Emirates

Emirates is an Emirati international airline based in the United Arab Emirates. Its network is centred on Dubai International Airport. It is the largest airline within the Emirates Group and operates its network from Dubai International Airport.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

The airline uses the IATA code EK, the ICAO code UAE, and the callsign EMIRATES.^{[2]OpenFlights airline databaseOpenFlights · openflights.orgOpen source details}

Overview

Detail	Information
Country	United Arab Emirates
Status	Operating
IATA code	`EK`
ICAO code	`UAE`
Callsign	`EMIRATES`
Founded	15 March 1985
Operations began	25 October 1985
Main hub	Dubai International Airport
Frequent-flyer programme	Emirates Skywards
Alliance	None
Parent company	The Emirates Group
Headquarters	Al Garhoud, Dubai, UAE
Official website	emirates.com

History

The organisation developed through the following major stages. Dates describe the airline or operation covered by this article, including predecessor activity where relevant.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Date	Development
15 March 1985	Emirates founded with backing from government of Dubai.
25 October 1985	First flight from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistan.
3 July 1987	First owned aircraft delivered, an Airbus A310-300.
June 1991	Acquired slots at London Heathrow after Gulf War.
1996	First Boeing 777-200 delivered.
2000	Launched frequent flyer program, Skywards.
14 October 2008	Moved all operations to Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.
13 November 2023	Finalized order for 90 Boeing 777X aircraft at Dubai Airshow.

Corporate affairs

Emirates is based in Al Garhoud, Dubai, UAE. It is owned by or organised within The Emirates Group. Its commercial activities are managed around the network, fleet, and operating model described in its published corporate information.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

The official website provides current schedules, customer information, and company announcements.^{[3]Emirates official websiteEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Operations

Emirates operates from its principal hub at Dubai International Airport. The source page lists 137 destinations, although this figure changes with seasonal schedules.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Over 3,600 flights per week^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Operates in more than 150 cities in 80 countries^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
World's largest long-haul airline^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Largest operator of Airbus A380^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Largest operator of Boeing 777^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Partnerships

Emirates is not listed as a member of a global airline alliance. It instead relies on bilateral commercial agreements and group relationships where applicable.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Codeshare agreements with Flydubai, Air Mauritius, Qantas^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Interline agreements with various airlines including Air Canada, Korean Air^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Fleet

The fleet is built around aircraft selected for the airline's passenger or cargo network. The principal families identified by the source include:^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Aircraft family	Typical use
Airbus A350-900	Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration
Airbus A380	Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration
Boeing 777-200LR	Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration
Boeing 777-300ER	Passenger or cargo operations, depending on configuration

Aircraft counts and subtypes change as leases end, deliveries arrive, and older equipment is withdrawn.

Former fleet

Aircraft previously associated with the airline include:

Airbus A300-600R^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Boeing 727^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Boeing 737^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Boeing 757^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Boeing 767^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Passenger services

The airline's passenger or customer-facing products include:

Emirates Skywards frequent-flyer program^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
In-flight entertainment system ICE^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Dining options available in all classes^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
Private suites in first class^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Branding

Slogan: "Fly Better"^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
New livery introduced on 16 March 2023^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

Safety history

Notable events recorded in the source include:

On 9 April 2004, Flight 764 overran runway in Johannesburg.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
On 3 August 2016, Flight 521 crash-landed in Dubai but all survived.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}
On 20 March 2009, Flight 407 hit structures during takeoff in Melbourne.^{[1]Emirates on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-07-26Open source details}

These entries are a selective historical summary and should not be interpreted as a complete safety record.