Operating every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the additional service complements Emirates' existing daily flight, introducing an early morning arrival time to optimize international connections from key inbound markets such as India, the US, the UK and Germany. The outbound flight is scheduled for convenient onward travel to key business and tourist hubs in Asia, Australia, the US and Saudi Arabia, via Dubai.

Salem Almana, Emirates' Country Manager for Ghana, said: "The arrival of this additional service reaffirms our long-term commitment to Ghana, a market that has played an important role in Emirates' African network for more than two decades. As travel demand continues to grow, we are pleased to offer our customers greater flexibility and more choice, underpinned by Emirates’ world-renowned inflight experience and hospitality.”

Since commencing operations to Ghana in 2004, Emirates has played an important role in connecting the country with global markets through its Dubai hub. Over the years, the airline has supported tourism, facilitated business travel and strengthened trade links between Ghana and destinations across its international network.

Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited said: “The introduction of Emirates' additional Dubai–Accra service is a strong endorsement of Ghana's growing aviation sector and the increasing demand for international connectivity. It is encouraging to see Emirates, a long-standing airline partner, continue to expand its operations in Ghana, providing passengers with more travel options while supporting the movement of people, goods and investment. At Ghana Airports Company Limited, we remain committed to working closely with Emirates and all our airline partners to strengthen connectivity, enhance the passenger experience and position Accra International Airport as a preferred gateway to West Africa.”

The additional flights are operated by Emirates' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. Customers travelling from Ghana will continue to enjoy Emirates' award-winning products and services, including regionally inspired cuisine and the airline's award-winning ice inflight entertainment system, offering more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including Ghanaian content.

Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com, the Emirates App, through online and offline travel agents, or at Emirates retail stores, including Emirates Travel Store in Accra.

o   From October, Emirates’ flagship A380 to operate to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru

o   Longstanding commitment to India includes continued investment in operational and service enhancements

Dubai, UAE – 9 July 2026: Emirates, the world's largest international airline, will introduce its flagship A380 to Delhi from 25 October, making the Indian capital the third gateway in the country to be served by the iconic double-decker. The A380 will operate on flights EK512/513 in a four-class configuration, complementing the deployment of Emirates' retrofitted B777 aircraft, also in a four-class layout featuring Premium Economy, across its three other daily flights.

With its highly-acclaimed Premium Economy cabin now available on all flights between Dubai and Delhi, Emirates brings its latest signature product to the route, reaffirming its commitment to elevated comfort for travellers to and from India. The thoughtfully designed cabin features spacious cream leather seats with generous legroom and recline, refined dining served on chinaware, and an extensive suite of amenities. From October, Premium Economy will be offered on flights to six Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi giving customers traveling to and from India greater choice when planning their travel.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “Emirates' long-standing commitment to India is reflected in the continued rollout of our latest products, designed to enhance the travel experience. We are pleased to introduce our highly anticipated A380 services to Delhi, a vital gateway in our network, from October. Given the strong demand for travel to and from India, it is an honour to expand our A380 footprint in the country, with Delhi joining Mumbai and Bengaluru as our third A380 destination. We would like to thank the authorities for making this possible and value our continued partnership.

“We are also making our Premium Economy product more widely available across India to reach six gateways and close to half of our scheduled weekly flights. A host of other service enhancements are in the pipeline as a testament to our partnership with India and commitment to our customers.”

Elevated experiences await customers in India
In a series of operational enhancements that will elevate the customer experience for its Indian customers, Emirates’ signature Premium Economy cabins will be rolled out to six cities, on a mixed fleet consisting of Airbus A380, Airbus A350 and four-class configured Boeing 777 aircraft.

Delhi-Dubai
Passengers on the Delhi–Dubai route will now enjoy expanded options, with four cabin classes on all daily services. Premium Economy will feature on EK513, operated by the much-loved A380, as well as on the Boeing 777-operated EK511, EK515 and EK517

Kolkata-Dubai
From 25 October, Emirates' daily Kolkata–Dubai service, EK570/571, currently operated with a Boeing 777, will be served by the airline's next-generation A350, bringing its signature experiences, including Premium Economy, to the route. With flights EK572/573 operating five times weekly on a four-class retrofitted B777, Premium Economy will be available across all 12 weekly flights between Kolkata and Dubai.

Continued roll out of Premium Economy across India
By the end of October, Emirates will offer Premium Economy to six Indian cities, and customers seeking additional comfort and privacy during their journeys can book seats on four daily services from Delhi, 12 weekly from Kolkata, 22 weekly from Mumbai, nine weekly from Ahmedabad, seven weekly from Bengaluru and two weekly from Kochi.  

Enhanced customer service with a personalised touch
As part of its ongoing commitment to India, Emirates is rolling out a series of enhancements to elevate the customer experience on the ground and in the air.

The airline recently opened retail travel stores in Delhi and Mumbai, where customers can explore its innovative products and services with personalised support from highly trained staff. Stores in Hyderabad and Bengaluru are set to follow, along with a dedicated call centre in Mumbai.

In the air, customers across Emirates' nine Indian gateways can savour regionally inspired menus crafted by award-winning chefs, celebrating the rich diversity of Indian cuisine, while catering to a range of palates and dietary preferences. Cabin crew on Indian routes speak a host of languages, including Hindi and select regional languages, while the airline's inflight entertainment offers over 6,500 channels featuring Bollywood blockbusters in Hindi as well as content in Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Kannada and more.

Emirates serves nine gateways across India - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram operating 167 weekly flights to Dubai and onward to its global network, spanning almost 140 destinations. Across four decades of service, each flight has been a catalyst, connecting people, enabling commerce, and driving progress and prosperity.

MANILA, Philippines, 9 July 2026 – Emirates has appointed Khalid Al Zarooni as its new Country Manager for the Philippines, where he will oversee the airline's commercial operations.

Al Zarooni joined Emirates in 2006 and has built a broad international career across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Most recently, he served as Emirates' Vice President for Saudi Arabia, a role he assumed in 2024.

Over nearly two decades with Emirates, Al Zarooni has held commercial and leadership roles across Cyprus, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Greece, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. His experience spans commercial strategy, corporate sales, stakeholder engagement and government relations, including leading multicultural teams across international markets.

His leadership has been widely recognized across the Emirates network, with his teams receiving the Top Sales Team Award in Morocco and the Top Corporate Award in Saudi Arabia. While based in Greece, Al Zarooni was elected President and Chairperson of the Board of Airline Representatives by the foreign airline community, becoming the youngest person to hold the position. His election reflected the trust placed in him by industry peers for his professionalism, honesty and transparent approach.

Al Zarooni earned an MBA from England’s University of Wolverhampton.

"The Philippines has long been one of Emirates' key markets in Southeast Asia," said Al Zarooni. "Building on Emirates' 36-year presence in the country, I look forward to working with our customers, travel trade partners and stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for growth and further strengthen Emirates' position in the market."

Earlier this year, the airline increased its services through Manila, Cebu and Clark to 32 weekly flights, connecting customers across the Philippines to its global network via its central hub in Dubai.

The additional flight frequency to Phuket complements the airline's existing schedule and provides much-needed capacity to meet the deep tourism appeal and surge in summer travel demand from Europe and the Middle East/GCC. Customers can look forward to Emirates' award-winning Premium Economy experience, complete with extra legroom and curated amenities, elevated dining, and more.

With the addition of a third daily flight, Emirates now serves Phuket with 21 weekly services operated by a mix of Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s. Emirates flight EK390 departs Dubai at 22:40hrs, arriving in Phuket at 08:10hrs the following day. The return flight, EK391, departs Phuket at 10:00hrs and arrives in Dubai at 13:05hrs.*

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, through online and offline travel agents, or at Emirates retail stores.

Travellers will benefit from greater flexibility with additional travel options to the popular resort destination, including an early morning arrival that is ideal for customers connecting via Dubai from European cities including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt, as well as from Kuwait and Bahrain. The new flight will also provide convenient onward connections from Phuket to key destinations across Europe and the Middle East, including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich and Amman.

The introduction of Emirates flight EK391 also significantly enhances cargo connectivity from Phuket by providing an additional daytime departure to Dubai, with improved connection opportunities to onward gateways across Europe, the UK, Africa, the GCC and North America, supporting shipments of perishables, electronic components and general cargo.

Introducing the A350 and Premium Economy to Phuket

Operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft in a three-class configuration, Emirates' new daily service offers customers 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy Class seats. In addition to Emirates' signature next-generation products and award-winning service, customers can enjoy innovative onboard features including wireless charging in Business Class, electronically controlled window blinds featuring an Emirates Ghaf tree motif when closed in the premium cabins, digital inflight menus on ice screens, and more.

The airline's next-generation version of the ice inflight entertainment system on the A350 delivers a cinematic viewing experience with stunning 4K and 4K HDR displays on ultra-responsive touchscreens. The A350 also offers high-performance Wi-Fi powered by ViaSat's Global Xpress (GX) satellite network. Improved Wireless Access Points (WAPs) onboard help customers enjoy up to ten times the current average aircraft bandwidth.

Premium Economy passengers also enjoy a generous checked baggage allowance of 35 kg, along with 10 kg of carry-on baggage.

Commitment to Thailand

The expansion of Emirates' operations in Phuket builds on the airline’s continued investment in Thailand, following recent developments including the opening of its renovated lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's SAT-1 terminal, the opening of its Emirates World Store at Gaysorn Centre in Bangkok, and newly introduced fifth freedom services last year connecting Bangkok with Siem Reap in Cambodia and Da Nang in Vietnam., underscoring its place as a connecting point in Southeast Asia.

In addition to Phuket, Emirates also offers its award-winning Premium Economy product on flights EK372/373 between Dubai and Bangkok, operated by a four-class A380.

* All times are local.

Cape Town, South Africa, 2 July 2026: Emirates' third daily service on the Dubai-Cape Town route landed at Cape Town International Airport at 18:05 yesterday, marking the first arrival of flight EK778. This also marks the debut of the airline's next-generation Airbus A350 in South Africa.

The A350 is the newest aircraft type to join Emirates’ all widebody fleet, introducing the latest in-flight experience. The bright and airy cabins have been thoughtfully designed to provide more space and comfort in every cabin, whilst cutting-edge technology and enhanced entertainment options elevate every flight. The deployment also increases access to the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy cabin, which first launched in South Africa in September 2025 and has proved consistently popular with travellers. 

Afzal Parambil, Emirates' Regional Manager for Southern Africa, said, "Cape Town has long been one of the most popular destinations on our African network. The launch of a third daily service, operated with our newest aircraft, shows how much we believe in this market. The new flight gives travellers more options and an easier connection to our global network through Dubai, while the A350 offers the latest passenger experience. We’d like to extend our thanks to the South African authorities for their partnership and support in securing this new service, and look forward to welcoming passengers onboard."

The new flight enhances connectivity for South African travellers, offering more choice, flexibility, and improved access to Emirates’ global network, via Dubai, especially long-haul destinations in West Asia, Australasia and the Far East.

The launch of the new service also builds on the agreement signed in April 2026 between Emirates and Wesgro, the tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. The two organisations are working together to bring more visitors from key markets such as the Gulf, the Far East, and India.

Outside of Cape Town, Emirates also reinstated its fourth daily flight to Johannesburg on 1 July 2026, boosting weekly connectivity to Dubai to 56 weekly services from its three South African gateways. The deployment is further supported by the seasonal deployment of the second A380 service into Johannesburg. EK761 and EK762 will now be operated by a fully retrofitted A380, equipped with the in-demand Premium Economy cabin and the latest cabin interiors, enhancing Emirates world-class offering and boosting capacity in and out of South Africa’s largest and busiest international airport. 

By enhancing its frequencies, Emirates is not just supporting passenger traffic, but facilitation global trade too. Optimising the belly capacity in the Boeing 777 and A350, as well as the daily flight from Durban, Emirates SkyCargo uplifts key commodities from South Africa such as fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled meat, dairy, seafood and fresh cut flowers, and transports them worldwide, connecting South African businesses with their global customers, quickly, reliably and efficiently.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Optimally timed for the summer schedule, EK717 departs Dubai at 01:20 and arrives in Nairobi at 05:25, allowing better connectivity from major US gateways and key destinations in Europe. The return flight, EK718 departs Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 07:10 and arrives in Dubai at 13:15*, unlocking more seamless onwards connections into the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal, among other European destinations.

The addition of the morning schedule adds a new, complementary dynamic to Emirates’ operations: for international tourists arriving in Nairobi, they have more time to reach their final destination even if outside the city – such as a lodge in one of the national parks, or a beach house on the Kenyan coast. For business travellers, the morning outbound enables same-day connections to key commercial hubs in Europe, such as London and Paris.

Christophe Leloup, Emirates' Country Manager for Kenya, led H.E. Dr. Salim Ibrahim Bin Ahmed Mohammed Alnaqbi, the UAE Ambassador to Kenya; Teresia Mbaika, Principal Secretary of State Department for Aviation & Aerospace Development under Ministry of Roads and Transport; Ambassador. (Professor.) Julius K. Bitok, CBS. Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism; and Emirates staff in welcoming the flight on the runway, marking this significant milestone.

Christophe Leloup, Emirates' Country Manager for Kenya, said, "For three decades, Kenya has been one of Emirates' most important destinations in Africa, and this third daily service reflects both the strength of that relationship and our confidence in the country's future. More than adding capacity, this flight creates better connections for travellers from across Europe, North America and beyond, making it easier for people to visit Kenya, do business here, and connect with family and opportunities. It is an investment in a market we know well and a commitment to supporting Kenya's growing role as a regional and global gateway."

Emirates operated its first flight into Nairobi in 1995 and, in the three decades since, has transported over six million passengers to and from the country, connecting Kenya to over 138 global destinations, via Dubai.   

"I congratulate Emirates on the launch of its third scheduled flight into Nairobi. This is a strong vote of confidence in Kenya’s aviation, tourism and trade sectors.  Kenya and the UAE have enjoyed cordial and mutually beneficial relations over the years, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership even further. I am also confident that Emirates will soon benefit from the ongoing modernisation of JKIA, which is designed to improve efficiency, capacity, and the overall passenger experience,” said Teresia Mbaika, CBS, Principal Secretary, Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Enabling Pan-Africa connections, Emirates signed an interline partnership with Kenya Airways in 2023, and to date, over 31,000 passengers have already travelled smoothly between the two airlines' networks, continuing to Rwanda, Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, and beyond. The third daily service provides more options for travellers with additional departure times that simplify regional onward travel. 

The additional frequency also unlocks an extra 280 tonnes of cargo capacity every week. For Kenya's flower farmers and fresh produce exporters, the early morning departure is a huge boon, allowing flowers to be picked and on their way to markets in Europe and the Gulf by dawn, arriving fresh and blooming. Along with Emirates SkyCargo's three weekly freighters already serving Nairobi, the airline now transports over 1,100 tonnes of goods in and out of Kenya weekly. 

Earlier this year, Kenya and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, deepening ties between the two countries in many ways beyond aviation. Kenya aims to welcome five million international tourists by 2030, an ambition that relies heavily on making the country easier to access from important markets. Emirates’ three daily flights from Dubai, along with onward connections across Europe and North America, play a significant role in achieving that goal. 

Ambassador. (Professor.) Julius K. Bitok, CBS. Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism said, "As we continue to showcase Kenya to the world, enhanced air connectivity plays a vital role in movement of people, goods and services while helping more travellers discover the incredible diversity of our destination. Emirates' third daily service to Nairobi will make it even easier for visitors to experience Kenya's spectacular wildlife, pristine coastline, vibrant culture and warm hospitality. We welcome this important investment in connectivity and look forward to inspiring more travellers to visit our magical destination – ‘the origin of wonder’”.

June Chepkemei, the CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board said, “As Kenya continues to pursue ambitious tourism growth, strong international air connectivity remains one of our greatest enablers. The third daily service from Emirates will improve access for visitors from key global markets and support our efforts to grow tourism, create jobs and deliver greater economic value for communities across the country. Together with partners like Emirates, we look forward to welcoming more travellers to experience the unparalleled beauty and diversity of Destination Kenya.”

*All times local

Dubai, UAE, 30 June 2026- Emirates is marking a significant milestone in the expansion of its cargo fleet by becoming the first airline cargo carrier* to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger to freighter converted aircraft. The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo.

The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25% increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter. At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods which currently constitute around 20% of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.

Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said: “The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility. We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world.

“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing. We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai.”

Ambitious fleet and network expansion

The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026. As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026. Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.

Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet and network expansion reaffirm the carrier’s commitment to play a larger role in supporting global trade, linking new destinations with businesses, and deepening connectivity to key production hubs already on the carrier's global network spanning six continents.

