Delays in aircraft deliveries have not only forced Emirates to pushback start dates for two new California destinations, but have also constrained the number of flights offered by the carrier to those cities.

Prior to the Boeing machinists strike in July Emirates warned of 777 delivery delays due to production problems with a galley supplier.

Flights offered by Emirates that began on 26 October between Dubai and Los Angeles debuted more than a month behind the targeted 11 September launch date.

Emirates senior vice president commercial operations for the Americas Nigel Page tells ATI the carrier had to scale back plans for daily service to three weekly flights as a result of Boeing freezing aircraft deliveries with the start of the machinists strike now entering its ninth week.

Page says Emirates is sourcing the Los Angeles route with a Boeing 777-200LR from its existing fleet, which comprises six aircraft of the type according to the ATI ACAS database.

The carrier will experience the same scenario on its Dubai-San Francisco flights scheduled for launch on 15 December instead of the original 26 October date for the inaugural flight.