Emirates caps milestone 2025 with fleet expansion and new routes
In 2025, Emirates experienced one of the most dynamic years in its history, carrying 55.6 million customers across nearly 180,580 flights and effectively circling the Earth more than 29,000 times.
While the airline celebrated its 40th anniversary in October, the year was defined not by reflection but by bold progress—redefining what "fly better" means for the future of global aviation.
A major milestone was the entry into service of the Emirates A350, which debuted in January with its inaugural flight to Edinburgh. By the end of the year, 16 A350s were operating across 18 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, West Asia, and Australia, with North America next on the map as Montreal is set to launch in February 2026. Emirates also strengthened its Asian footprint with new routes to Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Danang, and Siem Reap, supporting growing travel and trade flows across East Asia.
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Responding to strong customer demand, Emirates expanded its Premium Economy cabin across more than 100 aircraft, now serving close to 70 cities and accounting for around 40 per cent of its passenger fleet. The airline also announced the roll-out of Starlink Wi-Fi across 232 aircraft, setting a new benchmark for ultra-fast, complimentary connectivity across all cabin classes.
Beyond passenger travel, Emirates launched Emirates Courier Express, transforming cross-border delivery through direct, hub-bypassing logistics and achieving average delivery times of just three days across ten markets.
The year also underscored Emirates' commitment to people and purpose. Its loyalty programme, Skywards, celebrated its 25th anniversary with 37 million members worldwide, while the Aircrafted KIDS initiative distributed more than 3,700 upcycled backpacks to children across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Emirates also set an industry first in accessible travel by becoming the world's first Autism Certified Airline™.
Capping the year, Emirates earned 25 major global awards, reaffirming its position as the world's leading international airline—innovating relentlessly, investing confidently, and flying better for the future.