*combination carrier

An important facilitator of international trade, Emirates SkyCargo moved over 439,000 tonnes of cargo on its freighter and passenger flights from 12 markets in East and Southeast Asia in FY 25/26. This was an increase of around 5% from the cargo tonnage transported in FY24/25, representing the growing demand from businesses and exporters in the region to rapidly and securely transport goods to other parts of the world.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “East and Southeast Asia are key manufacturing zones for the global economy making major contributions in the production of high-tech goods, the export of perishables as well as being an important origin for global e-commerce flows. By deploying additional freighter flights and by expanding our freighter footprint in response to customer demand, we are providing the rapid connectivity that ensures that exporters can get their cargo quickly and safely to their end customers across the world. Emirates SkyCargo offers unmatched choice and flexibility, not just through our freighter flights to 12 cities in this region but also through our passenger flights offering wide body bellyhold capacity from 25 destinations to Dubai and beyond. Every week, customers in the East and Southeast Asian region have access to over 12,000 tonnes of cargo capacity to move their goods to destinations on Emirates’ global network.”

Scaling up freighter flights

Emirates SkyCargo is doubling freighter capacity to Narita Airport, Tokyo, increasing operations from one to two weekly freighter flights. The second weekly freighter serves Japan’s strong manufacturing industry across diverse sectors such as automotive, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The air cargo carrier is growing up its flights to Hong Kong with 37 weekly freighter flights to accommodate maximum flexibility and choice for customers in this export-led economic corridor. Emirates SkyCargo has also expanded its freighter footprint into Central China with three weekly flights from Zhengzhou, connecting the industrial hub of Henan province to Dubai and beyond.

Emirates SkyCargo has restarted freighter flights from Singapore with a once weekly flight connecting to Dubai via Mumbai, forming a critical trade lane across Asia.

The air cargo carrier will also be doubling its footprint in Taiwan, boosting its service from one weekly to twice weekly freighters to Taipei in response to demand for movement of high-tech electronic cargo.

Emirates SkyCargo continues to experience robust demand for the once weekly freighter service to Bangkok supporting exports of sophisticated tech products, perishables, fashion and other consumer products.

The carrier also maintains its four weekly freighter services to Hanoi supporting exporters in Vietnam with rapid connectivity to Dubai and the Middle East, a large market for Vietnamese exports for perishables as well as to other global markets.

Extensive bellyhold wide-body capacity

In tandem with its dedicated freighter service, Emirates SkyCargo also harnesses the cargo capacity of its wide-body passenger flights to offer industries in East and Southeast Asia seamless, high-frequency and high-capacity cargo solutions. Currently the air cargo carrier provides capacity on over 320 passenger flights every week across the region.

Product Portfolio

Emirates SkyCargo offers a specialist product portfolio to safely transport goods that require specialised handling including

• Emirates Vulnerable offering secured and monitored air transport lanes for state-of-the-art electronics including global new product launches
• Emirates Fresh for the transportation of perishables and fresh produce
• Emirates Pharma for life saving medicines and Emirates Vital for transportation of clinical trials and bio-innovation materials.

Emirates SkyCargo also reinforced its commitment to customers in the East and Southeast Asian region with its presence at Air Cargo China 2026, Asia’s largest trade fair for the airfreight and air logistics industry, gathering major players and exporters. Between 24 and 26 June 2026, customers attending the event can directly engage with the Emirates SkyCargo team at stand W5.329. Other customers can visit skycargo.com to find more information on the services available to them.

The new service will complement Emirates' existing daily operation and the sustained growth in air travel demand to and from Accra, which continues to experience high seat occupancy year-round. From 12 July, Emirates’ direct service, operating as EK789, will depart Dubai at 03:30hrs*, arriving in Accra at 07:40hrs*; the return flight, EK790, will depart Accra at 10:25hrs*, arriving in Dubai at 22:40hrs*. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, these flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.  

The new service is optimally timed to connect travellers from Accra to key commercial and tourist hubs including Beijing, Seoul, Sydney, Perth, Mumbai, Singapore, New York JFK and Jeddah. The newly added service will also offer travellers a more convenient option to connect to Accra via Dubai, mainly from points such as Delhi, Boston, Los Angeles and gateways across Germany and the UK.   

Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates retail offices as well as online and offline travel agents. 

Salem Almana, Emirates' Country Manager, Ghana, said “For more than two decades, Emirates has proudly connected Ghana to the world. The introduction of this additional service demonstrates our continued confidence in the Ghanaian market and our commitment to supporting the country's growing travel needs. Beyond providing greater convenience for our customers, this expansion will strengthen business, tourism and trade links between Ghana and key markets across our global network, while contributing to the continued growth of Ghana's aviation sector. Through Dubai, travellers will enjoy seamless access to close to 140 destinations worldwide, while visitors from around the world will have even greater opportunities to experience Ghana." 

With the introduction of flights EK789/EK790 from 12 July, Emirates will serve Ghana with 11 weekly flights operated by its widebody Boeing 777-300ER, offering customers 8 private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. Travellers to and from Ghana will benefit from Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all cabins, with regionally-inspired dishes and complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system which offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including international movies, TV shows, and an extensive music, podcast and audiobook library, as well as Ghanian content such Kotoka, Part Time Woman and Ghana Map.  

Beyond passenger operations, the additional and dedicated flights will support cargo movements from Accra, to and through Dubai, via Emirates SkyCargo. Leveraging its industry leading cool chain infrastructure, Emirates SkyCargo carries high volumes of fresh cut fruit from Ghana into key European destinations such as Prague and Zurich, along with other commodities including electronics, textiles and pharmaceuticals. The additional bellyhold capacity in both directions will further stimulate the economy and connect Ghanian businesses with their global customers quickly, reliably and efficiently.

 * All times are local

Berlin sits as the political heart of Europe’s largest economy. A city of 3.9 million people, it is home to a thriving start-up ecosystem, well-established diplomatic community, and a cultural scene that draws millions of visitors each year. Yet its long-haul connectivity has not kept pace with the city's strong global credentials. In fact, according to OAG schedule data, over 85% of Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s international connectivity is concentrated within Europe.

Stuttgart faces a comparable gap in long-haul services. The economic engine of Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s most export-driven states, remains underserved when it comes to long-haul air connectivity, the very kind of connectivity manufacturers, suppliers, and trading partners depend upon.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "Emirates is ready to bring daily widebody connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart and connect them with our extensive network, backed by substantial investment. These are two of Germany's most important economic centres, yet both remain underserved when it comes to long-haul connectivity. German businesses have told us they need it, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce has called for it, our own data confirms the demand is there and flights are forecast to be full. Emirates already connects Germany to 50 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australasia that no German airline serves. These are destinations that matter to German exporters, tourism operators, and the millions of travellers looking for more choice and better connections. All we are asking for is the opportunity to serve these cities and their communities, and we remain committed to working constructively with the German authorities to make that a reality and deliver tangible benefits that would be felt across both city regions from day one of our operations.”

Economic impact and job creation

New Emirates routes to both cities would generate hundreds of new jobs. A 2012 study by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) estimated that a daily Emirates service to both Berlin and Stuttgart would create close to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. That figure remains broadly consistent today.

In addition to improved choice for passengers, local Baden-Württemberg, Berlin and Brandenburg cargo connectivity would also receive a boost.  A daily Emirates widebody service with a Boeing 777-300ER would provide more than 280 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity per week, creating a vital new conduit for time-sensitive imports and exports including pharmaceutical products, electrical equipment, machinery, and transport technology components.

Dubai: A gateway for complementary connectivity

Of the 2.36 million passengers carried on Emirates' flights to and from Germany in 2025, 40% flew between Dubai and Germany, while 60% were passengers connecting onwards, underscoring the dual role Dubai plays as both a premium destination, growing source market and a global transfer hub. If daily Berlin and Stuttgart flights were permitted, Emirates would offer convenient, one-stop connections for German travellers and businesses in these cities and regions.

In 2025, Emirates' top markets to and from Germany included Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. None of these destinations are served by German airlines from Frankfurt or Munich. Extending this connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart would not cannibalise existing routes but rather fill a longstanding gap.

A one-stop connection on Emirates, via Dubai, would provide a more seamless journey with a consistent onboard product in a four-cabin configuration, and a meaningful improvement over the multi-transfer narrow-body alternatives operated by German airlines that are currently available. For Berlin, the Emirates experience would offer something for every traveller, including its award-winning Premium Economy cabin delivering a step-up in comfort, and its First Class with enclosed private suites and personalised service remains unmatched in the industry.

Berlin's business community has already voiced the need for this service clearly. In 2023, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry published a survey in which 75% of respondents described the long-haul offering at Berlin as deficient or insufficient^[1]. Dubai was named a number one priority for connections that urgently need to be strengthened, both as a destination and as a transfer hub.

Today, Berlin and Stuttgart are connected directly to Dubai exclusively by narrow-body aircraft with limited onboard amenities, and only on a seasonal basis. A daily Emirates Boeing 777 service would deliver a step change, not only in passenger experience and comfort, but also in cargo capacity.

Unlocking high-value inbound tourism to Germany

Germany logged nearly 1.2 million overnight stays^[2] from GCC visitors in 2024, a valuable tourism segment that stays longer, spends more, and has a direct and positive impact on tourism revenues.  GCC visitors contributed an estimated €2.3 billion to the German economy in 2024 alone. The German National Tourist Board projects GCC visitor numbers will reach 3 million annually by the end of the decade.

Direct Emirates services would position Berlin and Stuttgart firmly on the map for GCC visitors, opening up a tourism segment with enormous growth potential by connecting both cities with visitors who currently choose destinations served directly with widebody aircraft.

Looking ahead

The economic case is clear. Daily Emirates services to Berlin and Stuttgart would create hundreds of jobs, strengthen trade links, open up underserved destinations, and attract high-value tourism.

Emirates believes these services would complement Germany's existing aviation ecosystem, offering travellers and businesses greater choice and competition on routes where it is needed most.

The airline remains committed to engaging constructively with the German Federal Government and looks forward to the opportunity to bring the benefits of long-haul connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart.

^{[1] Source: https://www.ihk.de/berlin/politische-positionen-und-statistiken-channel/verkehrsknoten-berlin/langstreckenverbindungen-fuer-die-hauptstadtregion-4188494}

^{[2] Source: https://www.germany.travel/media/en/redaktion/trade_relaunch/business_intelligence/marktinformationen_in_kurzfassung/Arabische_Golfstaaten_kurz.pdf}

Dubai, UAE, 18 May 2026- Emirates has broken ground on its new US$ 5.1 billion engineering complex at Dubai South slated to become the world’s most modern and advanced maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facility, cementing Emirates' and Dubai's leadership in global aviation capability and infrastructure.

Emirates’ new engineering facility is being delivered by China Railway Construction Corporation, a leading construction and infrastructure development company with Artelia being appointed the project consultants.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group, Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South and Dai Hegen, Chairman, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “Today’s groundbreaking for the US$ 5.1 billion engineering facility is a strategic step forward in Dubai’s future-focused aviation ambitions. The new facility strengthens Emirates Engineering’s vertical integration strategy by bringing more skills, infrastructure, parts production, and specialist capabilities under one roof, while positioning the airline to serve as a strategic engineering partner for the future requirements of the regional and global aviation industry. This latest investment also aligns directly with Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global economic hub and centre of aviation excellence, and lays the foundations for the next chapter of growth for Dubai, the UAE and the wider MRO industry."

HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: “At Dubai South, our mandate is aligned with the vision of our wise leadership to further strengthen Dubai’s position as the aviation capital of the world through the development of an integrated ecosystem that supports the future needs of the global aviation sector. The groundbreaking of this world-class facility marks another milestone in advancing the aviation infrastructure surrounding Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the largest once completed. This project will play a key role in enhancing Dubai’s capabilities to cater to the growing demand for advanced aviation services and maintenance solutions, while reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global benchmark for aviation excellence, innovation, and long-term industry growth.”

Mr. Dai Hegen, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, said: “As an important milestone reflecting the good-neighbourly friendship and practical cooperation between China and the UAE, this project fully aligns with the consensus reached by the two heads of state and Dubai’s economic development vision, and demonstrates Emirates’ high recognition of CRCC’s comprehensive strength and brand reputation. As the main contractor, we will uphold our core values, mobilize premium resources and assemble a professional team to deliver high-standard construction, efficient progress and quality results, striving to build a model project for China-UAE cooperation and contribute our full strength to deepening bilateral economic and trade ties and building a China-UAE community with a shared future.”

World-class Infrastructure

Emirates’ new engineering facility at Dubai South will span a staggering 1.1 million square metres, making it one of the largest buildings in the world by volume and the largest steel structure in the GCC. The facility will also feature the world’s only hangar complex with the ability to simultaneously service 28 wide-body aircraft and two painting hangars. Other notable features of the mega-facility include

-          The largest free-span hangar in the world at a width of 285 metres

-          The largest dedicated landing gear workshop in the world

-          77,000 sq. metres of dedicated workshop space for repairs and maintenance

-          380,000 sq. metres of storage and logistics capacity

-          Two state of the art paint hangars to service Emirates’ fleet of wide-body aircraft with extended capacity to also handle narrow body aircraft.

The technical facilities will be supported by a new dedicated administrative building for Emirates Engineering providing 50,000 sq. metres of office space and 15,000 sq. metres of training facilities as well as a gateway facility that will control airside access.

Emirates’ new engineering complex at Dubai South is also expected to set new benchmarks for sustainability with all project facilities targeting a LEED Platinum rating and with solar panels installed on the roofs across the complex among other initiatives.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by middle of 2030 and the hangar complex will initially start servicing aircraft requiring heavy maintenance and spillover projects from the Emirates Engineering Centre at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

This initiative is part of Emirates' ‘This Flag Will Always Fly’ campaign, responding to the nationwide initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This initiative called on all citizens and residents to raise the UAE flag as a unifying symbol across society, a shared responsibility and pride in the nation’s strength and cohesion during recent challenges.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “We’re proud to respond to HH Sheikh Mohammad’s call to raise the flag as a tribute to the UAE’s unity and strength. Since our inception, every Emirates aircraft has proudly carried the UAE flag wherever it flies. This new livery is our way of honouring a home that has given us so much, and a nation that stands as proof of what is possible when we collectively choose, every day, to reach higher. There is no greater stage for our flag than in the skies, and no greater privilege for Emirates than to fly it with pride.”

The special livery features the colours of the UAE rendered in a bold, eye-catching 3D design that drapes elegantly across both sides of the aircraft. The moving canvas of national pride has already flown to New York and Brisbane and is scheduled to operate to more A380 destinations in the Emirates network, becoming visible from runways, skies and cities around the world.

Plans are underway to apply the flag design to an Emirates Boeing 777, the next largest commercial airliner in the sky after the A380.

The UAE flag is already a hallmark of every Emirates aircraft, painted across the tails of one of the world's most recognisable fleets, and carrying the nation’s colours across continents, time zones and cultures each day.

The special flag livery is one of many that have marked special national events and commemorations in the UAE. In 2017, the airline featured a customised decal of the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, with a bespoke livery for its 100th A380. The initiative marked the airline’s first initiative for the ‘Year of Zayed’, with 10 aircraft flying the special livery. That same year, the airline revealed the first of 40 aircraft carrying livery designs dedicated to Expo 2020 Dubai.

Today, the airline operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with over 1,300 weekly frequencies, representing 75% of pre-disruption capacity. The airline is offering more flights, more seats and more options each day while reaffirming Dubai's position as a vital hub through which global travel moves.

Even as it operated with a reduced schedule, Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers* during the disruption, a testament to the enduring demand for travel and the trust that travellers continued to place in the airline to get them where they needed to go.

The Emirates experience, wherever you’re going

Wherever Emirates customers choose to fly, they can expect a best-in-class onboard and onground experience, defined by exceptional comfort, genuine hospitality, and a level of service that has set the standard for long-haul travel. 

Onboard, customers enjoy a unique culinary experience, with regionally inspired, multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Emirates' award-winning ice inflight entertainment system offers more than 6,500 channels of the best global content in almost 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more, ensuring there is no such thing as a long flight.

And for those who need to stay connected, high-speed Wi-Fi keeps customers reachable at 40,000 feet. Emirates now has Starlink connectivity live on 28 aircraft, delivering ultra-fast, reliable internet in the air.

Enjoy flexible travel and rewards

Emirates is giving customers more reasons to travel with confidence with flexible rebooking, Dubai Connect stopover experiences and enhanced Skywards benefits:

• Flexible bookings: Customers booked from 2 April will enjoy added flexibility, with one free date change included across all cabin classes. Customers who have booked with Emirates can also hold a fare for 24 hours free of charge.
• Dubai Connect: For customers with extended transit times in Dubai from 6 to 26 hours, Emirates' Dubai Connect programme turns a long layover into a comfortable stopover, courtesy of the airline. Eligible customers will enjoy complimentary hotel accommodation at a 4 or 5-star property, airport transfers, meals, and, where required, a UAE entry visa. Available to passengers across all cabin classes with qualifying connection times, Dubai Connect can be booked up to 12 hours ahead via Manage Your Booking on emirates.com. Terms and conditions apply.
• Skywards: From 8 May to 31 August 2026, Emirates Skywards members can enjoy accelerated access to the programme's premium tiers through reduced tier requirements and Bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights.

