Emirates Airlines: 39 years of innovation in the air transport sector

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the launch of the first Emirates Airlines flight on October 25, 1985, with the largest international carrier in the world playing a pivotal role in transforming Dubai into a global center for trade and tourism, with the national company becoming one of the largest, most famous and fastest growing air carriers in the world. In addition to its pivotal role in developing the global air transport industry, it is a global success story that exceeds “the limits of what is possible” in the industry.

In 1984, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, directed the establishment of an airline.

Growth path

In October 1985, Emirates Airlines launched its first air route outside the UAE with only two aircraft, rented Boeing 737 and Airbus B4 300. The company’s first flight departed from Dubai International Airport to the Pakistani city of Karachi with 133 passengers on board. .

In 1987, Emirates Airlines received the first A310 aircraft it had ordered, shortly after receiving another Airbus A300-600R aircraft, increasing the number of aircraft in its fleet successively. Emirates Airlines also ordered seven Boeing 777 aircraft, with an option to purchase seven more aircraft in 1991.

In 1992, Emirates Airlines became the first airline to provide all seats in all travel classes in its fleet of aircraft with video systems, and opened an exclusive terminal for its passengers at Dubai International Airport, at a cost of two million US dollars.

In 1993, the carrier became the first airline company to provide express communications service in all three classes of travel on an Airbus aircraft, and the first airline company to provide its Airbus fleet with in-flight fax service in 1994.

Fleet expansion

Emirates Airlines celebrated its 10th year, with a fleet flying to 34 destinations in the Middle East, the Far East and Europe, at the end of 1995, and received the first Boeing 777-002 aircraft, thus becoming the first airline company to display live images of take-off operations. And decline in 1996.

Then, in 1997, Emirates Airlines ordered the purchase of 16 Airbus 330-200 aircraft, worth two billion US dollars, and increased its capacity by 26%, as the number of passengers recorded 3.7 million passengers, while air cargo traffic recorded 200 thousand tons. In 1998.

«Airbus A380»

In 2000, Emirates Airlines became the first airline to order the Airbus A380, when it ordered seven of the aircraft, with an option to purchase five additional aircraft, during the Farnborough Air Show.

Emirates Airlines also surprised the aviation industry at the Paris Air Show by concluding the largest deal in the history of the civil aviation industry, by ordering the purchase of 71 aircraft worth 19 billion US dollars in 2003.

In 2005, Emirates Airlines made history, after ordering the purchase of 42 Boeing 777 aircraft in a deal worth $9.7 billion. This was the largest order to purchase aircraft of this type ever at that time, at a time when Emirates Airlines is currently the largest operator in the world for this type.

Excellence and profits

In 2008, Terminal 3 designated for Emirates Airlines was opened at Dubai International Airport, which handled 500,000 passengers departing during the first month of its operation.

In turn, the year 2013 recorded an increase in the capacity of Dubai International Airport to 75 million passengers annually, with the opening of “Concourse A”, which is the first facility in the world dedicated to “A380” aircraft.

In 2014, Emirates Airlines was named “the most valuable airline brand” in the world, and ranked first in the “Brand Finance” report for the most valuable brands in the Middle East.

In 2016, the carrier was named the best airline in the world, and won the “Best In-Flight Entertainment” award for the 12th year in a row.

In the following year, 2017, the carrier entered into a strategic partnership with Flydubai, which includes a broad agreement to exchange codes, harmonize flight schedules, and optimize the use of the flight network.

In turn, the year 2019 witnessed the carrier concluding a contract to purchase 30 Boeing 787 aircraft at a value of $8.8 billion, while in 2020 it was classified as the largest international airline in the world.

As for the year 2024, Emirates Airlines recorded new record profits of 17.2 billion dirhams, a growth of 63%, compared to the previous fiscal year, and transported 51.9 million passengers.