Hit enter to search or ESC to close
Trending Now
- Emirates carried more than 8.6 million passengers between July and August, while arrivals into Dubai on Emirates flights in the second half of August alone were up 7% compared with the same period in 2025
- Its fleet and network continue to expand, with 104 aircraft retrofitted to date and Premium Economy now available on 137 aircraft. Emirates has received 18 aircraft since January, with another six A350s expected before year-end, while Helsinki joined the network on 1 October
- Product investments this year include the industry’s first U-dream headrest for Economy Class, Premium Economy seats with privacy dividers and a new generation of Emirates Lounges
Emirates is heading into the winter travel season with strong booking momentum after closing the summer ahead of expectations. The airline is continuing to invest across its fleet, onboard products and global network, while introducing greater booking flexibility and comprehensive travel cover for customers.
More than 8.6 million passengers travelled with Emirates between July and August, with the airline maintaining healthy seat load factors across its network. Emirates is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter season approaches.
Winter bookings, beginning in late October, are also tracking positively despite a broader trend towards travellers making decisions closer to departure. Demand is currently ahead of last year in markets including South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as well as Nepal through Emirates' partnership with flydubai.
The UAE remains a strong outbound market, while Emirates is also seeing continued growth in demand for premium travel.
Strong Summer Demand
Across West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa, Emirates services recorded summer seat load factors well above 75%. Routes to and from Indonesia, Côte d'Ivoire and across the UK were among those showing particularly strong performance.
Premium Economy demand also grew across the network, with the Americas recording the strongest growth for the cabin.
Dubai continued to attract significant inbound traffic. In late August alone, more than half a million customers arrived in the city on Emirates flights, representing a 7% increase from the same period last year. These travellers included residents returning before the new school year, people relocating to Dubai to live and work, and visitors taking late-summer breaks in the city.
Emirates also expanded its travel flexibility during the summer. Customers were offered one free date change anywhere across the network and unlimited free date changes for travel to Dubai. Refund fees on Dubai journeys were reduced, while Comprehensive Travel Cover was introduced.
Described by the airline as a first-of-its-kind policy, the cover includes medical protection against conflict and airspace disruption, supported by airline-managed accommodation, ground assistance and rebooking where required.
Fleet Upgrades and Product Investments Gather Pace
Emirates has welcomed 18 aircraft since January 2026, comprising 11 new A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters. Another six A350s are scheduled to arrive before the end of December.
Its retrofit programme has meanwhile been completed on 104 aircraft, including 53 Boeing 777s and 51 A380s. This brings the number of aircraft offering Premium Economy and Emirates' latest cabin products to 137, with the figure expected to reach 155 by the end of December.
Premium Economy is now available on services to 90 destinations. Another six destinations are set to receive the product before the end of the year, including Paris, Delhi and Stockholm.
Connectivity is being upgraded at the same time. Close to 50 Emirates aircraft are now equipped with Starlink, with installations progressing alongside the retrofit programme to extend high-speed inflight internet access to more customers.
Other product introductions this year include the U-dream headrests onboard Emirates' A350 Economy Class, the industry's first Premium Economy seat with privacy dividers and the airline's next generation signature lounges. New lounge facilities are already welcoming guests in Munich, Frankfurt and Manchester.
More Destinations, Frequencies and Connectivity
Emirates is also expanding its network for the winter season through new destinations, additional frequencies and wider deployment of its latest aircraft.
Helsinki joined the Emirates network on 1 October with the A350. The aircraft currently serves 30 destinations from Dubai, with that number expected to increase to 36 by year-end.
Additional capacity is also being introduced on several routes. Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will receive second daily services, while one of Emirates' daily Delhi services will be upgraded to an A380.
The Emirates A350 will begin serving Larnaca, Malta, Nairobi and Hamburg from late October, followed by Mauritius in November. Retrofitted Boeing 777s will also be introduced to Stockholm in October and Frankfurt in November, bringing Emirates' latest onboard products to more markets.
Beyond its own network, Emirates has 168 codeshare, interline and intermodal partnerships that provide customers with access to an additional 1,750 cities. On an average day, more than 13,000 Emirates customers continue their journeys on services operated by partner airlines.
Its partnership with flydubai has also become an important part of connectivity through the Dubai hub. Together, the two airlines provide access to more than 214 unique destinations across over 100 countries, creating more than 4,600 connection opportunities through Dubai.
Emirates customers can connect to more than 100 flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers have access to more than 140 Emirates destinations. Kathmandu, Zanzibar, Krabi and Belgrade are among the most popular flydubai destinations for Emirates customers.