*Between 1 March and 30 April

We can also confirm that currently, our last scheduled flight, EK757, will depart from Algiers on 3 February 2027. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our customers. Customers whose travel plans are impacted from this date are encouraged to consider alternative travel arrangements through their booking agents.

Dubai, UAE, 12 February 2026: Emirates has announced a series of aircraft deployments and product upgrades across its network, extending the reach of Premium Economy and delivering a more consistent experience for customers.

As part of its ongoing retrofit programme, the airline is set to complete the upgrade of its first high-density, two-class A380 by mid-April. The aircraft will be reconfigured into a three-class layout featuring 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy seats, and 437 Economy Class seats.

The first upgraded aircraft will operate flights EK903/904 between Dubai and Amman from 14 April to 31 May, before moving to Prague on EK139/140 from 1 June. By November, Emirates expects to have retrofitted all 15 of its two-class A380s into the new three class configuration.

The following additional aircraft deployments are set to take place from March*:

Europe and North America

• New York JFK: From 1 April, flights EK201/202 will be served by a four-class retrofitted A380 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, increasing to a daily service from 1 June.
• Zurich: From 1 March, Emirates will operate a four-class A380 featuring Premium Economy on flights EK085/086. With this upgrade, the airline will offer more than 1500 weekly seats in Premium Economy to and from Zurich.
• Milan: Emirates will operate flights EK101/102 with a retrofitted, three-class Boeing 777-200LR fitted with Premium Economy from 10 May.
• Dublin: Emirates will operate flights EK165/166 with a three-class retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR from 25 October. Once deployed, all 21 weekly flights to Dublin will offer Premium Economy.

Asia

• Ho Chi Minh City: From 1 May, flights EK392/393 will be operated with a three-class retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR. With this upgrade, the airline will offer more than 600 weekly seats in Premium Economy to and from Ho Chi Minh City on double daily flights.
• Hong Kong: Emirates will upgrade flights EK382/383 from a Boeing 777-300ER to an A380 from 1 October, transitioning to a retrofitted A380 fitted with Premium Economy from 1 December.

Africa

• Entebbe: Emirates will operate flights EK729/730 with the new A350 from 29 March.

Middle East

• Basra: Emirates flights EK945/946 will be operated with a retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER starting from 1 May, offering Premium Economy across all five weekly flights to Basra.

Indian Ocean

• Mauritius: Emirates will operate a retrofitted three-class Boeing 777-200LR on flights EK709/710 from 29 March.

Emirates will further deploy a three class A380 on flights EK362/363 between Dubai and Guangzhou from 1 October, offering seats in First, Business and Economy Class.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates’ retail stores. WeChat Pay is available on emirates.com.

* Aircraft deployment may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment.

The additional flight, EK320, will depart Dubai at 22:30hrs and arrive in Tokyo Narita at 13:30hrs the following day. The return service, EK321, will depart Tokyo Narita at 21:30hrs and arrive in Dubai at 03:50hrs the following day. All times are local.

The second daily flight will provide travellers with greater choice and enhanced opportunities for multi-destination itineraries, including the convenience of a stopover in Dubai. Eastbound passengers on the additional Narita service will arrive in the afternoon, supporting stronger domestic connectivity and shorter connection times from key European and Middle Eastern markets. Westbound travellers departing from Tokyo Narita will benefit from an early-morning arrival in Dubai, enabling seamless onward connections to major destinations across Europe, Africa and South America, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Brazil.

With the deployment of a refurbished Boeing 777-300ER on flights EK320/321 to Tokyo Narita, Emirates doubles down on its commitment to offer a consistent travel experience for its customers in Japan. The four-class aircraft features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern colour palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes across all cabins. Travellers will have access to 260 of the latest-generation Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 40 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and eight First Class Suites.

The onboard experience is rounded off with a regionally-inspired cuisine featuring Japanese dishes such as Kaiseki meal tray. Travellers across all cabins will also enjoy more than 6,500 channels of on-demand content on Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, featuring movies, TV series, podcasts, music, documentaries and more, with a selection of Japanese content.  

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates’ retail stores.

Emirates in Japan

Emirates has been serving Japan since 2002 and currently operates three daily flights to Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka, with all services offering the airline’s Premium Economy product on a mix of Boeing 777s and A380s.

From 1 May, Emirates will offer more than 22,500 weekly seats to and from Japan across 28 weekly flights serving three gateways. On a weekly basis, the airline will be able to carry 1,240 tonnes of cargo in and out of the country, providing extensive capacity for local businesses to transport their products to key trade markets in the GCC, Europe, and Africa.

The airline has also enhanced its offering for premium customers in Narita with the introduction of its world-class Chauffeur-drive service earlier this month. The service will also be extended to premium customers in Osaka from 1 March.

Emirates offers expanded domestic connectivity through partnerships with Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways, serving 36 destinations, including 26 domestic and 10 regional points. The additional frequency to Narita further provides travellers with greater flexibility and more convenient connection options to these points and beyond.

Thiruvananthapuram, India, 02 February 2026: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, today celebrates a significant milestone as it marks 20 years of operations in Thiruvananthapuram, a key gateway in its South India network and an important hub for travel, trade, and tourism.

Since commencing operations on 1 February 2006, Emirates has carried more than 4.6 million passengers on over 19,000 flights between Dubai and Thiruvananthapuram, underlining its long-standing commitment to Kerala’s growing global aspirations and the region’s strong demand for international connectivity.

The airline currently serves nine gateways across India, operating 167 weekly flights that connect Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram with Dubai and its extensive global network spanning 150 destinations across six continents.

The milestone celebration was marked in the presence of the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, reaffirming the strong partnership between Emirates, the state government, and key stakeholders.

Commenting on the milestone, Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ VP - India and Nepal said: “We are proud to have served Thiruvananthapuram for over 20 years. The city has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in Kerala and Southern India. Over the past two decades, our operations have supported the growth of local tourism and trade, while connecting travellers from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai and beyond on our global network.”

“On this occasion, we are pleased to be joined by the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala to mark the milestone, and I would like to thank the state authorities, airport partners, and the Emirates team for their continued support in making our operations a success over the span of two decades. We look forward to continued partnership and providing our services to the people of Thiruvananthapuram and visitors and supporting local businesses and trade with our cargo operations.”

Strengthening global connectivity

Over the past two decades, Emirates has played a vital role in enhancing Thiruvananthapuram’s global reach, offering seamless connections to destinations across six continents via its Dubai hub. The airline has supported outbound demand from business travellers, leisure passengers, and the significant VFR (visiting friends and relatives) segment, while also facilitating strong inbound traffic into Kerala.

Some of the most popular destinations and points of origin connecting from Thiruvananthapuram include London, New York, Manama, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Manchester, Chicago, Toronto, Seattle and Houston. Top feeder markets for Thiruvananthapuram include travellers from similar points across Emirates’ network with the addition of Kuwait City.

Supporting trade and economic growth

Emirates SkyCargo has been instrumental in supporting Kerala’s export-driven economy by connecting local producers, exporters, and businesses to global markets. Since 2019, Emirates SkyCargo uplifted more than 34,000 tonnes of cargo from Thiruvananthapuram, comprising key commodities such as seafood, vegetables and other perishable items. Emirates SkyCargo’s specialised logistical solutions have enabled the transport of time-sensitive and high-value shipments to reach international destinations efficiently, helping businesses expand their reach to global markets through the airline’s expansive network.

A commitment to excellence

Emirates offers travellers from Thiruvananthapuram its signature Fly Better experience across every cabin. First Class customers can unlimited caviar, and personalized fine dining in complete privacy. Business Class passengers enjoy ergonomic leather seats, Bulgari amenity kits, and a premium selection of gourmet meals and beverages. Customers travelling in premium cabins can also enjoy a premium selection of curated wines and spirits.

Across all cabins, customers can savour regionally inspired cuisine including vegetarian and vegan options*, experience the airline’s award‑winning service, and immerse themselves in ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system featuring more than 6,500 channels, including movies, music, live sports, and much more, in regional languages including Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada. 

As Emirates celebrates 20 years of connecting Thiruvananthapuram to the world, the airline reaffirms its long-term commitment to Kerala and its people. Emirates remains focused on supporting tourism, enabling global trade, and strengthening economic and cultural ties for the years ahead.

*Based on pre-order requests

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Emirates’ flight EK330 will depart Dubai at 12:45hrs, arriving in Manila at 1:25hrs the next day. Emirates’ return flight EK331 will depart from Manila at 3:25hrs, arriving in Dubai at 8:25hrs. All times are local.

Flights EK330/331 will be operated by Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER, featuring 8 private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. With this expansion, the airline will offer greater choice and enhanced connectivity for corporate travellers, marine customers as well as the large Filipino diaspora across Emirates’ global network, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, United States, Kuwait, Germany, France, Netherland, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal and South Africa.

The new flights also provide shorter connections from and to Canada, United States, as well as the late morning European departures including Milan, London, Budapest and Athens via Dubai. 

Travellers to and from Manila will benefit from Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all classes, with regionally-inspired dishes and complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system which offers more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages including Tagalog, featuring movies, TV shows, and an extensive musical library along with games, audio books and podcasts.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates’ retail stores. 

More flights, more cargo

An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft can carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo in its bellyhold with a full passenger load. By adding four more flights in its weekly operations to Manila operated by this wide-body aircraft, Emirates will offer increased cargo capacity to further strengthen imports and exports between Manila and Dubai, as well key trade markets across Europe, the United States and the Indian subcontinent.

The UAE and the Philippines have recently signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). With its extensive operations in Manila and Cebu/Clark, Emirates is well positioned to support the growing economic and trade ambitions between the two countries.

Three-decades of steady performance and growing commitment

Emirates launched services to Manila in 1990 and has progressively grown its operations to include a circular service to Cebu and Clark. The airline currently serves the Philippines with 28 weekly flights and will expand to 32 weekly services with the addition of EK330/331 from 2 April.

Through its partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL), Emirates further connects travellers to additional domestic points beyond its own network including: five points via Manila, seven points via Cebu and 3 points via Clark. Offering convenient baggage check-through to their final destinations.

Last year, the airline opened an Emirates World Store in the heart of Manila*, its first in Southeast Asia. Customers can visit the store to get a closer look at some of Emirates’ most popular products including the A380 onboard lounge bar and browse through a curated selection of Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories including the airline’s NBA collection for basketball fans.

* Located at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Dubai, UAE, 13 January 2026 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will launch a daily flight between Helsinki and Dubai from 1 October 2026, expanding its footprint in the Nordics. The new service introduces the only year-round, direct link between Finland and the UAE, and unlocking expanded opportunities for both international leisure and corporate travellers. The service will operate with Emirates’ newest aircraft type, the A350, bringing its latest products and highly acclaimed Premium Economy cabin to Finland, from the inaugural flight.  

Emirates flight EK167 will depart Dubai at 08:45hrs^*, arriving in Helsinki at 14:55hrs^*; the return flight, EK168 will depart Helsinki at 16:45^*, landing in Dubai at 00:20^* the following day. The flight schedule has been optimised to ensure smooth onwards connections, offering convenient access to and from key destinations across East and Southeast Asia such as Bangkok, Phuket, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei; comprehensive connectivity across West Asia and popular Indian Ocean points; African destinations including Cairo, Cape Town and Johannesburg; major hubs across the Middle East and GCC including Damman, Riyadh, Muscat and Kuwait City; and all five Australian cities on Emirates’ network, as well as connections from Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. 

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “The Dubai-Helsinki route is an exciting expansion on our global network. There is already strong demand between Helsinki and Dubai, with travellers connecting through our other Nordic gateways, so introducing direct, year-round connectivity is a natural next step, making the flight seamless and non-stop, while introducing more premium travel options to market. In addition to better serving current demand, we see potential to attract travellers who may have previously opted for alternative connections, growing the overall market and creating opportunities for more people to discover the destinations have to offer."

He continued: “As one of the world’s most in-demand destinations, Finland offers a unique combination of innovation, nature and culture, unlocking new opportunities for tourism, trade and business with the UAE and beyond. To better cater to the long-haul travel, we will deploy the A350, delivering a premium passenger experience along with elevated comfort across every cabin class. We thank the Finnish government for their partnership and support in establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers onboard soon.” 

Tourism remains a key pillar of the country’s economy, with Visit Finland reporting 5 million international tourists in recent years. Emirates’ new route will provide connectivity from over 150 points on its global network, including key points in Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where demand for convenient and comfortable travel to Helsinki continues to grow. 

Named as one of Lonely Planet’s must-visit destinations for 2026, Finland offers year-round experiences, from Arctic adventures beneath the Northern Lights to the iconic phenomenon of the Midnight Sun during summer. Nature is at the heart of the Finnish tourism proposition, with 41 national parks and nature reserves protecting Finland’s green forests, Baltic islands, Arctic fells and pristine blue lakes. Visitors can also encounter rare wildlife, including reindeer, wolves, bears, lynx and the Saimaa ringed seal, found only at Lake Saimaa. 

For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world, a spirit that’s encapsulated in the capital, Helsinki. Blending urban life with easy access to nature, the city is an ideal destination for business and leisure travel. Known as the home of sauna, it offers visitors an authentic insight into Finnish culture and wellbeing. From its vibrant design scene and thriving culinary landscape to its tranquil lakes and forests just minutes from the city centre, Helsinki has something for every traveller to discover. 

Beyond tourism, the UAE and Finland have established strong bilateral relationships, underpinned by mutual interests in renewable energy, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, advanced technology, education, space and sustainable development. Trade between the two nations continues to grow, and Emirates’ new service will fuel further opportunities for Finnish businesses to connect with the UAE and global markets, via Emirates SkyCargo. As one of Europe’s key advanced-tech manufacturing and timber hubs, the airline expects to uplift key commodities such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery, perishables, and high-value goods via the 16 tonnes of bellyhold capacity on each flight. 

The Dubai-Helsinki route will be served by the Emirates A350, the latest aircraft type to join the airline’s all widebody fleet. The A350 is the most fuel-efficient large widebody aircraft in commercial service today and also offers the quietest twin-aisle cabin of any aircraft. Accommodating 298 passengers in three spacious cabins – Business, Premium Economy and Economy – the A350 brings the latest of Emirates’ world-class product and service to Finland from launch, with bright and airy cabins and the latest tech touches. Passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages, while tuning in to over 6,500 channels of global entertainment in various languages on ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. 

Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com or via travel agents. 

*All times are local.

Whether you've been following Emirates all year or just tuning in now, here are the top 10 highlights that defined 2025 for the world’s largest international airline:

The Emirates A350 takes off

The first Emirates A350 entered commercial service in early January with its maiden journey to Edinburgh. The airline’s A350 network has expanded rapidly since then and now, 16 Emirates A350s fly to 18 cities, connecting travellers in comfort across Europe, West Asia, the Middle East, Australia and soon, the Americas when it debuts in Montreal in February 2026.

Looking East

2025 saw Emirates double down on its footprint in Asia with the launch of two new Chinese mainland destinations - Shenzhen and Hangzhou - served by non-stop daily flights, as well as services to Danang in Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia via Bangkok. The airline has been working to serve growing travel and trade demand across East Asia and China as business activity grows across the region.

More Premium Economy, by popular demand

Throughout 2025, Emirates has been adding more of its next-generation Airbus A350 and retrofitted Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, all featuring the award-winning Emirates Premium Economy cabin, across its network. Today close to 70 cities are served by more than 100 aircraft offering the latest Emirates cabin interiors, constituting roughly 40% of the airline’s passenger fleet.

Lightning speed with Starlink

Consistent with its ethos to deliver a superior, consistent experience across its fleet, Emirates announced the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across 232 aircraft in November at the Dubai Airshow.  Starting with its Boeing 777s, the programme will quickly expand to make Emirates the world's first airline with Starlink-equipped A380s in early 2026. The airline will be installing Starlink at the rate of around 11 aircraft per month and by the end of next year, over 123 aircraft will offer customers complimentary ultra-fast connectivity for streaming, gaming, work, and browsing across every cabin class.

Uniting passionate fans through sport

Emirates announced nine major sports deals and renewals in 2025, positioning it as one of the world's most visible sports sponsors through the 2030s. Its headline seven-year partnership with FC Bayern Munich made Emirates Platinum Partner of the German football powerhouse and marked the airline brand’s high-profile return to the Bundesliga.

