Emirates
Airline Statistics
342
Active Routes5834
Flight Observations135
Unique Destinations146
Origin Airports3237
Avg Route Distance (mi)8833
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout Emirates
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Emirates, one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, was founded on March 15, 1985, with support from Dubai's royal family. The airline commenced operations on October 25, 1985, with its inaugural flights to Karachi, Pakistan, and Mumbai, India, utilizing wet-leased aircraft from Pakistan International Airlines. From these modest beginnings, Emirates rapidly expanded its fleet and destinations, aligning with Dubai's vision to become a global transport hub.
The airline's primary operational base and global hub is Dubai International Airport (DXB). Emirates operates an all-wide-body fleet, making it one of the few airlines to do so (excluding Emirates Executive). The fleet is predominantly composed of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, with Emirates being the largest operator of both aircraft types worldwide. The airline has also begun integrating Airbus A350-900s into its fleet and has significant orders for Boeing 777X and Boeing 787 aircraft, aiming to maintain one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets globally.
Emirates boasts an extensive international route network, serving over 150 cities in more than 80 countries across six continents. The airline's strategic hub-and-spoke model in Dubai facilitates convenient connections between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with a particular focus on connecting Dubai to major destinations in India, Australia, and Europe. Emirates is not a member of any of the three major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld), but maintains several individual airline partnerships. Known for its luxurious offerings, Emirates provides distinct cabin classes including First Class (featuring private suites, onboard shower spas, and lounges on A380s), Business Class (with lie-flat seats and A380 onboard lounges), Premium Economy (available on selected A380 and A350 aircraft), and Economy Class. A hallmark of the Emirates experience is its advanced "ICE" (Information, Communication, Entertainment) in-flight entertainment system, offering a vast array of content across all cabins.
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Traveler Reviews
Recent traveler reviews for Emirates highlight a mix of highly positive experiences, particularly concerning its premium offerings, alongside some consistent criticisms.
What Travelers Love:
- In-flight Entertainment (ICE): Passengers frequently commend Emirates' "ICE" system for its extensive and diverse selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games, often describing it as a leading in-flight entertainment experience.
- Cabin Comfort (especially Premium cabins): Many travelers praise the comfort and spaciousness across Emirates' cabins, specifically highlighting the luxurious private suites and shower spas in First Class, the lie-flat seats in Business Class, and the enhanced comfort of the newer Premium Economy offering.
- Onboard Service and Amenities: Attentive service from cabin crew, complimentary multi-course meals and beverages, and premium amenity kits (including luxury brands in Business and First Class) are often cited as positive aspects of the Emirates experience.
Common Complaints:
- Customer Service and Ground Support: A recurring complaint centers on Emirates' customer service, especially regarding issues with bookings, slow communication, and difficulties with baggage handling and compensation claims.
- Inconsistent Cabin Product (especially older 777s): Some travelers express disappointment with the "hard product" on certain Boeing 777 aircraft, describing seating as cramped and uncomfortable with smaller, less reliable entertainment screens, contrasting sharply with the superior experience on the Airbus A380.
- Family Seating Policies/Extra Charges: Families traveling with young children have reported being separated in seating assignments and then being charged additional fees to sit together, leading to significant frustration and dissatisfaction.
Overall, the sentiment for Emirates is often polarized. While the airline excels in delivering a luxurious and entertaining in-flight experience, particularly in its premium classes, challenges with ground services, customer support, and the variability of its cabin product on different aircraft types (especially older 777s) can lead to considerable traveler dissatisfaction. Many find the airline's in-flight offerings to be excellent, but some administrative and operational aspects fall short of expectations for a premium carrier.
