Emirates Airlines, the largest UAE-flagged airline based in Garhoud, Dubai, is also the biggest airline in the Middle East, with more than 3,600 weekly flights from its headquarters in terminal 3 of Dubai international airport to more than 150 cities in 80 countries on 6 continents via its air fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. This reputable and wealthy international airline, one of the subsidiaries of the Emirates group, is owned by the investment corporation of the Dubai government. According to scheduled revenue passenger-kilometers (RPK), this airline is ranked fourth internationally, and based on the Freight Tonne Kilometres (FTK), it stands in second place in the world.

History of Emirates Airlines

In the mid-1980s, Gulf Air reduced its airline services to Dubai, which led to the birth of Emirates Airlines in March 1985 with the support of the Dubai Royal Family. After that, Pakistan International Airlines provided the newly started company with two of the first aircraft on wet-lease. In the initiative road to progress, two second-handed Boeing 727 joined its fleet and until the arrival of the first new aircraft in the Emirates fleet, these 4 were its only aircraft. With an initial capital of 10 million dollars, it began its work independently of government subsidies. Besides, the Pakistan international airlines academy trained Emirates Airlines cabin staff to prepare a very sophisticated new generation crew for the future that was waiting to flourish. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the current chairman, has been the airline's CEO since the beginning, and All company managers have long management records and the company now employs 16,119 people. Its first European flight was to Gatwick airport, London in July 1987, and the Singapore flight in June 1990 was the first air trip to the Far East. In 1998, the Emirates acquired a 40% stake in Air Lanka and took over the management of the Sri Lanka airline. Following this agreement, the name of the company was changed to SriLankan Airlines. The well-known Emirates is currently the only airline in the world capable of delivering passengers from New York to John F. Kennedy airport with a no-stop flight. Emirates Sky Cargo is the name of Emirates Cargo Airlines. With significant progress, This airline was able to rapidly expand both its air fleet and its travel destinations, so that in October 2008, the UAE moved all its operations at Dubai International Airport to Terminal 3. Numbers show Emirates Airlines has always been a profitable company in all its years of operation, except for its second year. The successful entity set a new record in operating history in the fiscal year 2005 with a profit of about 2.6 billion dirhams (equivalent to 708 million dollars). The company's total revenue of that year was 19.1 billion dirhams, while at the same time most of the world's airlines were facing a severe financial crisis. (Due to rising aircraft fuel prices following the rising global oil prices and the consequences of the tsunami in South and Southeast Asia, which harmed the world tourism industry). At that time Emirates Airlines hosted more than 12.52 million passengers, which is an increase of 1.2 million people compared to 2004.

Emirates Airlines Fleet

The Emirates has not had a narrow-body aircraft in its mainline since 1995. The thriving Emirates, as one of the rare examples of airlines to have a full-body aircraft fleet (except the Emirates Executive), operates the fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft. In July 2014, the giant company finalized a deal to buy about 150 Boeing 777X aircraft, consists of 35 777-8s and 115 777- 9s. As of February 2019, the Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380 with 115 aircraft in service and 8 more in order, especially on long-haul, high-density routes. This airline is also the world's biggest operator of the Boeing 777, with 155 aircraft. As of July 2020, the Emirates fleet consists of 255 passenger aircraft and 11 cargo aircraft. This airline also operates the largest fleet of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft in the world. And has an A319 as an executive jet. In November, it ordered 30 787-9s worth 8.8 billion US dollars, to be delivered by 2023. And in December, they reduced 777Xs orders to 115. The company mottos have been “Fly Emirates, from Dubai to worldwide destinations”, “Keep Discovering”, “Hello Tomorrow” and the latest is “Fly Emirates, Fly Better”.

List of Emirates Airlines Destinations

In May 2015, Emirates had more than 3,000 flights per week to more than 140 destinations in more than 70 different countries on 6 continents from its headquarters in Dubai. Before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Emirates worldwide web was expanding its flight destinations to 157 in 83 countries. The prosperous airline has partnered with other airlines but has not been a member of any of the three global aviation alliances, “Oneworld”, “SkyTeam” or “Star Alliance”. In 2000, the Emirates almost considered joining the Star Alliance, but eventually decided to remain independent.

Sponsorship, Development Projects & Sports Teams

Financial support for sports teams always has been a passion for the owners of the company, strongly stand on the airline's sponsorship agenda, including the Cricket Australia, Lord's Taverners, and the Pro Arch Tournament. The airline’s brand is also seen on international cricket umpires. Also, it is been the official partner of the International Cricket Council till now. Not to mention the main sponsorship of Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals, and Indian Premier League, the biggest domestic cricket tournament in the world. The Emirates also used to be a strong sponsor of FIFA and the FIFA World Cup, however, the allegations of corruption and bribery at FIFA, end it in early 2015. However, Emirates has been the primary shirt sponsor of several famous football teams, namely Arsenal, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Benfica. They are also the primary shirt sponsor of the New York Cosmos, the title sponsor of the FA Cup, Emirates Cup, and Arsenal's Emirates stadium. They have been the primary shirt sponsor for teams such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Hamburger SV for several years. In addition to football and cricket, rugby sponsorship has been part of this airlines' activities, considering the Warrington Wolves of Super League Rugby League since 2014 and the Lions of Super Rugby South African since 2015 have been sponsored by them. Plus, Emirates has the name right to the team and Ellis Park rugby stadium. They also financing the World Rugby panel of international referees, through sponsorship support. Emirates also sponsors a variety of different sports like horse racing such as the Dubai international racing carnival, showjumping, sailing, and Formula One racing teams like British McLaren, Japanese Grand Prix, and also the Formula One official airline. The UAE Team Emirates, a cycling team is also being sponsored by this sport-enthusiastic airline. The famous Los Angeles Dodgers of MLB is also under the sponsorship of Emirates since the 2016 season. In addition to sports teams, related activities, and events, this airline company also sponsors many other projects, the most recognized one is Emirates Air Line (cable car) in East London, and UK-based Spinnaker tower in Portsmouth, on the south coast.