Emirates signed a historic contract extension with World Rugby through 2035, the longest commitment in the airline's 40-year sponsorship history and the first-ever Platinum Partnership in rugby. It also inked a brand-new partnership with the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), backing the continent's most prestigious club rugby competitions to connect the airline with over 70 million rugby fans worldwide.

Other notable deals included: becoming Official Main Sponsor of Real Madrid Basketball, the renewal of its 18-year AC Milan partnership, extensions with Olympique Lyonnais and the ATP Tour through to 2030, and UAE Team Emirates XRG. These deals solidified Emirates’ sports portfolio spanning football's elite clubs, international rugby, professional basketball, Grand Slam tennis and tournaments, professional cycling, and more.

Door-to-door, faster with Emirates Courier Express

Emirates launched Emirates Courier Express, setting new benchmarks in cross-border delivery by flying packages direct on its passenger fleet instead of routing through multiple hubs. Shortly after launch, Emirates Courier Express added Australia and Germany to its network, now serving 10 international markets, with further expansion planned in 2026. To date, the airline has handled over 50,000 packages and achieved an average delivery time of just three days across its lane pairs.

Emirates Skywards turns 25

Emirates Skywards marked its Silver Jubilee in 2025, complete with a special A380 livery and month-long activations for its members. The award-winning programme today boasts 37 million members across 190 countries. In the last 20 years, Skywards has distributed nearly 400 billion Miles through 100+ partners across 1,400 flight destinations and 30,000 hotels, with members now redeeming over 800 flight rewards daily and one upgrade every minute. This milestone underscores the programme's place as one of the commercial aviation industry’s most valuable loyalty platforms, adding 78,000 new members weekly.

‘Aircrafted KIDS’ reaches thousands 

In 2025, the Emirates' Aircrafted KIDS’ CSR initiative saw over 3,700 handcrafted backpacks distributed to underprivileged children across eight countries in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East, in partnership with over a dozen NGOs that support education. The programme delivered over 1,300 bags across Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia), 700 bags across Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan), and more than 1,600 bags in the Middle East (Egypt and Jordan), with each backpack filled with essential stationery and locally sourced books. Handmade by a team of Emirates Engineering Maintenance Assistants, the bags are crafted from over 50,000 kg of upcycled materials including seat fabrics salvaged from the airline's retrofit programme.

The airline is set to take this initiative to more countries in 2026.  

Accessible Travel Firsts

Emirates became the world's first Autism Certified Airline™, with over 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff trained to support customers with autism and sensory sensitivities. The airline launched its Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on emirates.com featuring accessibility-friendly navigation, digital sensory guides, and support organised by disability type or journey stage.

Emirates also introduced Travel Rehearsal programmes across 17 cities globally, allowing children with autism to practice the airport journey before real flights, while the roll-out of new onboard sensory products and fidget toys help neurodiverse passengers manage overstimulation during travel.

Service enhancements implemented in 2025 include: a safety-approved hooded mattress in Business Class to reduce the need for mid-flight movement for customers with severe mobility disabilities; and the offering of over 600 movies with closed captions and 200 with audio description on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system for customers with visual and hearing impairment. Emirates also worked to ensure barrier free design and biometrics at Dubai International airport for persons with disabilities; and plans to launch a fleet of 10 wheelchair-accessible chauffeur vehicles by early 2026.

‘Fly better’ – an ongoing commitment and investment

Over the last 12 months, Emirates elevated its premium and family travel experience with a suite of enhancements in the air and on the ground. In July, the airline opened Emirates First, an exclusive private check-in area at Terminal 3, Dubai International featuring plush seating and modern ambiance, complete with quick check-in while seated, for a sleek, smooth experience for First Class customers and Skywards Platinum members.

The airline also unveiled refined First-Class service details onboard including keepsake menus exploring wine heritage and culinary inspiration, Robert Welch-designed caviar presentation bowls for its unlimited caviar service complemented with gloved service by cabin crew, and rustic slate cheeseboards with wooden accompaniments.

Investing in the highest levels of luxury hospitality, Emirates opened its Centre of Hospitality Excellence in Dubai to train nearly 25,000 cabin crew in Michelin star-standard hospitality, featuring an immersive fine dining restaurant, presentation kitchens, and tech-enabled classrooms.

Onboard, Emirates introduced 12 new collectible kids' toys and bags across three age groups made with minimum 50% recycled content, themed around the airline's global sports partnerships.

Emirates capped the year with 25 accolades, including Best Airline in the World for the 8th consecutive year at the ULTRAs, Forbes Travel Guide's Best International Airline and Best International First Class, The Telegraph's Best Long-Haul Airline, and Business Traveller Middle East's Best Airline Worldwide for the 12th consecutive year. Emirates also secured APEX's Best Global Entertainment Award for ice and a WORLD CLASS Award for overall customer experience, among several other distinctions.

Dubai, UAE, 03 December 2025 - Emirates has unveiled an exciting new way for travellers to explore Southeast Asia with the launch of the Emirates Asia Pass. Designed for travellers seeking cultural discovery and flexible itineraries, the pass simplifies multi-city travel across the region, offering convenience, value, and flexibility on one single booking.

With the Emirates Asia Pass, customers can book and customise itineraries across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Laos, all under one ticket. Whether travellers are looking to experience tranquil island retreats, rich cultural landmarks or vibrant cities, the Emirates Asia Pass allows them to seamlessly connect between destinations and explore the region their way.

The Emirates Asia Pass offers travellers the freedom to create bespoke journeys, combining their desired destinations, and even revisiting the same city more than once. Travellers can select from one to ten flights within Southeast Asia, making it easy to tailor itineraries to match their travel style and schedule. For the complete list of destinations included in the pass, please visit emirates.com.

The pass is available to travellers booking an international Emirates flight arriving in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, either directly through Emirates or via their preferred travel agent. The new travel solution eliminates the need for multiple tickets on different airlines and allows customers to manage all flights conveniently on a single platform.

From the tranquil beaches of Koh Samui to the vibrant streets of Bangkok, the Emirates Asia Pass invites travellers to plan and extend their trip easily.

Popular gateways such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur serve as ideal starting points for exploration, with seamless onward connections operated in partnership with Bangkok Airways and Batik Air Malaysia. In addition, Emirates-operated services connect travellers between Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Thailand and Cambodia, further expanding travel options across the region.

From now, Travellers can purchase the Emirates Asia Pass with their Emirates international ticket via emirates.com, Emirates Contact Centres, retail and ticketing offices, or travel agencies.

For added flexibility, customers can make changes to their flights after purchase with a nominal fee of USD 15 per change on flights included in their pass.

-Ends-

Notes to editor:

Terms & conditions apply. They can be viewed here: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/special-offers/the-emirates-asia-pass/

·       The value of freight exports is estimated to be $98 million per year, bringing the total estimated expenditure generated by Emirates’ flights to Adelaide to $160 million including tourism expenditure

·       From 1 December 2025, all five Australian cities in Emirates’ network will offer Emirates’ next-generation aircraft, amounting to over 5,000 weekly Premium Economy seats between Australia and Dubai.

Adelaide, AUSTRALIA, 2 December 2025 - Emirates has marked a historic milestone in its Australia operations by welcoming its first A350 to Adelaide starting 1 December 2025. In becoming the first city in Emirates' global network to receive the ultra-long-range model, Adelaide now offers Emirates’ new Premium Economy and has become the fifth and final city in Emirates' Australian network to feature the highly awarded cabin.

All five Australian cities served by Emirates now offer its latest generation aircraft, products and Premium Economy cabin: the four-class A380 across four cities, the four-class Boeing 777 from Melbourne, and the A350 from Adelaide. Delivering on its promise to provide Australians with the best possible travel experience, 56 out of 70 of Emirates’ weekly services between Australia and Dubai are now operated by Emirates’ next-generation aircraft, offering passengers across all Australia access to the airline’s latest cutting-edge products, including over 5,000 weekly Premium Economy seats between Australia and Dubai.

Operating on EK440/441 services, the Airbus A350-900ULR has replaced the Boeing 777-200LR. Emirates’ flight EK440 departs from Dubai at 02:00hrs, arriving in Adelaide at 20:50hrs. The return flight EK441 departs Adelaide at 22:50hrs and arrives in Dubai at 05:20hrs the next day. All times are local.

The A350 aircraft arrived in Adelaide last night to a traditional water cannon salute and was welcomed by South Australian Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia, Emirates and Brenton Cox, Managing Director at Adelaide Airport.

Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia, Emirates, said: “This is a landmark moment for Emirates, highlighting Adelaide and South Australia’s vital role in our global operations. Adelaide proudly becomes the first Australian city to welcome the Emirates A350. With this, our new and highly acclaimed Premium Economy cabin debuts in Adelaide, completing the cabin’s rollout across all five of Emirates’ Australian gateways.

“While Emirates has been accepting the delivery of A350s for the past year, this is the first delivery of our long-range variant with the range and capability to fly from Dubai to Adelaide. Adelaide has been earmarked to receive this new aircraft for some time, underscoring our commitment to the South Australian capital.

“These milestones are a powerful statement of our ongoing investment and commitment to bringing our latest generation product to Australia and will provide South Australians with direct access to our most advanced, comfortable seats and an elevated flying experience, offering seamless connections to Europe and beyond for both business and leisure. Premium Economy has proven incredibly popular, consistently achieving strong load factors to and from Australia, and we anticipate a similar strong demand in Adelaide for the cabin’s quiet luxury and customised experience.”

South Australian Minister for Tourism, Hon Zoe Bettison, said “The arrival of Emirates new ultra-long-range A350 into Adelaide is another major aviation development for tourism in South Australia. It makes this flight even more attractive to potential visitors from key global markets, further boosting the more than $62 million that the Emirates’ daily direct non-stop flights generate in tourism expenditure in South Australia each year. It is exciting that Adelaide has been the city chosen by Emirates to debut its new A350 aircraft and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to South Australia and its confidence in tourism and trade in our State.”

Brenton Cox, Managing Director at Adelaide Airport, said “These new longer range aircraft are a game changer for Adelaide because of their size and range, which are perfectly suited to our market. Emirates has been a strong supporter of ours for more than a decade and this is another show of support for South Australian travellers and visitors to our State. The brand new Airbus A350-900ULR is state-of-the-art and offers the latest in technology and comfort, as well as offering more seats, and more cabin choice. The introduction of Premium Economy seats is similarly a significant win for our customers.”

Introducing the Emirates A350 to Adelaide and Australia

In November 2024, Emirates took the delivery of its first A350 which first entered commercial service in January 2025 between Dubai and Edinburgh. Since, Emirates has expanded its short haul and medium haul A350 destinations. With the delivery of the first long-range A350 to Emirates, Adelaide will become the first city in Emirates network to receive the long-range A350. The Emirates Airbus A350-900ULR can stay in the air for up to 15 hours non-stop, with a range exceeding 14,000 km. The A350 is the most fuel-efficient large widebody aircraft in commercial service today and also offers the quietest twin-aisle cabin of any aircraft.

The Emirates A350 features three spacious cabin classes, accommodating 298 passengers in 32 next-generation Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 28 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 238 generously pitched Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The introduction of the Premium Economy cabin and latest onboard products to Adelaide reflects Emirates’ commitment to delivering a premium passenger experience along with elevated comfort across every cabin class. Business Class on the Emirates A350 features luxurious leather lie flat seats, called the ‘S Lounge seats’, inspired by the Mercedes S Class, plus a mini bar for inflight snacks. Economy Class has seats in an uplifting and elegant light blue, with luxurious bronze-coloured armrests creating a sophisticated look, and a brand new 6-way adjustable headrest on seats.

A350 passengers can also look forward to cutting-edge tech touches like wireless charging in Business Class, new aerBlade electric window blinds with the Emirates Ghaf tree motif when closed in premium classes, new touchscreen call bell buttons on ice inflight entertainment screens, five aircraft camera views and improved inflight live map experience, 60-watt USB C charging in every seat, and the ability to pair personal Bluetooth headphones.

The airline’s next-generation version of the ice inflight entertainment system on the A350 delivers a cinematic experience with stunning 4K and 4K HDR displays on ultra-responsive touchscreens. Passengers will enjoy seamless navigation and innovative features such as the ability to skip credits and intros, and an ‘eye comfort mode’ to reduce blue light exposure, among many other enhancements.

The A350 also offers high-performance Wi-Fi, offering uninterrupted global connectivity using ViaSat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, with improved Wireless Access Points (WAPs) onboard allowing more customers to enjoy up to ten times the current total aircraft bandwidth on average.

Adelaide welcomes Emirates new Premium Economy experience

In Premium Economy, customers can experience quiet luxury with cream-coloured leather and a wood panel finishing similar to Business Class. Each 19.5-inch seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support, with 6-way adjustable headrests, a footrest and a generous 40-inch recline. Each seat has a 13.3-inch screen, in addition to in-seat charging points, Bluetooth connectivity for personal headsets, plus a wood-finished side cocktail table. 

The Premium Economy dining experience includes a welcome drink served in fine glassware, and a selection of meals made with seasonal ingredients, served on Royal Doulton china tableware with Robert Welch stainless-steel cutlery. Premium Economy customers are also offered an extended beverage list that includes vintage wines from Emirates’ Business Class list, including a sparkling Chardon and Chandon Vintage Brut 2017.

Passengers in Premium Economy are provided with complimentary amenity kits made with sustainable and recycled materials and soft, alongside sustainably made blankets and a generously sized pillow, both designed uniquely for Premium Economy.

Premium Economy passengers also benefit from priority boarding, allowing for a smoother and more relaxed start to their journey, a dedicated check-in area at Dubai International Airport and a generous baggage allowance of up to 35kg.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents.

Strengthening Trade Routes Between Adelaide and UAE

Each daily flight will offer 16 tonnes of cargo space, totaling 224 tonnes weekly between Dubai and Adelaide, supporting local exports of wine, seafood (fish, mussels), chilled meat, fruits and vegetables, flowers, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fashion garments. The value of freight exports is estimated to be $98 million per year, bringing the total estimated expenditure generated by Emirates’ flights to Adelaide to $160 million including tourism expenditure.

Located in the centre of the world, Emirates SkyCargo can cater to two-thirds of the world’s population in just eight hours, with Dubai providing a strategic location for the transportation of goods including pharmaceuticals, food and other perishables, e-commerce goods as well as machinery and other equipment. 

With the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) paving the way for increased trade between the UAE and Australia, Emirates is ideally positioned to contribute to this growth, through its high-capacity, multi-vertical, world-class cargo operations that are ready to facilitate and accelerate the flow of goods between the two nations. Emirates can carry more than 2,350 tonnes of cargo in and out of Australia every week.

Connectivity and Commitment to Australia

The introduction of the next-generation A350 to Adelaide further strengthens Emirates’ extensive Australian network, which currently operates 70 weekly return services to and from its five major gateways - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

In October, Emirates welcomed the delivery of its retrofitted four-class A380 to Perth. The new aircraft debuted Emirates Premium Economy to the west coast, giving West Australians access to Emirates latest generation products and services.

Emirates’ extensive network and well-positioned hub in Dubai make it an ideal stopover point for passengers travelling between Australia and onwards to over 40 European destinations, offering seamless connectivity, minimal transit times and world-class airport facilities.

Emirates has been deeply committed to Australia for nearly three decades and its investment in the country goes well beyond the flights it operates. Emirates has also made an investment of over $230 million into a formidable portfolio of sponsorships across sports and art in Australia, including the Australian Open, Collingwood Football Club and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

In 2025, Emirates also launched its Force for Good program in Australia in partnership with the Australian Tennis Foundation. The initiative will introduce tennis to disadvantaged youth over five years and in the five cities the airline flies to. In 2025 alone, the program would have supported over 2,000 disadvantaged children by year end, offering more than 6,500 opportunities to play tennis across over 50 schools and community courts. The first Adelaide Force for Good initiative began in November, delivered by Tennis SA.

The A350 will replace the current Boeing 777 operating flights EK 943/944 four times weekly, offering customers it’s latest cabins for a more consistent travel experience on every flight.

The introduction of the A350 across the full weekly schedule to/from Baghdad is part of Emirates’ commitment to delivering on its ‘Fly Better’ promise. Configured in three classes, the Emirates A350 offers 32 Business Class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, and 259 spacious Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Passengers can enjoy an elevated cinematic experience with the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system - ice, wider aisles, quieter cabins, and advanced lighting designed to reduce jet lag.

The exclusive deployment of the A350 to Baghdad underscores Emirates’ long-standing commitment to Iraq and the wider region. The Airbus A350 was first deployed to Baghdad in August this year on flights EK941/942.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked on the Emirates App, through Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Nairobi, Kenya, 14 November 2025 – Building on Emirates’ 30^th anniversary of operations to Kenya, the world’s largest international airline has announced a third daily flight to Nairobi, commencing 1^st March 2026. With the additional frequency, the Kenyan capital will be served with 21 Emirates flights per week, connecting travellers to Dubai, and onwards to the airline’s vast global network of close to 150 destinations.