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Safety Information
Emirates maintains an excellent safety record, with no passenger fatalities from aircraft crashes since its founding in 1985. The airline has experienced one notable incident: on August 3, 2016, Emirates Flight EK521, a Boeing 777, crash-landed at Dubai International Airport, resulting in an aircraft fire. All 300 passengers and crew safely evacuated, but one firefighter tragically lost his life during the emergency response. More recent minor incidents include an Airbus A380 experiencing turbulence in December 2023, which resulted in 28 injuries, and occasional operational occurrences like runway overruns or rejected takeoffs.
Emirates adheres to rigorous safety standards, a fact underscored by its completion of the latest IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with zero findings, a rare achievement in the aviation industry signifying a perfect score. This certification demonstrates the robust nature of Emirates' operational management systems and commitment to safe practices and airworthiness across its fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. The airline is consistently recognized by industry evaluators, having been listed among the top 20 safest carriers by AirlineRatings.com.
Emirates operates one of the youngest wide-body fleets globally, with an average age of 8.2 years as of April 2023. This commitment to a modern fleet not only contributes to a lower carbon footprint but also allows the airline to integrate the latest aviation technology and safety features. The airline also implements a comprehensive fuel efficiency program and focuses on meticulous maintenance.
Based on available data, Emirates' overall safety assessment is exceptionally strong. The airline's consistent ranking among the safest carriers, coupled with its pristine record of zero passenger fatalities from crashes, its successful IOSA audits, and its investment in a young and well-maintained fleet, points to a robust and reliable safety culture. Emirates has received numerous safety awards and recognitions, including a 'World Class Award' for safety at the APEX 2023 awards, a '5 Star Global Official Airline Rating', and multiple Gold awards from the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its health and safety performance in ground transport services. In 2015 and 2016, the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC) rated Emirates as the world's second-safest airline.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
Shortest Routes
All Routes
342 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWC → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
122 | 4031 mi | B772 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| MRU → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
110 | 3164 mi | A388 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| DWC → HKG |
Hong Kong Int'l
Hong Kong
|
98 | 3699 mi | B772 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| DWC → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
95 | 3641 mi | B772 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| SEZ → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
89 | 2070 mi | B77W | Jan 30, 2026 |
| DXB → JED |
King Abdulaziz Int'l
Jeddah
|
89 | 1057 mi | A388 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| KWI → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
86 | 531 mi | B77W | Jan 27, 2026 |
| SYD → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
83 | 7492 mi | A388 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| DXB → LHR |
London Heathrow
London
|
83 | 3420 mi | A388 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| KHI → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
74 | 739 mi | B77W | Dec 5, 2025 |
| DXB → BOM |
Chatrapati Shivaji Int'l
Mumbai
|
63 | 1198 mi | B77W | Jan 27, 2026 |
| DXB → KHI |
Jinnah Int'l
Karachi
|
63 | 739 mi | B77W | Jan 30, 2026 |
| STN → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
58 | 3396 mi | B77W | Jan 29, 2026 |
| SKT → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
57 | 1262 mi | B77W | Jan 29, 2026 |
| DWC → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
57 | 3012 mi | B772 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| DWC → FRA |
Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
|
57 | 3024 mi | B772 | Jan 31, 2026 |
| BUD → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
56 | 2494 mi | B77L | Jan 29, 2026 |
| BQN → AMS |
Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
|
52 | 4509 mi | B772 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| MLA → LCA |
Larnaca Int'l
Larnaca
|
51 | 1080 mi | B77W | Jan 27, 2026 |
| LHE → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
51 | 1235 mi | B77W | Jan 26, 2026 |
| DXB → MAN |
Manchester
Manchester
|
51 | 3518 mi | A388 | Jan 22, 2026 |
| AMM → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
50 | 1257 mi | A388 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| BHX → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
49 | 3485 mi | A388 | Jan 25, 2026 |
| LAD → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
48 | 3690 mi | B77W | Oct 28, 2025 |
| CAI → DXB |
Dubai Int'l
Dubai
|
48 | 1502 mi | B77W | Jan 1, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.
Last Update: Jan 31, 2026 04:04
Coverage: Observed routes only