Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, significantly expanded its Southeast Asian footprint on June 2, 2025, with the launch of new weekly services from its hub in Dubai to Da Nang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, strategically routed via Bangkok. This development not only increases Emirates’ network in the vibrant Southeast Asia region to 23 destinations but also critically reinforces Bangkok’s pivotal role as a key connecting hub for the airline’s expansive operations. The introduction of these routes is poised to enhance tourism, trade, and business connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southeast Asia, while simultaneously offering greater accessibility for travellers from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to explore the cultural richness of Vietnam and Cambodia.
The official launch was commemorated with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony hosted at Emirates’ impressive, newly renovated airport lounge located in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s state-of-the-art SAT-1 terminal. This facility notably stands as the largest Emirates lounge situated outside of its Dubai home base, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing premium ground services in Thailand. The event was officiated by a high-level delegation from Emirates, including Nabil Sultan, the airline’s Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management; Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Far East; and Mohammed Alwahedi, Emirates’ Country Manager for Thailand.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of distinguished guests and key local partners, including Mr. Jaber Ali Ibrahim Malik Alshehhi, Head of Economic Affairs Section at the UAE Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand; Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand; and Mr. Numchoke Muangkaew, Director of Automated People Mover Maintenance Division at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Speaking at the event, Nabil Sultan emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion. “Launching two new routes via Bangkok marks a significant milestone in strengthening Emirates’ presence in Southeast Asia,” he stated. Mr. Sultan further highlighted the airline’s deep-rooted relationship with Thailand, remarking, “This expansion also reinforces our long-standing commitment to Thailand as a strategic gateway to the region”. He elaborated on the enhanced travel convenience, saying, “With these new services, travellers can now experience seamless connectivity across three distinct destinations—Dubai, Bangkok, and either Da Nang or Siem Reap—with a single ticket. We thank the Thai government and our local partners as well as Suvarnabhumi Airport for their cooperation and valuable contributions to our expansion efforts in this region”.
The new services are meticulously designed to cater to both leisure and business travellers. Emirates will operate four weekly services to Da Nang via Bangkok, establishing this popular coastal city as the airline’s third gateway into Vietnam, complementing existing services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These flights to Da Nang are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, utilizing the modern and efficient Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft. The flight schedule for this new linked service has been carefully timed to provide travellers with convenient and optimized connections, facilitating streamlined access to major European cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Manchester, Milan, and Rome, as well as key destinations in the United States.
Specifically, Emirates flight EK370 is scheduled to depart from Dubai at 0900hrs, arriving in Bangkok at 1825hrs. The flight will then continue its journey from Bangkok at 2010hrs, reaching Da Nang at 2150hrs. The return flight, EK371, will depart from Da Nang at 2330hrs, arriving in Bangkok at 0110hrs the following day. Subsequently, the flight will take off from Bangkok at 0340hrs, arriving back in Dubai at 0650hrs, with all times being local.
Similarly, Emirates will introduce three weekly services to Siem Reap, the gateway to the ancient wonders of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This service will be operated by Emirates’ renowned three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which features 8 luxurious First Class suites, 42 angle-flat Business Class seats, and 304 ergonomically designed Economy Class seats, ensuring a comfortable journey for all passengers. The flight timings for the Siem Reap route mirror the initial leg of the Da Nang service, with EK370 departing Dubai at 0900hrs and arriving in Bangkok at 1825hrs.
The onward flight from Bangkok will depart at 2010hrs, arriving in Siem Reap at 2130hrs. The return journey, EK371, is scheduled to depart from Siem Reap at 2350hrs, arriving in Bangkok at 0110hrs the next day. The final leg will then depart Bangkok at 0340hrs, reaching Dubai at 0650hrs (all local times). Emirates’ service to Siem Reap is optimally timed to offer leisure travellers excellent connectivity via multiple daily operations from key European markets including France, the UK, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Russia.
Bangkok’s role as a central conduit in this network expansion is paramount. Emirates already serves the Thai capital with five flights a day, providing a robust foundation for these new onward connections. This high frequency allows Emirates customers desiring to combine multi-city journeys to conveniently connect to either Da Nang or Siem Reap in style and comfort. Further enhancing the transit experience, Emirates’ premium customers can relax and rejuvenate in the airline’s newly expanded lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport while waiting for their connecting flights, enjoying an elevated and upscale ground experience.
Emirates’ presence in Thailand is substantial and long-standing, with the airline having commenced operations in the country in 1990. This year marks a significant milestone – the airline’s 35th anniversary in Thailand, a testament to its enduring commitment to the market. Currently, Emirates operates five daily flights between Bangkok and Dubai, primarily utilizing its flagship Airbus A380 for four of these services and a Boeing 777-300ER for the fifth. Beyond Bangkok, the airline also offers two daily flights to the popular resort island of Phuket and a daily non-stop service between Bangkok and Hong Kong, effectively connecting Thailand to more than 140 destinations across six continents within Emirates’ global network.
Looking ahead, Emirates is set to further enhance its premium product offering in Thailand. From July 1, 2025, the airline will deploy a refurbished Airbus A380 featuring a sophisticated four-class configuration to Bangkok. This upgraded aircraft will include the much-anticipated Premium Economy cabin, alongside newly upgraded First, Business, and Economy Class cabins, promising an even more comfortable and refined travel experience. Bangkok is distinguished as one of only eight global cities to receive Emirates’ next-generation A380s and Boeing 777s equipped with these fully retrofitted interiors.
The airline’s investment in passenger comfort extends to its ground services, exemplified by the new Suvarnabhumi lounge. Opened in January 2025 at the SAT-1 terminal, this THB 175 million (approximately USD 5 million) facility spans an impressive 1,454 square meters and can accommodate up to 250 guests, solidifying its status as the largest Emirates airport lounge outside of Dubai.
Emirates also plays a crucial role as a key partner in fostering Thailand’s tourism growth. In 2024, the airline solidified this partnership by signing a strategic agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aimed at promoting inbound tourism through joint marketing initiatives and promotional campaigns. This collaboration leverages Emirates’ extensive global network to attract visitors to Thailand.
Regional connectivity is further bolstered by Emirates’ codeshare agreements with both Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. These partnerships enable seamless connections for passengers to over 70 regional destinations, including popular tourist and business points such as Chiang Mai, Koh Samui in Thailand, as well as Siem Reap in Cambodia (now also a direct Emirates point), Yangon, and Mandalay in Myanmar.
In terms of customer interface and retail experience, Emirates is actively expanding its innovative Emirates World Store retail concept in Southeast Asia. This includes a new flagship store in Bangkok, which opened its doors on May 7, 2025. This expansion follows successful launches of similar stores in other major regional hubs like Singapore, Manila, and Hong Kong, and is part of a substantial USD 27 million global investment by Emirates aimed at elevating customer retail experiences over the next three years.
The Emirates story began in 1985 when the airline launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, Emirates flies the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering its customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies[cite: 42]. The airline continues to inspire travellers around the world with its growing network of worldwide destinations, industry-leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service, solidifying its position as a global leader in air transportation. The launch of these new routes via Bangkok is another chapter in this ongoing story of growth and commitment to connecting the world.
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