The new flight complements Emirates’ existing schedule into Nairobi, adding an early morning arrival and departure to enhance two-way connectivity with key European destinations, including the UK, France, Norway and Italy, as well as the US. By creating easier access from key markets, the additional frequency will further support Kenya’s tourism goals, which aim to attract 5 million international tourists by 2030. EK717 will depart Dubai at 00:55 hrs, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 05:05 hrs; the return flight, EK718, will depart Nairobi at 06:50 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 12:50 hrs.

In recent months, Emirates has been operating its double daily flights at a healthy seat factor, underlining the growing demand for air travel. The third daily service, operated on a three-class Boeing 777, will boost Emirates’ capacity and provide more access to the airline’s world-class product and services, including its First Class cabins, which Emirates exclusively operates in and out of the city.

The new flight schedule has been optimised for connectivity with key flights operated by Kenya Airways, enabling seamless onward travel to top regional destinations such as Rwanda, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mozambique and Burundi. Since signing the agreement in 2023, over 31,000 passengers have benefited from the interline partnership between the two airlines, with a near 50/50 split of bookings, highlighting the mutual benefits for both Emirates and Kenya Airways customers.

Beyond passenger travel, the additional flight will also boost the transportation of goods to and from Kenya, with an additional 280 tonnes of capacity weekly in and out of Nairobi via the belly of the Boeing 777. The early morning departure will be particularly beneficial for the movement of time- and temperature-sensitive perishable commodities like fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Kenya and the UAE have deep-rooted and mutually beneficial bilateral and economic relations, headlined by the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement earlier this year. Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s freight division, has played a key role in facilitating global trade with Kenya, operating three weekly freighters into Nairobi, in addition to the soon-to-be three daily passenger flights offering a total weekly capacity of over 1,100 tonnes in and out of the market.

In October, Emirates marked 30 years of service to Nairobi, following the inaugural flight in 1995. Since then, the airline has carried over 6.6 million passengers to and from the country, forging key inbound traffic from South Korea, China, Thailand and Australia as well as ultra-long-haul passengers travelling from the US. The outbound traffic is similar, with destinations such as Shanghai and Beijing, China; Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; and Seattle, New York and Washington proving popular with travellers from Kenya.

In 2024, Emirates opened Africa’s first Emirates World store in Nairobi, introducing the airline’s refined retail store experience to the region for the first time. Featuring immersive product displays and an expert team to provide travel consultation and bookings, the store further elevates Emirates’ world-class customer experience, on-ground.

Bookings for all three daily flights on the Dubai-Nairobi route are open now, on emirates.com, Emirates Retail Stores, the Emirates app, and preferred travel agencies.

Hangzhou, China, November 5, 2025 – Emirates has recently deployed its new Airbus A350 aircraft on flights between Dubai and Hangzhou. With this significant move, Hangzhou becomes the first Chinese mainland city to feature Emirates’ latest aircraft type, further underscoring the airline’s unwavering commitment to the Chinese market.

Since launching in July 2025, Emirates’ daily Dubai-Hangzhou service has received steady demand from customers, as it provides the Chinese city with capacity and global connectivity via Dubai. By deploying its latest generation aircraft to Hangzhou, Emirates aims to further enhance the onboard experience for travellers while ensuring product consistency.

Operated by Emirates’ Airbus A350, flight EK310 departs daily from Dubai International Airport at 04:15hrs and arrives in Hangzhou at 16:00hrs. The return flight, EK311, departs from Hangzhou at 00:10hrs and lands in Dubai at 06:10hrs. All times are local.

Orhan Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Far East), commented: “In line with its expansion efforts in East Asia, Emirates has significantly enhanced its operations in the Chinese mainland by adding two new main gateways, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, introducing new and enhanced cabins to both cities. Since it launched, Hangzhou has become a strategic hub for Emirates’ ongoing development in China. Its robust economic growth, international outlook, and diversified brand landscape make it one of China’s most dynamic and high-potential markets, along with its neighbouring cities, such as Jinhua, Shaoxing, Ningbo and Taizhou. The deployment of the Airbus A350 on the Hangzhou route demonstrates Emirates’ efforts to align with the evolving travel trends in the Chinese market and further deepen its presence.” 

Adam Li, Vice President China of Emirates Airline, said: “Since the launch of our daily Dubai-Hangzhou route on 30 July, we have witnessed a strong demand from Hangzhou and the wider Zhejiang region. As a key aviation hub in eastern China, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, with its efficient facilities and modern infrastructure has become a strategic gateway for Emirates’ already deepening presence in the Chinese market. Its prime geographical location and robust regional economy provide unparalleled competitive advantages for foreign airlines connecting the Yangtze River Delta economic zone with global markets.

“We’re grateful for the strong support from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in ensuring the success of Emirates’ launch and ongoing operations and are pleased to select Hangzhou as the first Chinese mainland city to receive our new A350 aircraft.”

Emirates’ Airbus A350: redefining excellence in air travel

As the first new aircraft type introduced by Emirates since 2008, the Airbus A350 complements the airline’s existing fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s serving the Chinese mainland. The A350 features Emirates’ latest-generation iconic cabin design, with higher ceilings and wider aisles throughout, creating a more spacious and airier environment. The cabin is meticulously designed to ensure passenger comfort, seamlessly integrating smart technology and a world-class in-flight entertainment system to elevate the travel experience.

The introduction of the A350 on the Hangzhou route brings Emirates’ Premium Economy Class to Chinese passengers, offering a richer selection of premium travel options. Emirates’ Premium Economy Class delivers an experience comparable to the business class of many airlines to bring travelers an exceptional flying experience that includes spacious reclining leather seats with full leg and foot support, adjustable headrests, built-in charging ports, and side cocktail tables. Passengers enjoy a 13.3-inch personal screen, access to over 6,500 entertainment channels, plush oversized pillows, and blankets.

The Emirates A350 is configured with a three-class layout, accommodating 312 passengers: 32 next-generation Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, 21 highly acclaimed Premium Economy Class seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 259 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

For more information or to book your flight, please visit the official Emirates website emirates.com/cn, the Emirates mobile app, contact Emirates Customer Service Center, or consult your travel agent. Passengers booking through Emirates’ official website can also enjoy the convenience of online payment methods such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.

Dubai, UAE, 3 November 2025 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is deploying an additional six weekly frequencies on the Dubai-Cairo route from 1^st December 2025*. Strategically scheduled for maximum connectivity with the airline’s vast global network, the additional frequencies will cater to the increased demand during peak winter season.

From 1^st February 2026*, this will scale to a daily flight with revised timings that complements the current schedule of four daily flights, reinforcing the airline’s confidence in meeting strong leisure and corporate travel demand in and out of Egypt. Operated with a Boeing 777, the flight schedule is optimised for seamless connections with key destinations in Asia including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and many more. 

As one of the earliest destinations on Emirates’ global network, Egypt has long been a priority market for the airline. Cairo already boasts the highest deployment of the iconic Emirates A380s in the Middle East and North Africa, outside of Dubai, and once live with the fifth daily service, will also become the most served city in the airline’s African network, a testament to the airline’s ongoing commitment to the market as it approaches 40 years of service.   

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “As one of the region’s busiest gateways for both passengers and cargo, Cairo has long been a key destination for Emirates. The additional service will make it easier for customers to connect across our network, while fostering strong trade and tourism links between Egypt, the UAE and the wider world. On the eve of our 40^th anniversary of operations to Cairo, the enhanced schedule is a mark of our unwavering commitment to the region. We’d like to extend our thanks to the Egyptian authorities for their support in securing this new frequency and look forward to welcoming passengers onboard soon.” 

Egypt and the UAE have longstanding strong bilateral relations, including numerous tourism, industrial and commercial developments across Cairo and the country’s northern coast in addition to other areas. The additional frequency is set to boost connectivity between the two countries, while also increasing cargo capacity in and out of Egypt, offering 300 tonnes via the belly of the Boeing 777, weekly. Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s freight division, uplifts key commodities, including beloved Egyptian fresh produce such as strawberries and other fruits and vegetables, further stimulating the economy and connecting Egyptian businesses with their global customers, quickly, reliably and efficiently. 

Emirates has firmly established itself as a long-term partner of Egypt’s aviation, tourism and trade, since the inaugural flight in 1986. Since then, the airline has scaled operations, increased frequencies and served over 10 million passengers to and from the market, forging key inbound traffic from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and Australia, among others.  

###

Notes to editors:

Flight schedule

Dubai, UAE, 29 October, 2025: As turbulence becomes an increasingly serious challenge for airlines due to its rising frequency and severity, Emirates has taken a proactive, data-driven approach to address the occasional inconvenience it may cause by planning smoother flights.

The airline has proactively adopted a diverse, multi-layered strategy leveraging multiple information sources to deliver real-time, accurate turbulence data. This approach has helped reduce unexpected severe turbulence encounters on flights across its network with new initiatives launched last year that have helped enhance the onboard experience for passengers and crew.

Captain Hassan Alhammadi, Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations at Emirates said: "We recognise that turbulence remains an ongoing challenge that cannot be completely eliminated, but we're committed to doing everything possible to minimise unexpected severe turbulence encounters through working with partners who share our vision of using advanced technologies and adopting AI to enhance operations. While we are still in the early stages, we are already seeing validation of the potential benefits these systems can deliver.

While we cannot promise turbulence-free flights, these initiatives have contributed to a significant reduction in unexpected severe turbulence incidents over the past year, helping make journeys safer and more comfortable for our customers.

Our multi-layer approach with weather prediction and technology partners and active participation in the IATA Turbulence Aware programme also enables us to contribute valuable data and insights to the broader aviation industry as we collectively work to address this growing meteorological challenge."

Emirates’ current weather detection setup brings together SkyPath, Lido mPilot from Lufthansa Systems and IATA Turbulence Aware as a complementary configuration—delivering breakthrough innovation through AI, machine learning, real-time crowd-sourced turbulence data, as well as pilot reports:

SkyPath: Emirates partnered with SkyPath last year to develop and improve AI and machine learning-based weather predictions that identify turbulence areas conventional methods miss. SkyPath’s platform integrates real-time turbulence reports from thousands of aircraft with cutting-edge analytics, using advanced AI and machine learning to generate accurate predictions, even for areas with no current flight activity or challenging ‘clear air’ turbulence.

SkyPath gathers information from various data sources: Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) data for universal turbulence measurements, Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADSB) transponder data, and SkyPath’s patented iPad accelerometer technology that translates device movement into precise turbulence measurements that provide pilots with actionable information. This multi-source, AI-driven approach ensures global coverage and industry-leading prediction accuracy.

Lido mPilot Weather Predictions: Emirates’ long-standing partnership with Lufthansa Systems delivers a customised mobile navigational charting application tailored to the airline’s operational requirements. Through partnerships with sources like the German Weather Service, Lido mPilot provides high-accuracy weather reporting, live cloud and convection data, plus turbulence and icing predictions for enhanced pilot situational awareness. Emirates continuously collaborates with the Lido team to improve weather data quality and global coverage.

IATA Turbulence Aware: Since joining IATA’s Turbulence Aware Programme last year, Emirates has been actively contributing and consuming real-time turbulence data from its extensive network across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This data feeds into IATA’s global turbulence platform, which aggregates inputs from participating airlines worldwide to provide a comprehensive, real-time view of atmospheric conditions.

By integrating these insights into its electronic flight bag charting application, Emirates equips its pilots with live, in-situ turbulence visualisations. This enables more informed decision-making in the cockpit, allowing crews to anticipate and avoid turbulent areas, ultimately enhancing passenger comfort, operational safety, and fuel efficiency.

·       Over the last three decades, Emirates has carried over 6.6 million passengers on 34,250 flights

Nairobi, Kenya, 29 October 2025 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, marks 30 successful years of flying to Nairobi, Kenya. Since the inaugural flight in October 1995, Emirates has carried over 6.6 million passengers to and from the country, on over 34,250 flights.

Served with a double daily Boeing 777 service, Emirates connects Nairobi, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa, with over 145 countries on its vast global network, facilitating trade and tourism. In the last year, key inbound traffic has been from Asia and Australasia, including South Korea, China, Thailand and Australia as well as ultra-long-haul passengers travelling from the US. The outbound traffic is similar, with travellers from Kenya visiting destinations such as Shanghai and Beijing, China; Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; and Seattle, New York and Washington.

Further expanding their combined footprints, Emirates and Kenya’s flag carrier, Kenya Airways, signed an interline partnership in 2023, offering seamless one-ticket-itineraries and unlocking connectivity to some of the most in-demand tourist destinations in East Africa. In the last 2 years, 31,000 passengers have taken advantage of the partnership – with almost a 50/50 balance between Kenya Airways passengers and Emirates passengers. The most popular destinations Emirates passengers travel to beyond Nairobi are Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro), Mozambique and Burundi.

Commenting on the milestone anniversary, Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, said: “Since launch, Nairobi has been one of the most consistently busy destinations on our African network, not just with international tourists but with corporate travellers connecting with one of the continent’s major economic hubs. Over the last three decades, we have steadily and strategically expanded our operations both in the skies and on the ground to provide our renowned world-class experience in Kenya. We are proud to play a key role in Kenya’s aviation, tourism and trade journey and remain committed to the destination for the decades to come.”

Nairobi is home to Africa’s very first Emirates World travel store, which opened its doors and introduced the airline’s reimagined retail concept in 2024. Centrally located in the ultra-modern Cube, Riverside Drive, the store offers customers expert travel advice, immersive displays and the airline’s elevated experience.

Since the very first flight, Emirates has provided an outstanding passenger experience and, to date, remains the only airline serving Kenya with private, enclosed First Class cabins. The airline also offers one of the most generous baggage allowances on the market, starting at two bags at 23KG each in Economy and two bags at 32KG each in First and Business Class, per traveller. Passengers in every cabin can enjoy regionally inspired menus prepared by award-winning chefs, and over 6,500 channels of entertainment, including Kenyan movies, TV shows and music.

Kenya and the UAE have deep-rooted and mutually beneficial bilateral and economic relations, headlined by the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement earlier this year. Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s freight division, has played a key role in facilitating global trade with Kenya, operating three weekly freighters into Nairobi, in addition to the bellyhold capacity in passenger aircraft. Kenya is one of the top four flower producing countries in the world, growing popular buds such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. In 2024, Emirates SkyCargo uplifted over 16,000 tonnes of fresh cut flowers, transporting them from farm to florist in as little as 24 hours.

Emirates also created employment opportunities, both with the 50-person strong staff in Nairobi and across its global operations. Over 1,100 Kenyans work with The Emirates Group in a variety of different roles, from HR, sales and marketing, through to flight deck. 254 of those employees work as part of Emirates’ multinational Cabin Crew community, and a further 41 are employed as pilots, travelling all over the globe with the world’s largest international airline.

Beyond its operations, Emirates supports three Kenyan humanitarian organisations focused on child welfare through the Emirates Airline Foundation. The Little Prince Nursery and Primary School provides holistic education and rehabilitation for children, and the Foundation has supported its meal programme since 2014; Alfajiri Street Kids offers a safe space and a range of programmes focusing on art therapy for more than 200 children; and finally, the Foundation sponsors four-year scholarships for 10 students at the Starehe Boys’ Centre which delivers academic support for underprivileged boys and includes a high school and multiple tertiary programmes.

Karachi, Pakistan - 24 October 2025: Forty years ago, Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, launched its first flight, EK600, on the route to Karachi. To commemorate the milestone Emirates today showcased its retrofitted B777, featuring Premium Economy cabins, at Jinnah International Airport. The special preview, held on the eve of the airline’s 40^th anniversary, provided VIPs and stakeholders from the aviation and travel industry, and members of the media a walkthrough tour of Emirates’ reconfigured and refreshed four-class aircraft, sporting its latest features. 

The special flight featuring Premium Economy cabins, and operating as EK600, arrived in Karachi at 10:45am for guests to preview Premium Economy cabins which is available on a growing number of routes in its global network. In attendance at the event were Sharjeel Wasan, DG Customs Local Head; H.E. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi, Consul General of UAE; Ehsan Ullah, Director AvSec Ops & Plans, Airport Security Force; and other local dignitaries from the airport authorities, hosted by Mohammed Alhashmi - Emirates’ Vice President for Pakistan.

On the occasion, Mohammed Alhashmi said: "Karachi holds a special place in Emirates' history as the first international destinations where Emirates made its maiden trip from its hub in Dubai. Over the past 40 years, we have proudly connected Pakistan to the world, supporting travellers, businesses and communities. In our commitment to the country, we have also contributed to the growth of the country’s aviation sector and economy and played an active role in job creation.”

