In 2025, Emirates marked a significant milestone by transporting 55.6 million passengers on nearly 180,580 flights, effectively circling the Earth 29,290 times. Celebrating its 40th year of operations in October, the airline focused on redefining the future of air travel. Here are the top highlights that defined the year for the world’s largest international airline:
The Emirates A350 Takes Off
In January, the first Emirates A350 embarked on its maiden commercial flight to Edinburgh. Since then, the A350 network has expanded rapidly, with 16 aircraft now flying to 18 cities. The network spans Europe, West Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and will soon extend to the Americas with a debut in Montreal in February 2026.
Looking East
Emirates expanded its reach in Asia by launching non-stop daily flights to Shenzhen and Hangzhou in China, as well as services to Danang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia via Bangkok. This expansion aims to meet the growing travel and trade demand across East Asia and China as business activities surge in the region.
More Premium Economy, by Popular Demand
Throughout 2025, Emirates has enhanced its fleet with the next-generation Airbus A350, retrofitted Airbus A380, and Boeing 777 aircraft, all featuring the award-winning Emirates Premium Economy cabin. Currently, nearly 70 cities are served by more than 100 aircraft equipped with the latest Emirates cabin interiors, making up about 40% of the airline’s passenger fleet.
Lightning Speed with Starlink
In November, Emirates announced the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across 232 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. Beginning with Boeing 777s, the program is set to expand rapidly, making Emirates the first airline with Starlink-equipped A380s by early 2026. The installation will occur at a rate of approximately 11 aircraft per month, with over 123 aircraft offering complimentary ultra-fast connectivity by the end of next year.
Uniting Passionate Fans Through Sport
In 2025, Emirates announced nine major sports sponsorships and renewals, reinforcing its position as a leading sports sponsor. A notable partnership was a seven-year deal with FC Bayern Munich, marking Emirates as the Platinum Partner of the German football club. Other significant deals included a contract extension with World Rugby through 2035 and a new partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). Additional sponsorships include Real Madrid Basketball, AC Milan, Olympique Lyonnais, the ATP Tour, and UAE Team Emirates XRG.
Door-to-Door, Faster with Emirates Courier Express
Emirates launched Emirates Courier Express, revolutionizing cross-border delivery by utilizing its passenger fleet for direct package transport. Shortly after its inception, the service expanded to Australia and Germany, now serving 10 international markets with future growth anticipated in 2026. To date, the airline has handled over 50,000 packages with an average delivery time of just three days.
Emirates Skywards Turns 25
Celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2025, Emirates Skywards engaged its 37 million members across 190 countries with special activations and an A380 livery. Over the past 20 years, the program has distributed nearly 400 billion Miles through partnerships, offering extensive opportunities for rewards. Currently, members redeem over 800 flight rewards daily and one upgrade every minute.
‘Aircrafted KIDS’ Reaches Thousands
Emirates’ Aircrafted KIDS initiative distributed over 3,700 handcrafted backpacks to underprivileged children across eight countries in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. The program, in collaboration with various NGOs, provided backpacks filled with essential stationery and locally sourced books, crafted from over 50,000 kg of upcycled materials from the airline’s retrofit program. Expansion of this initiative is planned for 2026.
Accessible Travel Firsts
Emirates became the first Autism Certified Airline™, training over 30,000 staff to assist customers with autism and sensory sensitivities. The airline launched an Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on its website and introduced Travel Rehearsal programs across 17 cities. Additional enhancements include sensory products onboard and a safety-approved hooded mattress in Business Class. Emirates also offers over 600 movies with closed captions and 200 with audio description on its inflight entertainment system.
‘Fly Better’ – An Ongoing Commitment and Investment
Emirates continued to elevate its travel experiences with enhancements both in the air and on the ground. In July, the airline opened Emirates First, an exclusive check-in area at Terminal 3, Dubai International. Onboard, Emirates introduced refined First-Class service details and opened its Centre of Hospitality Excellence in Dubai for training cabin crew. The airline also rolled out new kids’ toys and bags made with recycled content.
Throughout the year, Emirates received 25 accolades, including Best Airline in the World at the ULTRAs and Best International Airline by Forbes Travel Guide, among others, underscoring its commitment to excellence.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.