Since the partnership began in 2017, Emirates and flydubai have carried more than 28 million passengers across their integrated network.
Alongside Emirates' Helsinki launch, flydubai's network expansion in 2026 has included Chittagong in Bangladesh in April and Benghazi in Libya in June, followed by Aleppo in Syria and Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport in July. Pokhara in Nepal was added as part of further expansion in September.
More than 8.6 million passengers travelled with Emirates between July and August, with the airline maintaining healthy seat load factors across its network. Emirates is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter season approaches.
Winter bookings, beginning in late October, are also tracking positively despite a broader trend towards travellers making decisions closer to departure. Demand is currently ahead of last year in markets including South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as well as Nepal through Emirates' partnership with flydubai.
The UAE remains a strong outbound market, while Emirates is also seeing continued growth in demand for premium travel.
Strong Summer Demand
Across West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa, Emirates services recorded summer seat load factors well above 75%. Routes to and from Indonesia, Côte d'Ivoire and across the UK were among those showing particularly strong performance.
Premium Economy demand also grew across the network, with the Americas recording the strongest growth for the cabin.
Dubai continued to attract significant inbound traffic. In late August alone, more than half a million customers arrived in the city on Emirates flights, representing a 7% increase from the same period last year. These travellers included residents returning before the new school year, people relocating to Dubai to live and work, and visitors taking late-summer breaks in the city.
Emirates also expanded its travel flexibility during the summer. Customers were offered one free date change anywhere across the network and unlimited free date changes for travel to Dubai. Refund fees on Dubai journeys were reduced, while Comprehensive Travel Cover was introduced.
Described by the airline as a first-of-its-kind policy, the cover includes medical protection against conflict and airspace disruption, supported by airline-managed accommodation, ground assistance and rebooking where required.
Fleet Upgrades and Product Investments Gather Pace
Emirates has welcomed 18 aircraft since January 2026, comprising 11 new A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters. Another six A350s are scheduled to arrive before the end of December.
Its retrofit programme has meanwhile been completed on 104 aircraft, including 53 Boeing 777s and 51 A380s. This brings the number of aircraft offering Premium Economy and Emirates' latest cabin products to 137, with the figure expected to reach 155 by the end of December.
Premium Economy is now available on services to 90 destinations. Another six destinations are set to receive the product before the end of the year, including Paris, Delhi and Stockholm.
Connectivity is being upgraded at the same time. Close to 50 Emirates aircraft are now equipped with Starlink, with installations progressing alongside the retrofit programme to extend high-speed inflight internet access to more customers.
Other product introductions this year include the U-dream headrests onboard Emirates' A350 Economy Class, the industry's first Premium Economy seat with privacy dividers and the airline's next generation signature lounges. New lounge facilities are already welcoming guests in Munich, Frankfurt and Manchester.
More Destinations, Frequencies and Connectivity
Emirates is also expanding its network for the winter season through new destinations, additional frequencies and wider deployment of its latest aircraft.
Helsinki joined the Emirates network on 1 October with the A350. The aircraft currently serves 30 destinations from Dubai, with that number expected to increase to 36 by year-end.
Additional capacity is also being introduced on several routes. Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will receive second daily services, while one of Emirates' daily Delhi services will be upgraded to an A380.
The Emirates A350 will begin serving Larnaca, Malta, Nairobi and Hamburg from late October, followed by Mauritius in November. Retrofitted Boeing 777s will also be introduced to Stockholm in October and Frankfurt in November, bringing Emirates' latest onboard products to more markets.
Beyond its own network, Emirates has 168 codeshare, interline and intermodal partnerships that provide customers with access to an additional 1,750 cities. On an average day, more than 13,000 Emirates customers continue their journeys on services operated by partner airlines.
Its partnership with flydubai has also become an important part of connectivity through the Dubai hub. Together, the two airlines provide access to more than 214 unique destinations across over 100 countries, creating more than 4,600 connection opportunities through Dubai.
Emirates customers can connect to more than 100 flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers have access to more than 140 Emirates destinations. Kathmandu, Zanzibar, Krabi and Belgrade are among the most popular flydubai destinations for Emirates customers.
Since the partnership began in 2017, Emirates and flydubai have carried more than 28 million passengers across their integrated network.
Alongside Emirates' Helsinki launch, flydubai's network expansion in 2026 has included Chittagong in Bangladesh in April and Benghazi in Libya in June, followed by Aleppo in Syria and Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport in July. Pokhara in Nepal was added as part of further expansion in September.
.jpeg)