“Since our launch in 1985, Emirates has evolved into a global aviation powerhouse, with an extensive global reach, a modern fleet, and a commitment to world-class service. Looking ahead, we continue to enhance the customer experience in line with the ever-changing travel trends, and we hope to introduce our award-winning Premium Economy cabins to Karachi in future. Emirates Premium Economy has revolutionized travel for a growing segment of travellers looking to enhance their flying experience. We look forward to continuing its gradual roll out to key destinations in our network for customers to enjoy an elevated travel experience and a superior value for money proposition.”

40 years of a winning partnership with Pakistan

Over the past forty years of operations to Karachi, Emirates has carried over 19 million passengers between Dubai and Karachi on more than 87,000 flights. Additionally, over 36 million passengers have travelled on a total of 146,000 flights between Dubai and the five points served in the country.

In addition to supporting passenger travel and tourism, the airline also transports over 73,000 tonnes of cargo annually to and from Pakistan, facilitating trade through the export and import of commodities. Notably, on its inaugural flight, revenue was generated solely from cargo transport, as all passengers were flown free of charge.

 With three daily flights connecting Karachi to global destinations, Emirates has become an integral part of the city's aviation landscape. Some of the most popular destinations relevant to Karachi include Jeddah, Medina, Toronto, London, New York, Istanbul, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Manchester and Shanghai, in addition to Emirates’ hub city of Dubai. Top feeder markets for Karachi include travellers from the same points, in addition to Bangkok, Dammam, and Sydney.

Emirates caters to a broad range of traveller segments, from leisure and corporate travellers to students pursuing higher education abroad. Emirates’ award-winning Premium Economy offering provides a refined upgrade from Economy Class, for passengers to experience elevated levels of comfort on long-haul journeys.

Emirates’ latest cabin class, Premium Economy 

The retrofitted B777 with Premium Economy offers Emirates’ latest cabins that redefine comfort for travellers, offering spacious leather reclining seats with full leg and footrests and adjustable headrests. It features in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table, a 13.3-inch TV screen, a generously sized pillow and blanket as well as complimentary amenity kits on select flights, among other luxurious touches. Passengers seeking a premium dining experience can explore a diverse selection of regional menus, featuring an array of local flavours and an extensive beverage selection for Premium Economy customers.

Furthermore, the inflight entertainment system ice, with over 6,500 channels, has undergone significant enhancements, now boasting a larger screen and an extensive collection of movies, TV shows, and albums in Urdu.

Dubai, UAE 23 October 2025: Emirates has been awarded the prestigious Gold Tier recognition in New York JFK Airport's 2024 Fly Quiet Programme, the only airline to achieve this distinction. Emirates’ score of 92.9[1] significantly outpaced other carriers flying into the airport and taking part in the programme.

The Fly Quiet Programme, developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is a voluntary initiative that encourages airlines to minimise their noise signature through utilising quieter aircraft as well as embracing noise abatement procedures and preferential runway usage.

This Gold Tier recognition reflects the airline’s commitment to noise reduction at one of the world's busiest and most operationally complex airports. Since the programme's inception, Emirates has collaborated closely with the Port Authority, with the airline’s Flight Operations team making sustained efforts to exceed all the programme’s requirements. The latest accolade at one of the world's busiest international hubs follows a series of industry recognitions in noise management over the years, including Silver Tier status at Newark (EWR) and the Chairperson's Award at San Francisco’s (SFO) Fly Quiet programmes.

Emirates’ fleet noise levels register a notable cumulative margin which is better than 12 EPNdB over ICAO Chapter 4 requirements[2]. The airline’s all wide-body fleet and high-capacity operations efficiently transport passengers, while achieving optimised noise output by delivering an average of 1.75 million passenger-kilometres per sector, which involves one arrival and one departure noise event[3]. Simply put, this means fuller aircraft flying non-stop over longer distances, all while optimising noise output.

Operational efficiency through high-capacity long-range aircraft helps deliver significant overall noise efficiency. Consider a route serving 500 daily passengers, which a single Emirates Airbus A380 wide-body aircraft completes with one arrival and one departure noise event. Operations on the same routing using smaller aircraft, which have different noise characteristics in comparison to Emirates aircraft, may require up to three flights in each direction as well as a tech-stop, generating a total of six arrival and six departure noise events for the same operation. The nature of the airline’s network and high-capacity operations driven by a fleet of wide-body aircraft is how Emirates’ operational model optimises noise output while maintaining vital connectivity for communities.

Air connectivity delivers community benefits that extend far beyond airport boundaries, linking families and friends across continents, generating substantial economic activity in local communities, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating international trade and tourism to drive prosperity.

A commitment to quieter skies

Aircraft noise abatement is vital for protecting the health and quality of life of airport-adjacent communities. The airline's commitment to minimising its noise impact reflects its support for local communities in the destinations it serves, recognising that even small decisions in flight operations can lead to meaningful noise reduction on the ground.

The airline's noise reduction strategy pursues every available means while maintaining the highest standards of operational diligence, including:

• Compliance to noise abatement and curfews: Emirates’ noise management strategy mandates strict adherence to Noise Abatement Departure Procedures (NADP). These procedures, published by state authorities, are integrated into Emirates’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) and are meticulously followed by all flight crews. The airline also ensures ongoing alignment with airport-specific curfews and restrictions, respecting local guidelines at every destination.
• Prioritising noise preferential runways: Emirates proactively utilises Noise Preferential Runways whenever operationally viable, even when facing challenging conditions such as tailwinds, provided safety standards are maintained.
• Transparent monitoring and accountability: Accountability drives Emirates’ operational approach. Any deviation from noise procedures triggers mandatory crew reports, which undergo rigorous review to identify root causes and implement improvements. This continuous feedback loop supports the airline's commitment to ongoing improvement and responsible operations.
• A quieter fleet: Emirates operates one of the industry's quietest widebody fleets, achieving cumulative EPNdB margins meeting or better than ICAO Chapter 4 and Chapter 14 standards. Ongoing fleet modernisation investments ensure that noise performance keeps pace with technological advancement and continues to improve in the coming years.
• Collaborative engagement with stakeholders: Emirates’ approach to noise management extends beyond technical excellence, with collaborative partnerships playing a central role in contributing insights and sharing industry best practices.  The airline actively engages in airport authority roundtables and focus groups and rigorously complies with all regulatory documentation and reporting requirements, helping to build lasting trust and transparency with regulators and communities alike.

[1] Programme methodology can be found here: https://aircraftnoise.panynj.gov/fly-quiet-program/

[2] ICAO noise standards are detailed in Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

[3] A noise event is a single aircraft operation (take-off, landing, or overflight) measured at airports to track community exposure and regulatory compliance.

Entebbe, Uganda, 17 October 2025 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, celebrates 25 years of operations to Uganda. Since the inaugural flight in 2000, Emirates has transported 2.8 million passengers on 15,900 flights, connecting passengers from Uganda, with its vast global network, via Dubai.

Over the years, Emirates has steadily and strategically scaled its operations to Entebbe, evolving with customer demand. At launch, the service was operated three times a week, and linked with Nairobi, and later with Addis Ababa, before becoming a direct service in 2007. In 2015, Emirates first operated the Boeing 777-200LR, replacing the Airbus A330-200 and upgrading seat capacity by 12%. Now, Emirates operates a three-class Boeing 777-300ER and remains the only international airline offering a First Class cabin in and out of the city.

For the last two years, Emirates and the Uganda Tourism Board have collaborated to stimulate inbound tourism, promoting the country’s stunning natural landscapes, free-roaming wildlife experiences, thrilling adventure sports and rich culture, in key destinations on the airline’s network. Since January 2025, Emirates has noted a 16% uptick in passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe route, with key traffic from the US, China, India, the UK, Thailand and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Beyond commercial operations, Emirates has also invested in Ugandan communities. In September 2024, Emirates’ ‘Dubai 7s for Good’ CSR programme raised a record 587,485,310 Ugandan Shillings (UGX) dedicated to building community infrastructure and sports amenities at North Road Primary School in Uganda, a community school recognised for its excellence in rugby, football, and netball. Since the start of the programme, Emirates has improved infrastructure and supplies at the school, by building a rugby pitch complete with permanent 2-000 capacity shaded bleachers, installing solar-powered 16 water stations to supply fresh and clean water, and donating sport equipment to the students.

Commenting on the anniversary, Mohamed Taher, Emirates’ Country Manager for Uganda said, “Uganda is not only a key market on our network, but also one of our most loved destinations in Africa. Over the last 25 years, we have built strong and prosperous ties with customers, partners and stakeholders, by investing in our operations to provide a best-in-class service. As Uganda’s tourism and aviation sectors continue to flourish, we are proud to play a pivotal role in connecting international travellers to the country and helping passengers from Uganda explore more of the world in comfort.”

To mark the milestone, Emirates operated a special one-off flight to Entebbe, with the fully refreshed four-class Boeing 777, followed by a static tour to showcase the latest and greatest the airline has to offer. Key stakeholders from Uganda’s aviation and tourism sectors were in attendance, including General Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transportation, and the Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Fred Bamwesigye along with Rashid Alardha, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa and Mohamed Taher.

During the static tour, guests experienced the refurbished Boeing 777, including the next-generation cabins, latest sophisticated design and the highly acclaimed Premium Economy Cabin, unveiled in Uganda for the first time. Set-up as if in flight, Emirates showcased the experience in each cabin: from lie flat seats in First and Business Class, the fine dining in Premium Economy to the full array of amenities available in Economy, such as children’s toys for all ages.

The aircraft is the result of Emirates industry-leading USD $5 billion dollar retrofit programme, which will see 219 A380s and Boeing 777s undergo nose-to-tail upgrades to enhance the onboard experience for passengers. The monumental project is handled entirely in-house by Emirates Engineering and, to date, 72 aircraft have been completed – 36 A380s and 37 Boeing 777s. As the programme continues to scale up in 2026 and beyond, all Emirates destinations will be served by the refreshed aircraft, including Uganda.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

London, UK, 1 October 2025 - Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is unlocking more opportunities for travel with the addition of six weekly flights to its London Heathrow schedule, starting 26 October 2025. 

The boosted schedule for the winter season follows record growth and demand, providing more convenience and departure time choices for travellers journeying to and from London Heathrow, and is well-timed to serve the year-end travel peak. 

Emirates already flies six times a day to and from London Heathrow, and all flights are served by its flagship Airbus A380. The additional flights will operate on all days except for Fridays during the winter period with the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER, offering over 350 seats each way in a three-class configuration split between First, Business, and Economy. 

Strategically timed overnight departures from London Heathrow to Dubai provide convenient onward connections to destinations like Durban, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Jakarta. Flights to London Heathrow offer well-timed connectivity for travellers coming from cities across West Asia like Ahmedabad, Lahore, Maldives, Hyderabad and Chennai, Beijing and Shanghai in the Chinese mainland as well as several points within the Middle East including Bahrain, Dammam and Riyadh. 

Flight EK41 will depart Dubai on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 13:40hrs, arriving in London Heathrow at 17:40hrs*. The return flight, EK42, departs London Heathrow at 22:35hrs on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, arriving in Dubai at 09:35hrs the next day. The return flight, EK42, departs London Heathrow at 21:20hrs on Tuesday and Saturday, arriving in Dubai at 08:20hrs the next day. On Thursdays, EK41 will depart Dubai at 12:55hrs, arriving in London Heathrow at 16:55hrs. The return flight, EK42, departs from London Heathrow at 21:20hrs, arriving in Dubai at 08:20hrs the next day. All times are local. 

For more information or to book tickets, customers can visit emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates retail stores, Emirates contact centres, or via travel agents. 

Enhanced frequencies at Emirates’ London hubs, including London Heathrow** and London Gatwick, will take the airline's total weekly services to 90 flights by early next year. Last month, Emirates announced a fourth daily flight to London Gatwick, starting from 8^th February 2026, operated on the airline’s newest aircraft, the Airbus A350. 

By February 2026, Emirates will serve the UK with 146 weekly flights across its three London airports London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, in addition to its regional gateways Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

All customers travelling with Emirates can expect to enjoy a best-in-class onboard experience with exceptional levels of comfort and hospitality. The airline offers its customers an unmatched culinary experience in the skies with regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs, complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. 

Customers can also enjoy more than 6,500 channels of the best global entertainment content with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. This includes a vast selection of movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more.

*London Heathrow arrival on Monday is 1745hrs.

**Winter schedule includes additional flight frequencies

Dakar, Senegal, 15 September 2025 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is celebrating 15 successful years of flying to Dakar, Senegal. Since the inaugural flight in 2010, Emirates has played a pivotal role in connecting passengers and trade from Senegal, with its vast global network, via Dubai.

Emirates first began operations to Dakar in 2010, operating an Airbus A340-300 with five-weekly services. This marked the first scheduled air link between the UAE and Senegal, creating a seamless, fast and convenient service for travellers. Beyond connectivity into the Middle East, the new route significantly improved ease of travel between Senegal, China and other Asian markets, a boon for traders and the business community. Likewise, the route also enhanced the journey for thousands of pilgrims, travelling to the holy city of Mecca for Hajj and Umrah. 

In 2016, Emirates upgraded the route to a Boeing 777-300ER, expanding the weekly seat count and cargo capacity, to bolster connectivity and serve the increased demand. Over the last 15 years, Emirates has operated 6,065 flights and carried over 890,290 passengers to and from the market, forging key inbound traffic from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing in China; Delhi, Chennai and Bombay in India; as well as South Africa and Saudi Arabia. The outbound traffic is similar, with destinations such as China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Commenting on the milestone, Arpit Behl, Country Manager, Senegal, Emirates said: “Celebrating 15 years of connecting to Senegal reflects the strong ties we have built with our customers, and partners, and our longstanding investment in this important market. Since our very first flight, we have delivered on our promise to enhance connectivity with the globe and provide travellers with a world-class inflight experience. We are proud to have played a key part in Senegal’s evolving aviation, tourism and trade sectors, and will continue our journey with new and exciting developments for years to come." 

Fondly referred to as the Land of Teraanga, Senegalese culture is defined by kindness, generosity and hospitality – key and in-demand traits amongst Emirates multinational Cabin Crew community. The airline employs more than 50 people from Senegal, including cabin crew, pilots, sales agents, and other positions across the Group. Emirates offers candidates exceptional career opportunities, including a wide range of development programs that aim to retain and inspire top talent.

Emirates A380 Captain, Oumar Ba said, “As a proud Senegalese national, and Airbus A380 Captain for the world’s largest international airline, it’s a pleasure to see Emirates celebrating 15 years of operations to Dakar. I’ve been flying with Emirates for almost 10 years, travelling all over the world – one day, I hope to have the honour of flying the iconic Emirates A380 into Senegal!”

Senegal and the UAE have deep-rooted and mutually beneficial bilateral and economic relations, with a significant growth in trade over the last 5 years. Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s freight division, has played a key role in facilitating global trade with Senegal, transporting over 18,200 tonnes of goods in and out of Dakar, in the last five years alone. In addition to the bellyhold capacity in passenger aircraft, the airline operates a once weekly Boeing 777F freighter into Senegal, boosting the capacity of trade in and out of the region.

Leveraging its industry-leading portfolio of fit-for-purpose products, Emirates SkyCargo uplifts key exports such as world-famous Senegalese seafood, transporting it worldwide. Popular shipments include thiof commonly known as grouper, Daurade (seabream) and Rougets (red mullet), transported to Europe, and lobster into destinations across East Asia. Beyond seafood, Emirates SkyCargo carries seasonal commodities such as seasonal beans to European destinations, as well as melons and mangoes into the UAE. Conversely, the airline imports vital commodities such as mobile phones and accessories, textiles and garments, and other electronics mostly from UAE, Hongkong and India; in addition to regular pharmaceutical shipments, such as vaccines.

Dubai, UAE, 10 September 2025: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will deploy its Airbus A350 to Hangzhou, China on its daily service from 26 October 2025. Coming just three months after its inaugural service, the deployment reinforces Emirates’ steadfast commitment to providing an outstanding experience for travellers to and from its newest destination in Chinese mainland.

The Emirates A350 will operate on flight EK310 which departs from Dubai International Airport at 04:15hrs and arrives in Hangzhou at 16:00hrs; the return flight, EK311, departs Hangzhou at 00:10hrs, landing in Dubai at 06:10hrs.*

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Over the last year we have made significant investments in our operations to Chinese mainland, creating meaningful impact through the launch of brand-new destinations and providing an elevated in-flight experience with our latest products. Introducing the A350 to Hangzhou is the natural next step, as we continue to bring the latest and greatest that Emirates has to offer to China’s skies. The A350 is an exciting addition to our fleet mix, adding a new dynamic to our existing operations in China. We look forward to welcoming passengers from Hangzhou on the new Emirates A350 soon.”

