Emirates is entering the winter travel season with strengthening bookings across several markets after carrying more than 8.6 million passengers during July and August.
The airline says it is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter season approaches. Bookings beginning in late October are tracking ahead of last year in markets including South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, as well as Nepal through Emirates’ partnership with flydubai.
SUMMER DEMAND STAYS STRONG
Emirates services across West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa recorded seat load factors above 75% during the summer, with particularly strong performance on routes serving Indonesia, Côte d’Ivoire, and the UK.
Demand for Premium Economy also grew across the network, with the Americas recording the strongest growth.
Dubai also continued to attract inbound traffic. More than half a million customers arrived in the city on Emirates flights during the second half of August, up 7% from the same period in 2025.
The airline has also expanded booking flexibility with one free date change across its network and unlimited free date changes for Dubai journeys. Refund fees for Dubai trips have been reduced, while Emirates has introduced Comprehensive Travel Cover, which includes medical protection related to conflict and airspace disruption, along with airline-managed accommodation, ground support, and rebooking when required.
104 AIRCRAFT COMPLETED UNDER RETROFIT PROGRAM
Emirates is continuing to expand and modernize its fleet as demand grows.
Since January 2026, the airline has received 18 aircraft, including 11 new Airbus A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters. Another six A350s are scheduled to arrive before the end of December.
A total of 104 aircraft have now completed Emirates’ retrofit program, comprising 53 Boeing 777s and 51 Airbus A380s. Premium Economy and the airline’s latest cabin products are currently available on 137 aircraft, with that number expected to reach 155 by year-end.
Premium Economy is now offered on services to 90 destinations, with another six scheduled to receive the cabin before year-end, including Paris, Delhi, and Stockholm.
STARLINK ROLLOUT CONTINUES
Inflight connectivity is also being upgraded alongside the cabin retrofit program.
Close to 50 Emirates aircraft are now equipped with Starlink, with installations continuing as the airline expands high-speed inflight internet across more of its fleet.
Other cabin investments introduced this year include the U-dream headrest aboard A350 Economy Class, which Emirates describes as an industry first, and its latest Premium Economy seat featuring privacy dividers.
The airline has also begun rolling out its next-generation Emirates Lounges, with new facilities already open in Munich, Frankfurt, and Manchester.
MORE A350 ROUTES AND ADDITIONAL FREQUENCIES
Emirates is expanding its network heading into winter with new destinations, increased frequencies, and wider deployment of its latest aircraft.
Helsinki joins the network on October 1 with Airbus A350 service. The A350 currently operates to 30 destinations from Dubai, with that figure expected to reach 36 by year-end.
Emirates is also adding second daily services to Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi. One of its daily Delhi services will be upgraded to the Airbus A380.
From late October, the A350 will also be deployed to Larnaca, Malta, Nairobi, and Hamburg, followed by Mauritius in November. Retrofitted Boeing 777s are scheduled for Stockholm in October and Frankfurt in November.
PARTNERSHIPS EXTEND THE NETWORK
Beyond its own flights, Emirates maintains 168 codeshare, interline, and intermodal partnerships that provide connections to an additional 1,750 cities.
On an average day, more than 13,000 Emirates customers continue their journeys on services operated by partner airlines.
Its partnership with flydubai gives the two carriers a combined reach of more than 214 unique destinations in over 100 countries and more than 4,600 connection opportunities through Dubai.
Emirates customers can connect to more than 100 flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers can access over 140 Emirates destinations. Since the partnership began in 2017, the two airlines have carried more than 28 million passengers across their integrated network.
32 WEEKLY FLIGHTS SERVE THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines remains one of Emirates’ longest-standing markets, with the airline marking 36 years of local operations.
Emirates currently operates 32 weekly flights connecting Manila, Cebu, and Clark with its Dubai hub following a capacity expansion earlier in 2026.
The airline has also extended its Travel Rehearsal program to Cebu and Clark. The initiative is designed to help neurodiverse children and their families become more familiar with the airport and travel experience before their actual journey.
More information on flights, destinations, and travel services is available through the Emirates website.