The Rise of Emirates: Where They Came from and Where They are Now

Emirates airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, carrying 60 million passengers in the year of 2019. To put that into perspective, that’s as if every single person in the country of Italy decided to fly Emirates. But, from a nation which has only recently rose to the point it is in, how did this revenue come in such a short period of time? In the wake of their 37th birthday, I take a look at how far the airline has come, and what’s to become of it.

The founding of the airline

Emirates was officially founded on the 25th of March 1985 by Maurice Flanagan. This beats the airline’s UAE competitor and the country’s flag carrier, which was founded in 2003. Its founding marked the first airline in the United Arab of Emirates, and had the backing of Dubai’s royal family, in particular Rashid Al Maktoum. Interestingly, his half-brother has been the Chairman and CEO of Emirates since 1985. Emirates’ first flights took off in Late October, flying from Dubai to Karachi with a Boeing 737 and A300 which were wet-leased by Pakistan International airlines, the airline which played a key part in Emirates’ founding.

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Expansion

One thing that has been particularly important in the growth of the airline has been the routes which Emirates have operated. In its first 5 years of being an airline, it already had 14 routes. This is key because a major part of the airline’s business is that it connects passengers through to other destinations. And so, by expanding its route network, it was able to provide affordable long-haul flights to passengers across the world, with only one layover at DXB airport. An example being that it still is rare to be able to catch a direct flight from London to Sydney in Australia, and therefore Dubai is a key layover spot for passengers bridging between the two destinations, holding a near monopoly level stake in the route. Now, it’s more likely that you’ll find Emirates passengers connecting than actually visiting Dubai itself.

Where the airline is now

Now, the Airline is recovering from the pandemic quickly, as expected. Since peak levels, it has managed to launch a brand new premium economy product, with raving reviews by many. It has also recently unveiled the launch of its new livery, revealing a twist on the current one. It has also risen to fame through its vast sponsorship of sports teams and events, ranging from Formula 1 to football worldwide. In terms of facts and figures, the airline’s income from April to September of 2022 was 228% of what it was in the same time the year before, indicating a speedy recovery for the airline.

What to expect in the future

Perhaps the biggest thing to look out for in the future of the airline is the arrival of their next generation fleet. At the moment, Emirates’ fleet only comprises the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777. But, what’s to come in the future is one of the newest aircraft out there, the A350. Emirates has placed orders for 50 of the aircraft, which are expected to start being delivered, the earliest of their orders, in 2024. Aside from the A350, Emirates has also invested in a whopping 115 Boeing 777Xs and 30 Boeing 787-9s, both expected to start arriving in 2025. Emirates are also expected to start fitting their current fleet of Boeing 777s with their brand new premium economy.