A deep dive on the Emirates A350

The A350 is the first new aircraft model to join the Emirates fleet since 2008, complementing the existing line-up of Boeing 777s and A380s, both of which serve Chinese mainland. Kitted out in the airline’s latest signature interiors, the A350 features sleek and spacious cabins, with extra high ceilings and wider aisles in all classes. Designed around customer comfort, the aircraft features seamless technology touchpoints and ground-breaking inflight entertainment to elevate the passenger experience.

The deployment of the A350 also introduces Premium Economy to Hangzhou, expanding Emirates premium offering to and from the city. Making luxury travel more accessible to a wider audience, Premium Economy offers an experience similar to Business Class on many airlines, with spacious leather reclining seats with full leg and footrests and adjustable headrests. It features in-seat charging points, a side cocktail table, a 13.3-inch TV screen, a generously sized pillow and blanket, complimentary amenity kits on select flights and a globally exclusive sparkling wine - Chandon Vintage Brut 2017.

Configured in three classes, the Emirates A350 provides 312 seats: 32 next-generation Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 of the highly-lauded Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 259 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents. WeChat Pay is available on emirates.com for customers in China.

*All times are local

During the ten years of operations to Orlando, one of the most visited cities in the world- renowned for its theme parks and events and status as a destination for tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) - Emirates’ services to Orlando International Airport have carried over 1.1 million passengers across more than 4,700 flights.

In addition to supporting passenger travel and tourism, the airline has also transported over 14,000 tonnes of cargo, facilitating trade through the export and import of commodities.

Matthew Jones, VP-USA, Emirates said: “It has been a phenomenal decade of connecting Orlando to the world. In the US we proudly serve 12 gateways with Orlando being one of our busiest, being the fourth most visited city in the nation. We are proud to have served as a catalyst for the growth of the local tourism and cargo industry. We would like to thank Orlando International Airport for their long-standing partnership and ongoing support in managing our operations and assisting our passengers.”

“As we reflect on the next 10 years, we will continue to elevate the customer experience in line with the ever-changing travel trends, bringing industry-leading products to Orlando and continuing to offer seamless connectivity to Dubai and beyond.”

“During these past 10 years, Emirates has provided more than a million passengers with premium customer service between two extraordinary destinations, Orlando and Dubai, and supported a thriving cargo operation” said Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages Orlando International Airport. “We are extremely satisfied with our Emirates partnership as they continue to be a gateway to the Middle East to both our business community and to leisure travelers interested in exploring the world. We look forward to celebrating more milestone anniversaries in the years to come.”

With five weekly flights connecting Orlando to global destinations, Emirates has become an integral part of the city's aviation landscape.

Some of the most popular destinations and points of origin relevant to Orlando include Mumbai, Manila, Hyderabad, Denpasar, Bangalore, Delhi, Johannesburg, Singapore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jakarta, and Bangkok, in addition to Emirates’ hub city of Dubai.

Top feeder markets for Orlando include travellers from the same points in addition to points of origin such as Karachi and Dhaka.

Emirates caters to a broad range of traveller segments, from leisure and corporate travellers to students pursuing higher education abroad.

Facilitating global trade

The airline continues to support local industries and businesses by uplifting cargo from Orlando to the rest of its global network. With its vast cargo network and state-of-the-art facilities, Emirates SkyCargo has been instrumental in enabling seamless transportation of goods, promoting export opportunities, and stimulating economic development in the countries it operates in.

Emirates’ flights have uplifted more than 14,000 tonnes of cargo out of Orlando, with commodities exported ranging from perishable items such as ferns to transporting pets, aquatic animals as well as pharma products. Global courier service providers are supported by Emirates’ cargo services and include Emirates Delivers which operates out of Sarasota. In addition, a host of global brands supported by Emirates’ operations include Siemens as well as Disney.  

Emirates’ new regulations include:        

• Emirates customers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours.
• Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard.
• Charging a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply is not permitted.
• All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available. 
• Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you.
• Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule).

Why is Emirates making this change?

After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard. There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.

Power banks primarily utilize lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, and their function is as a portable battery pack designed to recharge devices on the go. The batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. The ions flow through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges. If the battery is overcharged or damaged, it may result in ‘thermal runaway.’ Thermal runaway in batteries is a self-accelerating process where heat generation within a battery cell exceeds its ability to dissipate heat, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable temperature increase. This can result in dangerous consequences like fire, explosions, and the release of toxic gases. 

Most phones and sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal trickle system which slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging, but many basic power banks may not have this safeguard, increasing the risk. All power banks are subject to the new rules onboard Emirates.

Emirates new regulations will significantly reduce risks associated with power banks by prohibiting their use while onboard the aircraft. Storing power banks in accessible locations within the cabin ensures that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond and extinguish the fire.

Safety is one of Emirates’ core values, and a cornerstone of all operations and practices. Emirates is committed to maintaining and improving levels of safety on an ongoing basis, safeguarding customers and staff at all times.

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Dubai, UAE – 21 July 2025: In its commitment to supporting inbound tourism to the island nation of Mauritius, Emirates has announced it will introduce a third daily flight, starting on 1 December. The additional service, to be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft as EK709/710, will complement existing schedules and support the travel plans of Emirates customers planning trips to the popular destination from across its network of more than 140 points.

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, currently serves Mauritius with two daily services aboard its flagship A380 aircraft, operating as EK701/702 and EK703/704.The addition of the third daily service, under a codeshare arrangement with Air Mauritius, will provide convenient flight timings to support travel itineraries and enable seamless connectivity for customers from the Middle East, Europe and the Americas travelling to the Indian Ocean holiday spot. The additional daily service will also provide seamless connections from and to Far East markets, where Emirates will actively promote the destination to audiences in Japan, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. 

Passengers can now book seats to the exotic island destination in First Class, Business Class and Economy Class on flight EK709, to operate daily and departing Dubai at 06:55 hrs and arriving in Mauritius at 13:40 hrs. Flights from Mauritius, operating as EK710, will depart Mauritius at 18:30 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 01:10 hrs the next day. All times are local.

Tickets on the third daily service can be booked immediately by visiting emirates.com, for travel starting from 1 December. Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “We would like to thank the Mauritian authorities for making an additional daily service possible. We have been proudly serving Mauritius since 2002 and our double daily A380 services have been a major success and contributor to the growth of the country’s tourism industry. The additional daily service on our wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft will enable a more than 30 percent increase in capacity on the route, while also providing additional flight options for leisure and business travellers to seamlessly connect to flights.”

“We recently reaffirmed our codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius and our shared commitment to putting the destination on the global stage by facilitating steady growth in tourist demand for visits to Mauritius. We are also pleased to support and complement the operations of the national carrier, whose services have contributed to our success on this route. The additional daily service will allow both airlines to meet demand from global travellers.”

Since Emirates launched its scheduled services to Mauritius in 2002, the airline has carried more than 8.8 million passengers and more than 126 thousand tonnes of cargo on flights to and from Mauritius. Its passenger and cargo operations have generated significant economic and social contributions, including USD119 million in direct contribution from Emirates’ flights, USD264 million in tourism receipts as well as USD530 million to the Mauritian economy through tourism-related spending.

Emirates’ operations have also had an immense impact on uplifting the economy and supported the creation of 3,600 jobs in the nation. In addition, hundreds of Mauritians work for Emirates, from pilots and cabin crew to engineering, customer service, and corporate roles.

Emirates has succeeded in driving demand across its global network thanks to its long-standing partnership with Air Mauritius, since 2003, and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), allowing both the airline and tourism body to collaborate on joint initiatives that showcase the appeal of Mauritius to stakeholders in key markets, since 2012.

The airline currently operates 14 flights per week between Dubai and Mauritius on the airline’s flagship A380 aircraft, with a weekly capacity of more than 15,000 seats. Besides being the only airline offering services on the double-decker aircraft to the island, Emirates is also the only airline providing seats in First Class cabins.

Dubai, UAE: 18 July 2025: In a significant enhancement to its Irish operations, Emirates is set to operate a third daily service to Dublin this winter starting from 26 October 2025. The world’s largest international airline will offer customers more travel choices to Dubai and beyond, as well as increased cargo capacity to/from Dublin. 

Emirates flight EK165 will depart Dubai at 02:10hrs and arrive in Dublin at 06:25hrs, local time. The return flight, EK166, will depart Dublin at 08:25hrs and arrive in Dubai at 20:00hrs local time. The additional flight will provide Irish travellers with an early morning departure option, complementing the existing afternoon and evening departures offered by the airline’s double daily service to the country.

The third daily flight will operate utilising a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft set in a three-class configuration, offering customers 8 private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. 

The added service will also provide travellers with enhanced connectivity to popular destinations across Emirates’ network including Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.

Connecting Dublin to the world

Last month, the airline officially introduced its newly retrofitted Boeing 777 on the Dubai to Dublin route, offering Irish passengers an upgraded experience with its four-class configuration, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy cabin and latest Business Class experience. The airline has also announced it will deploy its second refurbished Boeing 777 to Dublin starting from 16 October.

Customers travelling with Emirates can look forward to the warm hospitality of the airline’s multinational crew, regionally inspired meals, and award-winning inflight entertainment system – ice – offering up to 6,500 channels of the best movies, TV shows, podcasts and more. Premium passengers will also experience an essence of Ireland onboard with VOYA bathroom amenities, Keogh’s Crisps and Killowen yogurt.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Emirates Public Relations

pr@emirates.com

Flight EK913 arrived at 2:30 pm with 286 passengers onboard and was celebrated upon arrival at Damascus International Airport, greeted with a water cannon salute.

H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency headed the UAE delegation along with Emirates executives who were onboard the flight and led the ceremony upon arrival, including Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer; Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President International Affairs; Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Centre); Sami Aqil, Senior Vice President – Emirates Airport Services Outstation and Business Support; Nick Moore, Senior Vice President, Passenger and Hub operations and Ahmad Al Khamis – Vice President, Aeropolitical Affairs.

The delegation also included H.E Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority; H.E Obaid Saif Mohammed Alnuaimi, Executive Director Aviation Security and Accident Investigation Sector, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Hamad Ibrahim Essa Taher, Head of Aviation Security, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; and Ahmed Saqer Al Marri, Dubai Group Security, Dubai Police;  in addition to UAE media and other distinguished guests.

The first flight was welcomed by a VIP delegation including H.E. Hasan Ahmed Al-Shehhi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Syria; Amjad Nakhal, Director of the Chairman’s Office, General Authority of Civil Aviation; Anis Fallouh, Director of Damascus International Airport; Colonel Omar Abdel Baqi, Head of Security, Damascus International Airport and Alaa Sallal, Director of PR, General Authority of Civil Aviation;  in the presence of other representatives of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Damascus International Airport, as well as media.

Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Centre) highlighted the significance of the airline’s operations to the Syrian capital. He said: “Today marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the return of Emirates to Damascus. By providing our services and connecting Damascus to the world, we are helping to reunite families, friends, and communities who have long awaited easier access to their loved ones.

“The UAE and Syria have historically enjoyed strong bilateral ties and the country has always been an important market for Emirates, since our first flights to the country in 1988. Through our passenger operations, we aim to serve as a vital facilitator for tourism, trade and investment and, in connecting Syria to almost 150 destinations across our network, we hope to be a valuable enabler of its recovery. We would like to thank the Syrian and UAE authorities and General Authority of Civil Aviation for their cooperation and commitment to making the resumption of services possible.”

Senior members of the Syrian delegation, Emirates’ leadership and VIPs from Dubai participated in a cake-cutting ceremony and symbolic gift exchange to commemorate the restart of services and long-standing partnership with the country. 

Alaa Sallal, Director of Public Relations at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Syria, stated: "The teams from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority and the United Arab Emirates worked tirelessly, through high-level coordination and a shared vision, to meet all requirements necessary to resume air operations. These fruitful efforts culminated in the successful reinstatement of Emirates’ flights to Damascus – a step that reflects the depth of cooperation between both sides and their shared commitment to strengthening fraternal and economic ties."

Emirates’ services to Damascus will initially operate three times per week, on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, with plans to increase services to four-weekly from 2 August* with an additional flight on Saturday. Emirates will expand its services to Damascus to daily operations effective 26 October*. Emirates customers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline’s codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement its flight schedule and network, providing more options and convenience when flying in and out of the Syrian capital.

The Emirates Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating to and from Damascus features 38 Business Class seats alongside 264 seats in Economy Class. Emirates Business Class on the Damascus service will feature a 2-2-2 configuration. Travellers flying to and from Damascus with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, including mezze appetisers followed by local and international dishes to choose from. Emirates’ in-flight dining is prepared by a team of chefs from all over the world, including Syrian hands. Emirates’ signature mezze is prepared from a diverse spread of quality ingredients, many of which are Syrian products including tahini paste, red pepper paste and olive oil.

Customers can also sit back and relax with up to 6,500 channels of carefully curated entertainment, including close to 650 channels of Arabic content, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. Passengers travelling on the route can watch from a selection of 41 popular Syrian series and dramas including Nafas, Bi Al Dam, and Tout Al Aswad. Up to 380 Arabic movies are also available to view including 51 new releases. 

Tickets can be booked by visiting emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Emirates commenced services to Damascus in 1988, and prior to suspending operations in 2012 the airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in and out of Syria.  

The airline currently flies to 14 cities in the Middle East/GCC, serving the region with a total of 194 weekly flights. 

*Subject to government approvals

The father, who regularly travels with his children during the summer holidays, wanted to showcase how Emirates delivers seamless, comfortable journeys for families by creating content that's relatable and fun to watch, especially for parents and kids. From accommodating unaccompanied minors, to kids meals and endless onboard entertainment, the creative video highlights the airline’s many family-friendly services and amenities through an engaging, animated lens that’s light and fun, and resonates with families.

Khalifa is one of many Dubai-based creators embracing AI tools to bring their stories to life. The city has set a clear and ambitious goal to become a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI) by 2031 through several key government initiatives and strategies, talent development programmes, international collaborations, and a robust startup ecosystem which aims to cultivate critical AI skills to support economic growth in the coming decade.

Flight searches for summer travel have climbed 7% compared to last year, with France leading the charge, experiencing a remarkable 35% increase in outbound travel searches, followed by Ireland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also seeing strong momentum, highlighting robust travel intent across key markets.

In 2025, a few breakout stars have emerged as the top summer destinations for Emirates, and they’re largely concentrated in the Far East, Indian Ocean and Europe.

Emirates’ summer hotspots

Vietnam has emerged as this summer's ‘it’ destination, stealing the spotlight with a robust 61% leap in interest, and an uplift in booking demand. Emirates flies to three points in Vietnam with 25 weekly flights: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and in June this year, the airline launched services to Da Nang via Bangkok, with flight times that offer seamless connections to/from major European cities and key American hubs.

Vietnam's vibrant third metropolis is a gateway to a trio of UNESCO World Heritage treasures and over 3,000km of untouched coastline. For culinary adventurers, Vietnamese cuisine is a story in every bite. From bustling street food markets to hidden local gems, the country’s dining scene promises an unforgettable experience.

Close behind, the island nation of Mauritius continues to charm travellers, with searches for flights rising 41% as the second most in-demand destination on the Emirates network this summer. The airline offers two convenient daily flights on its iconic A380s; while Sri Lanka has seen a 32% increase as a clear favourite for its rich cultural tapestry, pristine beaches, ‘tea country’ and affordable luxury experiences.

Japan continues its magnetic pull on global explorers, growing 28% in flight searches compared to last year, with its unique culture, stunning landscapes, modern cities, and delectable cuisine blending balance and artistry. Emirates operates 21 weekly flights to three Japanese points – Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka.

The timeless allure of France rounds out the top five with a solid 25% boost, and Emirates is helping meet traveller demand this summer, serving Paris with 21 weekly flights, including 3 daily A380 flights; a daily A380 service to Nice; and a daily A350 flight to Lyon. 

The science of wanderlust: booking data and travel choices

In the UAE, Emirates has seen a 13% rise in flight searches overall, and airline has witnessed a year-on-year increase for searches to destinations like Sri Lanka, Jordan, France, India, Lebanon, and Morrocco. Travellers from the US flying Emirates have been increasingly focusing their searches on African points like Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, while UK travellers are searching 12% more than last year on emirates.com, with increasing interest to far flung destinations like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Indian travellers seek more opportunities to venture out to Australia, New Zealand and Ireland in 2025, while the airline notes that Australian travellers are focusing on their European summer plans, with a rise in searches to France and the UK. Over the past year, German travellers are drawn eastbound with higher search levels to Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and the Seychelles.

Summer traditionally skews for longer breaks, particularly for Emirates travellers from India, Australia, the UK and Germany who stretch their getaways into extended escapes - close to a third of them travel for more than a month, while those from the US opt for 2-3 week stays for their summer getaways.

