Emirates said it carried about 21,000 passengers between Malta and Australia over the past three years.

Closely following on the launch of its A380 service to Sydney on February 1, Emirates has stepped up its presence in Australia with the introduction of a third daily service to Melbourne. Sydney and Melbourne are the cities with the largest Maltese communities. A second daily service to Brisbane was introduced this year raising the airline's weekly capacity to 63 flights serving the four Australian gateways, including Perth.

"Today, Emirates flies daily from Malta to Dubai. In about 30 hours, one can be enjoying the cherished company of family and friends in Sydney - only 22 hours to Melbourne - and at the same enjoy some spectacular scenery in Australia," said Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates' manager for Malta and Cyprus.

As from this month, Emirates said it would be bringing the charm and appeal of Australia to life by maximising landmark images such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Bridge through the medium of Malta bus wrapping.

Emirates is also launching another campaign focusing on the Far East, using iconic symbols such as the Chinese lanterns.