Emirates 2025: Passengers, Planes & Starlink – Future Growth

Emirates Soars to New Heights in 2025: A Year of Expansion, Innovation, and Record Growth

Emirates concluded a landmark year in 2025, carrying 55.6 million passengers, circling the globe nearly 29,290 times on over 180,580 flights, and solidifying its position as a global aviation leader with an order for 73 new aircraft. The airline’s 40th year of operations was marked not by reflection, but by an accelerated pace of fleet renewal, enhanced customer experiences, and strategic global partnerships.

A Year Defined by Momentum

According to a company release, 2025 was a year of significant momentum for Emirates, focused on long-term investment and ambitious growth. The airline didn’t simply maintain its scale; it actively expanded its reach and refined its offerings across travel, sport, and service.

New Horizons: Expanding the Emirates Network

The introduction of the Airbus A350 in early January marked a new chapter for Emirates, with its inaugural flight to Edinburgh. Since then, the A350 fleet has rapidly grown to 16 aircraft serving 18 cities across Europe, West Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Emirates plans to extend the A350’s reach to the Americas, with scheduled services to Montreal beginning in February 2026.

Looking eastward, Emirates significantly strengthened its presence in Asia, adding Shenzhen and Hangzhou in mainland China to its network with daily non-stop flights. New services were also launched to Danang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia via Bangkok, responding to growing demand for both business and leisure travel in the region. The airline will also introduce retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft with Premium Economy cabins on routes to Beirut starting in January and Beijing in February.

Elevating the Passenger Experience

Emirates continued its commitment to passenger comfort throughout 2025, expanding its Premium Economy offerings. The airline introduced next-generation Airbus A350s and retrofitted existing Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft with the award-winning cabin. Currently, roughly 40% of Emirates’ passenger fleet – over 100 aircraft serving 70 cities – features these latest interior upgrades.

In November, at the Dubai Airshow, Emirates announced the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet of 232 aircraft. The program, beginning with the Boeing 777s, will make Emirates the first airline globally to offer Starlink-equipped A380s in early 2026. Installation is progressing rapidly, with approximately 11 aircraft being equipped each month, and over 123 aircraft expected to offer complimentary ultra-fast connectivity by year-end.

Beyond the Flight: Sponsorships and Brand Building

Emirates reinforced its global brand presence in 2025 through a series of strategic sports sponsorships. The airline announced nine major deals and renewals, including a seven-year partnership with FC Bayern Munich as a Platinum Partner, marking its return to the Bundesliga. A historic contract extension with World Rugby through 2035 – the airline’s longest sponsorship commitment to date – cemented Emirates’ position as rugby’s first-ever Platinum Partner. Additional partnerships were forged with European Professional Club Rugby, Real Madrid Basketball, AC Milan, Olympique Lyonnais, the ATP Tour, and UAE Team Emirates XRG.

Streamlining Logistics with Emirates Courier Express

Emirates launched Emirates Courier Express, a new service enabling direct package delivery on its passenger fleet, bypassing traditional hub-and-spoke logistics. Now operating in 10 international markets, including Australia and Germany, the service has already handled over 50,000 packages with an average delivery time of just three days.

Celebrating 25 Years of Loyalty: Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2025 with a special A380 livery and a month-long series of member activations. The loyalty program now boasts 37 million members across 190 countries and has distributed nearly 400 billion miles over the past two decades. Members currently redeem over 800 flight rewards daily, with an upgrade processed every minute, and the program continues to grow, adding approximately 78,000 new members each week.

Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Emirates demonstrated its commitment to sustainability through the Aircrafted KIDS’ CSR initiative, distributing over 3,700 handcrafted backpacks to underprivileged children in eight countries across Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. These bags, made from over 50,000 kg of upcycled materials by Engineering Maintenance Assistants, were filled with essential stationery and locally sourced books, with plans for further expansion in 2026.

Pioneering Accessibility and Inclusive Travel

Emirates distinguished itself as the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, having trained over 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff to better support customers with autism and sensory sensitivities. Service enhancements also included a safety-approved hooded mattress in Business Class, expanded closed-caption and audio-description content on its “ice” entertainment system, barrier-free airport design at Dubai International, and plans to introduce 10 wheelchair-accessible chauffeur vehicles by early 2026.

Investing in the Future of Aviation

Emirates continued to invest in the future of aviation with the opening of Emirates First, an exclusive private check-in facility at Terminal 3, Dubai International, designed for First Class passengers and Skywards Platinum members. Onboard, the First-Class experience was refined with new menus, Robert Welch-designed caviar bowls, and updated service protocols. The airline also opened its Centre of Hospitality Excellence in Dubai, dedicated to training nearly 25,000 cabin crew to Michelin star-standard service, and introduced new children’s products made with a minimum of 50% recycled content. These initiatives underscore Emirates’ dedication to providing a world-class travel experience and its long-term vision for the future of air travel.