The diversity of Dubai's summer visitors

Emirates forecasts healthy inbound passenger traffic to Dubai during the summer months this year, demonstrating the ongoing global appeal of the city as a ‘must visit’ destination year-round.

Solo Travelers dominate nearly half of all US, Indian, and Australian visitors, mixing business with leisure during stays averaging just over one week.

Family Travel tells different stories by nationality. About one-third of US and Indian visitors travel as families, though preferences diverge—Indian families favour shorter getaways while American families typically explore Dubai for 1-2 weeks. UK families represent the majority of British visitors, often extending their Dubai experience beyond two weeks.

Couples form another significant segment. Younger Australian and German couples embrace extended stays ranging from two weeks to an entire month, maximising their time to discover Dubai.

*Data reflects searches and website bookings on emirates.com for flights between 1 July -30 August 2025, in addition to year-over-year comparisons.

The Emirates A350 will operate on flight EK 827 which takes off from Dubai at 7:30 am and arrives in Dammam at 7:50 am. The return flight, EK 828, departs Dammam at 9:20 am and lands in Dubai at 11:45 am. *

The Emirates A350 features a three-class configuration with 312 seats, including 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, 259 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. The aircraft is designed to enhance comfort on short and medium-haul flights, with wider cabins, higher ceilings, and a quieter in-flight experience. Customers across all classes can enjoy Emirates’ latest and award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice, improved seat ergonomics, advanced cabin lighting, and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity.

The deployment of the A350 to Dammam highlights Emirates’ continued investment in the Kingdom, since it started operating over three decades ago. The airline currently serves four gateways in Saudi Arabia - Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, and Dammam, with multiple daily flights, operated on a mix of the iconic A380s, B777s and the A350, offering convenient and seamless connectivity via Dubai to more than 140 Emirates’ destinations, globally.

With the Emirates A350 now flying to Dammam, the city joins a growing list of destinations to receive Emirates’ newest aircraft, alongside Mumbai, Edinburgh, Bahrain, Colombo, Kuwait, Muscat, Tunis, Amman and Ahmedabad. Emirates has so far inducted eight A350s into its fleet with plans to deploy it to 17 destinations by the end of 2025.

*All times are local

The deployment of the next-generation aircraft, originally slated for 1 July, was brought forward by a week. The aircraft operates flight EK 866, which departs Dubai at 2:15 am and arrives in Muscat at 3:30 am. The return leg, EK 867 departs Muscat at 4:40 am and lands in Dubai at 5:55 am, perfectly timed to help customers connect for their flights to destinations in Europe, Americas, Africa and Asia. *

The three-class aircraft offers 312 seats with 32 lie-flat seats in Business Class arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, 21 Premium Economy seats in a comfortable 2-3-2 setup, and 259 spacious Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Designed to offer customers an enhanced travel experience, all cabins feature higher ceilings and wider aisles. Customers across all classes enjoy the airline’s award-winning and latest in-flight entertainment system, offering a cinematic viewing experience, upgraded cabin lighting, faster connectivity with high-speed Wi-Fi, and improved seat ergonomics for greater comfort on short and medium-haul journeys.

The introduction of the Airbus A350 to Muscat highlights Emirates’ ongoing commitment to Oman. Muscat is among the first few cities in the region to receive Emirates’ next-generation A350, joining a growing network that includes destinations like Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Amman as well as other points like Edinburgh, Mumbai, Tunis, Colombo and Ahmedabad. The airline has so far welcomed seven A350s to its fleet and is expected to serve 17 destinations across its global network by the end of this year.

To meet the current summer travel demand, Emirates has also layered on two additional weekly flights between Dubai and Muscat, operating flights on Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight EK 862 departs Dubai at 7:55 am and reaches Muscat at 9:05 am, while the return flight EK 863 takes off from Muscat at 11:25 am and lands in Dubai at 12:30 pm.

For more information or to book flights, customers can visit emirates.com. Customers can also book tickets through the Emirates App, Emirates Retail outlets, Emirates contact centres, or via travel agents.

*All times are local

Passengers who flew on the inaugural flight from Dubai received special gifts and certificates to commemorate the occasion.

Emirates now offers 42 weekly flights to four key cities in the Chinese mainland – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen – providing passengers and businesses with enhanced connectivity and travel options in and out of Chinese mainland.

Operated by a four-class Boeing 777-300ER, Emirates’ flight EK328 departs from Dubai at 1005hrs, arriving in Shenzhen at 2200hrs. The return flight EK329 departs Shenzhen at 2355hrs, landing in Dubai at 0340hrs the next day.*

Flights to and from Shenzhen are conveniently timed to enable seamless connectivity to key destinations across Europe, including London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam - leveraging Emirates’ extensive global network via its Dubai hub. Passengers can also seamlessly connect to Emirates’ points in Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline, said: “We are excited to launch our new daily service to Shenzhen – one of China’s most dynamic and innovative cities. This milestone reflects Emirates’ ongoing commitment to strengthening our presence in the Chinese mainland and supporting the country’s trade and tourism objectives. It is also aligned with the strengthening of China-UAE relations, and a strategic move to seamlessly connect the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s innovation corridor - an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub that aims to attract global innovation resources, through our flights.

We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Shenzhen Airport Group and our local partners for their support in making this launch possible. We look forward to connecting more travellers and businesses between Shenzhen and Dubai and across our growing network.”

Passengers flying to Shenzhen will enjoy an elevated experience onboard one of Emirates' enhanced Boeing 777s, offering 8 private suites in First Class, 40 lie-flat seats in Business Class, 24 seats in Premium Economy and 260 spacious seats in Economy Class. Shenzhen has become the first city in Chinese mainland to receive Emirates' retrofitted aircraft with upgraded cabin interiors and the award-winning Premium Economy. The new Business Class cabin in a 1-2-1 layout will further offer aisle access to every passenger.  

Enhanced cargo and passenger operations    

Emirates has been serving China since 2004 and plays a significant role in facilitating seamless connectivity to over 50 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, covering one-third of the 150 countries and regions participating in the initiative. Expansion of the airline’s operations will further boost inbound visitor volumes to the Greater Bay Area from GCC countries and Africa, while also supporting industries such as smart manufacturing, e-commerce, and biopharmaceuticals, through a 72-hour global supply chain system.

Emirates’ wide-body Boeing 777-300ER, served on the Dubai-Shenzhen route, offers 16 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. Allowing it to further help amplify the “Aerial Silk Road” by integrating Shenzhen’s advanced manufacturing sector with Emirates’ global cargo network. Airline’s world-class cold chain capabilities will ensure the global accessibility and seamless transportation of perishable goods and pharmaceuticals.

Strengthening UAE-China ties

The UAE is China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade reaching US$95 billion in 2023. Aviation plays a key role in the rapid growth of trade exchanges between the two nations. Emirates’ expansion into the Chinese mainland comes at an opportune time as the UAE and China’s comprehensive strategic partnership deepens further, boosting cooperation in various sectors such as trade, technology, logistics and investment.

Travellers from the GCC including the UAE can now visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, allowing Emirates’ customers to enjoy hassle-free planning for their business and leisure trips to the Chinese mainland.

Emirates remains committed to facilitating convenient and seamless international connectivity in and out of the Chinese mainland, in line with its growth strategy for East Asia.

*All times are local.

Despite rapidly evolving regional developments, it’s been business as usual across the Emirates network. In the past two weeks, Emirates has maintained scheduled services by rerouting flights to avoid conflict zones, successfully serving over 1.7 million passengers on more than 5,800 flights across its global network and delivering certainty to their travel plans when they needed it the most, while upholding its commitment to safe, reliable travel.

The airline took immediate action by suspending flights only to areas directly impacted by conflict while maintaining operations to all other destinations. Services to Amman and Beirut were briefly suspended but resumed quickly, demonstrating Emirates’ ability to nimbly adapt its operations while prioritising safety, and helping thousands of families start their summer holidays.

The safety of Emirates’ passengers and crew is its absolute priority, and the airline would never fly if it was not safe to do so. Emirates continuously monitors developments, coordinates with aviation authorities, and assesses every potential risk to ensure all flights are safely rerouted away from conflict zones, all the while meeting the most stringent regulatory requirements.

Throughout the last two weeks, the airline kept customers informed with regular operational website updates as well as on its social media channels, and reservations teams helped reaccommodate affected customers.

As Emirates gears up for the busy summer travel season, it will continue to actively monitor developments in co-ordination with the relevant authorities, and the airline’s priority will always be to ensure safe and smooth operations, by adapting quickly and appropriately, so that customers can travel with confidence.

For decades, the airline has successfully navigated challenges while maintaining its commitment to connecting customers to their destinations safely, efficiently and comfortably all while delivering exceptional service onboard and on ground. The UAE’s leadership have put in place strong contingency plans and systems to support essential services, empowering Emirates to maintain safe, uninterrupted operations.

The added service will meet market demand and offer customers greater connectivity to/from the coastal city as well as access to popular destinations across Emirates’ network including Maldives, Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong and Singapore. 

Click here to view the flight schedule. 

Customers can look forward to the airline’s award-winning service and industry-leading products across all cabins including regionally inspired meals, premium beverages, and up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment on ice – the airline’s inflight entertainment system. 

Emirates currently serves Spain with 28 weekly flights utilising a fleet mix of A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, including: 14 weekly flights to Madrid; and 14 weekly flights to Barcelona including 7 weekly flights from Dubai to Mexico City via Barcelona. 

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as at Emirates retail stores. 

 

Emirates Public Relations

pr@emirates.com

 

The third daily flight, EK835 departed Dubai at 0200 hrs and landed in Bahrain at 0215hrs. The return flight, EK836 took off from Bahrain at 0340 hrs and reached Dubai at 0605 hrs. The deployment of the third A350 is part of the airline’s ‘Fly Better’ promise to further enhance the overall travel experience and modernise its fleet, offering customers cutting-edge technology and ultimate comfort, from take-off to touchdown.

The three-class aircraft features 32 Business Class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 259 spacious Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. The aircraft offers faster Wi-Fi, cinematic viewing experience of its award-winning entertainment system – ice, higher ceilings, wider aisles, quieter cabins, and enhanced cabin lighting.

The deployment of the Emirates A350 to Bahrain reflects the airline’s strong and growing ties with the Kingdom and underscores the airline’s investment in delivering premium service and product to the market.

The A350 currently serves several destinations across the airline’s short and medium haul network, including Amman, Kuwait, Edinburgh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Colombo, and Tunis. By the end of 2025, Emirates plans to serve 17 cities worldwide with its new A350 fleet.

DUBAI, UAE, 2 June 2025: Emirates is set to reintroduce flights to Damascus from 16 July 2025*. Operations were suspended to the Syrian capital in 2012, and the return of services follow a comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with the UAE GCAA.

The airline will initially start with three weekly services on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, with plans to expand to four weekly flights from 2 August* with an additional flight on Saturday. Emirates will expand its Damascus services to daily operations, effective 26 October *.

Emirates’ services to Damascus will operate with a 302-seater Boeing 777-200LR and is planned to depart Dubai as EK 913 at 1200hrs, arriving in Damascus International Airport at 1410hrs local time. The return flight, EK 914 will depart Damascus at 1630hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2030hrs local time.**

The flights will open up new opportunities for travellers to conveniently connect to and from the airline’s network of nearly 150 destinations and will support the UAE’s efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Syrian aspirations to rebuild and attract foreign investment across key sectors such as energy, construction and agriculture.

Emirates customers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline’s codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement its flight schedule and provide more options and convenience when flying in and out of the Syrian capital.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “Emirates is pleased to restart operations to Damascus and support Syria’s road ahead by providing better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inwards investment as well as opening new trade lanes and global market access for the country. Re-establishing air travel and connectivity is also good news for our customers that make up the expansive Syrian diaspora across the Americas, Europe and the GCC, who are eager to fly back home and reconnect to their roots, and leverage their knowledge, skills, expertise and resources in ongoing development efforts.

We would like to thank the Syrian authorities for their support in strengthening connectivity between Dubai and Damascus and look forward to boosting links to and from the country through our regularly scheduled operations.”

The UAE and Syria’s trade volumes reached US $680 million (AED 2.5 billion) in 2024¹, a 23% increase over the previous year, and the new flights will further stimulate vital trade ties. The UAE's thriving Syrian community of over 350,000 nationals² have played an integral role in the UAE’s prosperity, contributing through entrepreneurial ventures and skilled expertise while further enriching the country’s vibrant cultural tapestry.

The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating to and from Damascus features 38 Business Class seats alongside 264 seats in Economy Class. Emirates Business Class on the Damascus service will feature a 2-2-2 configuration.  Travellers flying to and from Damascus with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, including Levantine inspired dishes complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can also sit back and relax with up to 6,500 channels of carefully curated entertainment, including close to 650 channels of Arabic content, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.

Emirates commenced services to Damascus in 1988, and prior to suspending operations in 2012 the airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in and out of Syria.  

The airline currently flies to 13 cities in the Middle East/GCC, serving the region with a total of 191 weekly flights.

*Subject to government approvals

**Summer timings

¹Source: Figures obtained from the UAE Ministry of Economy

²Source: Figures obtained from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Emirates will also operate 13 more flights to/from regional destinations including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait and Bahrain to meet high demand during the Eid Al Adha period, as travellers venture to summer leisure destinations, or visit their loved ones for Eid celebrations.

Emirates will be transporting nearly 32,000 Hajj passengers over the next three weeks from key points within its network like USA, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, and Côte d'Ivoire.

The onboard pilgrim experience

The Hajj experience with Emirates begins on the ground once pilgrims arrive in Dubai as dedicated airport teams seamlessly guide them through arrivals, connections, and hotel transfers.

Onboard, pilgrims across all cabins will receive distinctive 'Hajj' luggage tags, alongside a newly introduced Hajj kit featuring a prayer mat, tasbih beads for prayer, mindfulness and constant remembrance, silicon water bottles, and cushioned non-slip socks — ensuring a reverent, comfortable journey.

All special Hajj flights offer a customised experience for pilgrims, including ablution-friendly amenities, unperfumed towels, special announcements marking Al Miqat zones, and dedicated Hajj content on ice. All passengers returning from Jeddah and Medinah can also check in up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam), to be placed in the aircraft’s designated cargo area.

Customers traveling on special Hajj flights are encouraged to explore the complete Hajj experience on Emirates’ website for the latest requirements and what to expect on ground and onboard their flights to/from Jeddah and Medinah.

Emirates’ Eid Al Adha traditions 

Keeping with Eid Al Adha traditions, flights to select destinations across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East, Europe and Africa will offer a special Eid menu across all travel classes.

Customers can enjoy traditional dishes like Lamb Madfoon and Chicken Zurbian in First, Business and Premium Economy Class. First, Business and Premium Economy Class customers can indulge in Pistachio and Chocolate Nammoura Cake as well as White Chocolate and Rahash Mousse cake. In Economy Class, customers can tuck into Pistachio Cake and Coffee Cake.

First and Business Class customers traveling on the Emirates A380 can expect a rich selection of Emirati desserts and unlimited Arabic Coffee in the Onboard Lounge.

Customers across all travel classes will also be treated to desserts wrapped in unique, celebratory boxes. These will include bite-size specialities like Cake Rangeena, Pistachio Rehash Cake, and Date Mamoul cookies.

Customers traveling in First and Business Class from Jeddah will be spoilt for choice with a selection of delectable dishes and desserts like Lamb Mathlouta, Lamb Saleeg, Henaini and Cheese Kunafa in the airline’s dedicated lounge.

Customers traveling during Eid Al Adha can also enjoy on-demand entertainment on ice, including 2,000 movies from around the world - more than 75 of them in Arabic with classics and new releases like such as Abo Nasab, Al Mazra’a and Al Ankaboot.  There are also up to 50 Arabic series channels, along with Shahid exclusives such as Al Bath, Trad and Sadaf. Customers can also look forward to enjoying Turkish series - dubbed in Arabic - like Tout El Aswad and Al Uqda.

On demand entertainment also includes 15 Arabic podcast and audiobook channels, The Holy Qur’an, and over 500 Arabic music channels including pop, classics, Khaleeji, Maghrebi, and fusion genres.

Customers rushed for time who missed buying gifts for friends and family can easily and conveniently shop luxury duty-free products with Emirates RED’s new summer catalogue featuring 200 products from brands like Hermes, Cartier, Tom Ford, Creed and Jo Malone, and others.

Customers looking to save time can pre-order duty-free items on EmiratesRED.com, which will be delivered directly to their seat onboard. The service is available on most flights, with shopping open from 21 days to 40 hours before departure. During Eid Al Adha, Emirates RED is offering an exclusive 10% discount for customers using the code ‘REDMAG’ at checkout.