Company Insights Emirates Airline Aviation Latest Emirates Airline DevelopmentsAI Insights Emirates Group reported a record annual profit of AED20.5 billion for the financial year ending March 2025, a 20 percent increase over the previous year4. The improved earnings are attributed to an increase in global air travel, higher cargo volumes and lower fuel costs. Emirates carried 53.7 million passengers, and its fuel bill fell as average fuel prices decreased 10 percent. Emirates Airlines is in discussions with SpaceX to integrate in-flight WiFi services on its fleet1. The company plans to offer Starlink's satellite network on its widebody aircraft, although there is some uncertainty over whether this service will be free or for specific passengers. Middle East carriers, including Emirates, are expected to achieve $27.20 in profit per passenger, exceeding the global average5. Emirates has allocated $5 billion for the retrofit of 219 aircraft, reflecting its strategy to manage delivery delays. Boeing has indicated Emirates might receive its first 777X jet between late 2026 and early 2027. However Boeing has faced criticism over delays, particularly for its narrow-body 737 Max and wide-body 777X models. Emirates' anticipated Airbus and Boeing deliveries add to the broader challenges of aircraft manufacturers meeting demand amidst production bottlenecks within the industry.2 Gulf airlines like Emirates are capitalising on the region's aviation growth. However, potential future challenges include increased competition from airlines such as Riyadh Air and capacity constraints driven by regional supply chain issues.3. Emirates Airline Overview Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East and the UAE’s national flag carrier. Its inaugural flights took off in 1985 from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai in a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 leased from Pakistan International Airlines. The airline now operates more than 3,600 weekly flights from Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. Emirates flies to more than 150 cities in 80 countries and has a fleet of nearly 250 aircraft, while its cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, is one of the world’s largest international cargo airlines. The Emirates fleet consists of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, with the A350 coming soon. Emirates says it is “committed to environmental stewardship” and focuses on reducing emissions and “responsible consumption”. It has allocated more than $200 million to research projects for sustainable fuels. In October 2023 Emirates signed a deal with Shell Aviation to supply over 300,000 gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Dubai International Airport. The following month an Emirates A380 completed a 45-minute test flight with one of the aircraft’s four engines 100 percent powered by SAF. The airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the government of Dubai’s Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates Airline News Aviation Middle East airspace shut after Israel strikes Iran Airlines steered clear of much of the Middle East on Friday after Israeli attacks on Iranian sites forced carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region. Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability and more of a safety concern. Detours add to […] June 13, 2025 Opinion Aviation Syria’s fragile flightpath: Can aviation rebuild after a lost decade? If confidence continues to build, daily services to European cities are entirely possible June 11, 2025 Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025 Telecoms Starlink to begin operating in Lebanon Satellite internet provider Starlink, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, has secured initial approval from Lebanon to start operating in the country. The agreement comes just a few months before the crisis-battered nation signs a landmark rescue agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lebanese media reported on Monday that economy and trade minister Amer […] June 3, 2025 Aviation Dubai airlines lead GCC bid to revive Syrian economy Dubai-based airlines are resuming services to Syria after a gap of nearly 13 years as the Gulf states unite to support the war-torn country’s economic recovery. Low-cost carrier Flydubai resumed operations to Syria, with the first flight landing at Damascus International Airport on Saturday, a move aimed at building ties between the UAE and Syria. […] June 3, 2025 Aviation Passenger profit is three times global average at Middle East airlines Middle East airlines are set to generate $27.20 in profit per passenger this year, more than three times the global average, as the region continues to lead the global aviation industry on profitability, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total net income for Middle Eastern carriers is forecast to exceed $6.2 billion in […] June 2, 2025 Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Peak Dubai: Jumeirah’s Marsa Al Arab draws the crowds Whilst setting a new standard for Dubai luxury, the hotel's popularity is creating a traffic nightmare May 30, 2025 Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink in talks to enter Iraqi market Starlink, a US satellite internet provider owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has sent a team to Baghdad to discuss pushing into the Iraqi market, a market of 47 million people. Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani met the team in Baghdad on Wednesday and the talks focused on potential services related to digital transformation and improving Iraq’s […] May 29, 2025 Opinion Aviation The quiet rise of Middle East low-cost carriers The budget air travel revolution is challenging the airline status quo across the region May 26, 2025 Aviation Etihad comfortable with Boeing deliveries as profit rises Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which posted record profit in the first quarter, said it expects to take delivery of at least 100 planes from US plane maker Boeing over the next five years, helping to equip its route expansion plans. “We’re getting more than 20 planes a year for the next five years,” Etihad Airways […] May 21, 2025 Posts navigation 1 2 … 29 Next
Aviation Middle East airspace shut after Israel strikes Iran Airlines steered clear of much of the Middle East on Friday after Israeli attacks on Iranian sites forced carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region. Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability and more of a safety concern. Detours add to […] June 13, 2025
Opinion Aviation Syria’s fragile flightpath: Can aviation rebuild after a lost decade? If confidence continues to build, daily services to European cities are entirely possible June 11, 2025
Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025
Telecoms Starlink to begin operating in Lebanon Satellite internet provider Starlink, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, has secured initial approval from Lebanon to start operating in the country. The agreement comes just a few months before the crisis-battered nation signs a landmark rescue agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lebanese media reported on Monday that economy and trade minister Amer […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Dubai airlines lead GCC bid to revive Syrian economy Dubai-based airlines are resuming services to Syria after a gap of nearly 13 years as the Gulf states unite to support the war-torn country’s economic recovery. Low-cost carrier Flydubai resumed operations to Syria, with the first flight landing at Damascus International Airport on Saturday, a move aimed at building ties between the UAE and Syria. […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Passenger profit is three times global average at Middle East airlines Middle East airlines are set to generate $27.20 in profit per passenger this year, more than three times the global average, as the region continues to lead the global aviation industry on profitability, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total net income for Middle Eastern carriers is forecast to exceed $6.2 billion in […] June 2, 2025
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Peak Dubai: Jumeirah’s Marsa Al Arab draws the crowds Whilst setting a new standard for Dubai luxury, the hotel's popularity is creating a traffic nightmare May 30, 2025
Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink in talks to enter Iraqi market Starlink, a US satellite internet provider owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has sent a team to Baghdad to discuss pushing into the Iraqi market, a market of 47 million people. Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani met the team in Baghdad on Wednesday and the talks focused on potential services related to digital transformation and improving Iraq’s […] May 29, 2025
Opinion Aviation The quiet rise of Middle East low-cost carriers The budget air travel revolution is challenging the airline status quo across the region May 26, 2025
Aviation Etihad comfortable with Boeing deliveries as profit rises Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which posted record profit in the first quarter, said it expects to take delivery of at least 100 planes from US plane maker Boeing over the next five years, helping to equip its route expansion plans. “We’re getting more than 20 planes a year for the next five years,” Etihad Airways […] May 21, 2025
