About 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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Airline facts
Route network
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Route Network Map
Top destinations
Airports served
Showing 162 airports in the Emirates network.
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