, search for a ride and pay through WeChat Pay or WeChat Pay HK, depending on their region. The feature is already live in Hong Kong and Japan and will expand to nine more markets, including the U.S., U.K. and France. 'By embedding Uber into Weixin, we're making overseas travel easier for Chinese users at every step,' Pradeep Parameswaran, head of mobility for Uber, said in a release. 'We want to meet riders wherever they are, and for Chinese international travellers, that means Weixin.' While it's convenient, this move also helps Uber stay relevant to a large and growing group of outbound travelers from China. More than 130 million went abroad last year, a number expected to rise in 2025. 'This is not a re-entry into the domestic market,' Uber spokesperson Chris Brummitt told Skift. 'It's a strategic initiative focused exclusively on outbound Chinese travelers. It aligns with Uber's global growth strategy of embedding its services into the platforms people already use.' Brummitt didn't comment on whether the WeChat integration will expand to other Uber services, like Eats and Courier. He said, 'Uber Eats is not part of the initial launch.' How the Uber Mini Program works within the WeChat app. Source: Uber Uber's China history Uber formally launched in China in February 2014, but struggled to stay afloat with the then Uber CEO Travis Kalanick saying that it was losing about $1 billion a year. Uber faced tough competition from Chinese ride hailing app Didi Chuxing, more popularly known as Didi. Then on August 1, 2016, Didi announced it would acquire Uber China, valuing the business at $35 billion. As part of the deal, Uber received 5.89% of the combined company, equal to a 17.7% economic stake in Didi. In April 2019, Uber's S‑1 filing ahead of its IPO revealed that its Didi stake had fallen to 15.4% after new investments diluted its share. Instead of taking on Didi again, Uber is now playing to its strengths. It already operates in many top destinations for Chinese tourists and is making it easier for them to use Uber abroad. 'Uber expects material growth in gross bookings and active users starting from Day One of the rollout,' Brummitt said. Why WeChat Matters For many Chinese users, WeChat is more than a messaging app. It's where they pay bills, shop and book services through built‑in Mini Programs. According to Uber, Weixin Mini Programs has 1.1 billion monthly users. That massive audience is exactly who Uber wants to reach. Talking about the Uber Mini Program, Freedom Li, president of Weixin Pay International Business, said, 'We are dedicated to providing a 'local‑like' digital convenience globally, and Uber's integration strengthens Weixin's cross-border digital ecosystem.' Brummitt further said the Uber Mini Program is fully localized for Chinese users, with simplified Chinese support, familiar navigation and WeChat Pay integration. 'This ensures a seamless and intuitive experience for travelers. Travellers use their Weixin login and Weixin Pay to search, book, and pay for rides,' he said. Explaining the choice of launch markets, Brummitt said: 'We chose Hong Kong and Japan for the initial rollout because they have strong tourism appeal for Chinese travelers.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines resumes operations after tech outage grounds all flights
Alaska Airlines has resumed operations following an undisclosed technical error affecting its entire system for approximately three hours, the company announced. The carrier experienced an 'IT outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights" around 8 p.m. Pacific time Sunday. The stop was lifted at 11 p.m., the Seattle-based company said in a social media post. 'As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights. It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal,' the post said. The Federal Aviation Administration website had confirmed a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines mainline and Horizon aircraft, referring to an Alaska Airlines subsidiary. The National Transportation Board last month credited the crew of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 with the survival of passengers when a door plug panel flew off the plane shortly after takeoff on Jan. 5, 2024, leaving a hole that sucked objects out of the cabin. In September, Alaska Airlines said it grounded its flights in Seattle briefly due to 'significant disruptions' from an unspecified technology problem that was resolved within hours. Solve the daily Crossword
