Emirates Unveils Major Fleet, Tech, and Aerospace Plans at Airshow

Dubai — Emirates capped off a spectacular week at the Dubai Airshow, drawing aviation enthusiasts and industry leaders with its largest-ever display of Airbus A380, A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft. Over 82,000 visitors explored the airline’s fleet, with more than 15,000 experiencing Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi aboard a Boeing 777, highlighting Emirates’ push toward connected flying.

Expanding the Fleet and Future Orders

The airline announced a major expansion of its wide-body fleet, confirming the order of 65 Boeing 777-9s and 8 Airbus A350-900s, totaling $41.4 billion. These additions bring Emirates’ confirmed aircraft orders to 375, with deliveries scheduled through 2038, reinforcing its long-term growth strategy.

Next-Generation Cabins and Connectivity

Emirates unveiled plans to retrofit 111 aircraft with advanced cabin features and immersive entertainment, while Starlink Wi-Fi will be installed on 232 planes over the next two years. Visitors got a firsthand experience of high-speed connectivity, reflecting Emirates’ focus on making air travel more comfortable and digitally connected.

Strengthening Global Partnerships

The airline enhanced its codeshare with South African Airways and extended agreements with Air Canada until 2032, deepening cooperation across loyalty programs and operational collaboration. Emirates continues its close partnership with flydubai, showcasing a growing global network synergy.

Sustainable Aviation and Smarter Skies

In line with Dubai’s sustainability goals, Emirates signed an MoU with ENOC to explore the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Collaborations with Thales aim to optimize arrival patterns at DXB, enhancing airspace efficiency, while Emirates’ partnership with OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Enterprise for organizational AI integration and training.

Innovations in Cargo and Aerospace Manufacturing

Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Autonomous will explore hybrid unmanned cargo aircraft, pioneering next-generation logistics solutions. The airline also signed several MoUs to boost Dubai’s aerospace industry:

• Safran Seats: Dubai’s first aircraft seat manufacturing facility for retrofits and future line-fit production.

• CCE Group: Co-developing next-gen cabin and cargo products.

• Rolls-Royce: Trent 900 engine MRO for Emirates’ A380 fleet starting 2027, extending TotalCare service into the 2040s.

Emirates Engineering achieved the UAE’s first Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the GCAA, enabling local certification of major aircraft modifications and advancing national aerospace expertise.

Awards and Recognition

The airline’s achievements were celebrated during the week, winning ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the eighth consecutive year at the ULTRAs travel awards, alongside Airline of the Year and Best First Class of the Year at the Aviation Business Middle East Awards 2025.