Delays hit Emirates Outback Resort

Published: 23/02/07

The new Wolgan Valley resort complex planned by Emirates outside Sydney is more than 12 months behind schedule according to insiders at the Middle East airline. Bureaucracy within the Australian government is being blamed for the delays, which have seen the opening date pushed back to late 2008 rather than the middle of this year.

The airline had planned for the Wolgan Valley Spa to offer a similar experience of nature and luxury to the famed Al Maha resort it operates in Dubai, and has leased thousands of acres of Australian outback to form the conservation resort.

Emirates airline is owned in part by the Dubai national government, and is viewed as being one of the most dynamic and forcefully progressive businesses in the world. The delays are likely to provoke anger at board level, and although there is little talk of pulling the plug on the project at present, there could be subtle repercussions such as withholding traffic rights on flights to Dubai for Qantas.

Author: