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. As international travel reaches a fever pitch this summer, Emirates’ latest analysis of global booking data* and search patterns reveals where travellers are dreaming of and escaping to in July and August, with a shift towards new cultural experiences and off-the-beaten-track locales. 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. 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 …
Read More »The Emirates A350 begins regular operations to Muscat
Emirates’ highly anticipated Airbus A350 is now a regular sight at Muscat International Airport, with the start of regular daily services between Dubai and Muscat. 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 …
Read More »Emirates launches new daily service to Shenzhen
Emirates has officially launched its new daily service to Shenzhen, marking the airline’s fourth gateway in the Chinese mainland and reinforcing its East Asia growth strategy. 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 …
Read More »Emirates layers on retrofitted aircraft with latest product, including Premium Economy to more cities
Emirates will be layering on more retrofitted Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s on its existing schedules to Shanghai and Zurich; expanding Milan, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires schedules; and upgrading its services to Shanghai and Singapore with A380 deployments. Emirates’ latest schedule, capacity enhancements and newly retrofitted aircraft deployments are in response to increased demand across the airline’s network and offer opportunities for more customers to enjoy the airline’s signature onboard experience, especially its highly acclaimed Premium Economy cabin. The airline’s ambitious retrofit programme is progressing with remarkable momentum, as one aircraft undergoes a comprehensive nose-to-tail refresh every three weeks. Emirates’ engineering teams have retrofitted 60 aircraft since the start of the programme in November 2022. Emirates’ latest schedule enhancements, all effective from 26 October, include: • Ramping up operations to Milan with the addition of a third daily flight, EK 101/102. The third daily flight will be served with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. • Emirates’ linked services to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, EK247/248 will become daily flights. • After being served with a retrofitted Boeing 777 from 20 July, the airline will upgrade its services to Shanghai on the EK302/303 to the iconic Airbus A380, and the airline’s second daily flight to the city, EK 304/305, will be served with a retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft. • From this winter, the third daily flight between Dubai and Singapore will be served with the airline’s flagship A380 on the EK 314/315. Emirates will upgrade its second daily Zurich flight, EK 85/86, from 1 February 2026 to an A380, replacing the current retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft. Premium Economy will debut on Emirates flight EK87/88 with a newly retrofitted A380, …
Read More »Emirates Group and the Federal Youth Authority establish strategic partnership aimed at fostering youth empowerment
The Emirates Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Youth Authority to establish a strategic framework that further develops the Group’s youth community, inspiring generations of aviation and travel professionals. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed emphasised the importance of empowering youth, recognising the need to forge partnerships with like-minded entities: “The young minds at the Emirates Group are invaluable to our organisation. They provide fresh perspectives that inspire positive change, fuelled by passion and contagious energy. This strategic partnership with the Federal Youth Authority reflects our Emiratisation team’s ongoing commitment to empowering youth, in line with the UAE’s National Youth Agenda 2031. We hope it will motivate our entire community to keep innovating, dream big, and further build on the successes of the Group. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. We will continue to invest in them, ensuring they are future-ready to drive our nation’s achievements across all fronts – including travel and aviation.” In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group and His Excellency Dr Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; the MoU was signed by Yousuf Bin Lahej Al Falasi, Vice President Emiratisation and Government Partnerships at the Emirates Group and Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority. His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, stated: “This partnership reflects the enduring vision of the UAE’s leadership, which recognises youth as the driving force behind the nation’s future growth and progress. Guided by this belief, our national youth strategies empower young people with the resources and opportunities to unlock their potential …
Read More »Over 30,000 customers to depart today from T3: Emirates
As Emirates is gearing up for a busy week of departures from T3, Dubai International. Emirates expect more than 30,000 customers will depart T3 DXB today, and this level of departures will be at a similar level until 30 June. Emirates has requested customers to plan for extra traffic on the roads approaching the airport, busier carparks, more people at the airport going through Immigration, and the time it may take to travel between Concourses and reach Boarding Gates at least an hour prior to the departure time. They have recommended to arrive 3 hours ahead of departure time and to pass through immigration at least one and half hours ahead. • In peak travel times, arrive to the Airport: 3 hours before departure • Ensure you pass through Immigration: 1.5 hours before departure • Ensure you reach your correct Boarding Gate: 1 hour before departure Download the Emirates App to check in online Download the Emirates app for flight details at your fingertips. Book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, get notifications about your flight, check what meals will be served, pre-order your hot meal in Business Class, book a chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan movies to watch via ice inflight entertainment. Customers can also check in on Emirates.com. Online check-in and app check-in are both open 48 hours ahead of flight departure time. Emirates customers can drop off luggage at the airport the night before travel at no charge. Passengers who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US. Then closer to …
Read More »Emirates resumes regularly scheduled operations after minimal disruption on 23 June
Emirates’ passengers experienced minimal disruptions to their travel plans after last night’s (23 June) regional events, with regularly scheduled flights resuming within a few short hours. The airline quickly activated its robust contingency and disruption plans, with no diversions, only a small number of cancellations and a few flights experiencing longer flight paths due to airspace congestion. 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 …
Read More »Emirates boosts services to Barcelona with a third daily flight
Emirates has announced it will ramp up operations to Barcelona with the addition of a third daily flight starting from 26 October 2025. 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. 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.
Read More »Emirates partners with Uber, with plans to make journeys more seamless, and reward travellers when they ride
Emirates and Uber have announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore ways to make journeys more seamless, effortless and rewarding for travellers. This includes enhancing the on-ground mobility experience for Emirates customers, while offering Skywards members loyalty benefits when using the Uber platform across select markets within the Emirates network.* Through this partnership, Emirates and Uber will work towards introducing several initiatives to offer travellers more seamless and effortless journeys. These include; Developing an integrated booking experience that combines Uber Rides Vouchers with flight bookings for easier airport transfers or in-city rides. Additionally, Emirates and Uber will explore offering Uber rides to and from the airport for select Emirates customers, supporting a complete door-to-destination experience. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Anabel Diaz Calderon, Vice President and Head of EMEA Mobility at Uber. The partnership will explore strategic opportunities to closely collaborate on offering Skywards members in the UAE the opportunity to earn on rides or redeem their miles for Uber app credits or vouchers. Emirates Skywards will also explore ways for members in the UAE to benefit from earning Miles on Uber rides across select markets in the Emirates network. Another area of collaboration will include exploring opportunities around Last Mile delivery initiatives for Emirates Courier Express, leveraging Uber’s advanced technology platform and vast network of global Delivery partners to enhance customer reach, speed and efficiency. Adnan Kazim said: “Emirates is excited to join forces with Uber as part of our commitment to delivering seamless travel experiences. In the months ahead, we’ll closely work together to leverage our combined capabilities in travel and technology to expand …
Read More »Emirates forges interline partnership with Bahamasair to facilitate connectivity to The Bahamas
Emirates and Bahamasair have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an interline partnership benefitting customers travelling to The Bahamas. The partnership enables Emirates to expand its reach in the Caribbean, allowing customers to utilise the services of The Bahamas’ national flag carrier from Florida to one of three destinations on the island country. Under the unilateral agreement, customers traveling on Emirates to Miami or Orlando will be able to connect to Bahamasair flights to Nassau, Freeport or San Salvador, with the added convenience of booking itineraries with both airlines on a single ticket. Additionally, Emirates’ customers will enjoy generous baggage allowance when flying on Bahamasair to the three destinations. Commenting on the new interline partnership, Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are pleased to establish an interline partnership with Bahamasair to expand our reach to new and exciting destinations and offer travel options for our customers planning journeys to the Caribbean nation. The interline partnership offers customers the convenience of connecting in Florida for travel onwards to points across the islands of The Bahamas, while enjoying competitive fare pricing, the convenience of booking the entire journey on a single ticket and a generous baggage policy.” “This partnership also supports our agreement with The Bahamas’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the Caribbean destination across our network.” As part of the MoU, both carriers will also explore opportunities to enhance their cargo interline cooperation and potential partnerships under their frequent flyer programmes. Bahamasair Managing Director, Tracy Cooper said: “This partnership significantly elevates Bahamasair’s global profile and opens access to invaluable expertise and new markets. By aligning with one of the world’s most respected airlines, we strengthen our capabilities and …
Read More »