In 1985, a visionary idea took flight, forever changing the world of global aviation. Emirates Airline was born from the ambition of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and launched by Sir Maurice Flanagan in five months with $10 million seed funding to simply “look good, be good and make money.”
The airline has since grown from a modest beginning to becoming one of the world’s largest and most recognisable airlines. This is the story of how a small operation with just two leased aircraft transformed into a global aviation powerhouse.
Humble beginnings: The launch of a legacy
In 1984, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the then Minister of Defense and member of the royal family asked then Managing Director of Dnata, Maurice Flanagan to look into starting an airline. By December of that year, the idea had a name – Emirates.
On October 25, 1985, the airline embarked on its maiden voyage from Dubai to Karachi, marking the birth of what would become the Middle East’s largest airline. With an initial investment of $10 million, the airline began operation with just two aircraft – a wet-leased Boeing 737 and an Airbus A300 B4 from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The humble beginnings belied the ambitious vision that would drive the airline’s growth in the decades to come.
From the outset, the airline differentiated itself through a commitment to quality service and strategic expansion. Within its first year of operation, the airline had already added Mumbai, Delhi, Colombo, Dhaka, Amman and Cairo to its network, signalling its intention to connect Dubai to key regional destinations.
In 1987, Emirates took delivery of its first owned aircraft – an Airbus A310-304.
The airline then went on to add several more destinations to its network including Male, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Damascus, Jeddah and Kuwait. The carrier was now operating to 14 destinations in its first five years of operations.
The 1990s: A period of rapid expansion and setting new standards
The 1990s saw Emirates enter a period of rapid growth and innovation. In 1992, Emirates became the first airline to install video systems in all seats across its fleet, setting a new standard for in-flight entertainment. This commitment to passenger comfort and experience would become a hallmark of the Emirates brand.
Within the same year, what is now the global hub of Dubai International Airport (DXB) underwent a major refurbishment and Emirates moved into the new $2 million departure terminal.
With further growth in sight, the airline made its first order for seven Boeing 777s, a vote of confidence for the industry that then took a hard hit by the first Gulf War.
By 1993, Emirates was operating 18 aircraft to 23 destinations and had carried its millionth passenger. The airline’s growth strategy focused on both increasing frequency on existing routes and expanding to new destinations.
Leading the way to the future, the airline went on to introduce telecommunications across all seat classes and became the first airline to equip its fleet with in-flight fax facilities.
In 1996, Emirates launched services to Australia, a move that would prove pivotal in establishing Dubai as a global transit hub.
Following that, in the years leading up to the millennium, Emirates bought a 43 percent stake in Air Lanka with a 10-year management contract and carried over 4.7 million passengers in the financial year of 1999-2000.
The turn of the millennium: Going global
By the turn of the millennium, the airline expanded its global network to 50 destination cities including London Heathrow, Munich, Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, Singapore, Paris, Rome, Manila and Jakarta.
The coming years saw a rapid acceleration in the growth and vision of the airline. In the year 2000 Emirates became the first carrier to sign up for the Airbus A380, now a flagship for the airline. In 2004, the airline signed a GBP100 million ($132 million) deal with English Premier Club, Arsenal, including naming rights to the new stadium and shirt sponsorship – currently standing as the longest-running shirt partnership in the Premier League history.
With rapid expansion underway, the carrier placed a landmark order for over 42 Boeing 777 for a value of $9.7 billion. This massive investment in fleet expansion underscored Emirates’ ambition to compete on a global scale. Today, Emirates is the world’s biggest operator of the 777 aircraft.
During this period, the airline’s destination network grew exponentially. By 2005, Emirates was flying to over 75 destinations across more than 50 countries. The introduction of non-stop flights from Dubai to New York in 2004 marked Emirates’ entry into the lucrative transatlantic market, challenging established carriers on long-haul routes.
In 2008, Emirates Flight Catering began its operations at its new $120 million facility at Dubai International facilitating meals across all flights.
The A380 era: Redefining long-haul travel
In 2008, Emirates ushered in a new era of air travel with the introduction of the Airbus A380 to its fleet. The airline became the second in the world to operate the superjumbo, quickly establishing itself as the largest operator of the aircraft type.
Additionally, that year saw the opening of the Emirates-dedicated Terminal 3, the airport saw 500,000 passengers depart from the terminal within the first month of operation.
Emirates’ configuration of the A380, featuring luxury first-class suites and an onboard lounge, quickly set new standards for premium air travel.
The A380 became a symbol of the airline’s commitment to passenger comfort and its ability to move large numbers of travellers through its Dubai hub. By 2020, Emirates had a fleet of 115 A380s, operating to destinations across six continents and cementing Dubai’s position as a global aviation network.
In 2013, Concourse A was built – the world’s first purpose-built A380 facility, soon becoming home to the Emirates A380 fleet. The concourse features dedicated Emirates First Class and Business Class lounges with direct boarding to the upper deck of the aircraft.
Further expanding its network, Emirates entered a codeshare agreement with flydubai in 2017, the same year that it introduced the world’s first fully enclosed First Class private suites.
As demand increased and flights increasingly took off, the airline made another landmark order for 30 Boeing 787‑9 aircraft worth $8.8 billion at the Dubai Airshow, adding to its previous order of $16 billion Airbus A350s, bringing the total to a whopping $24.8 billion transaction.
Emirates’ journey has not been without turbulence. The airline has had to navigate global economic downturns, regional conflicts, adverse weather conditions and fluctuating oil prices. The 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic posed significant challenges to the aviation industry as a whole.
However, the airline’s strong financial backing, coupled with strategic decision-making, has allowed it to weather these storms. During the pandemic, Emirates quickly pivoted to increase its cargo operations, helping to offset losses from decreased passenger traffic and playing a crucial role in supply chain logistics.
Emirates Airline: A global aviation giant
Today, Emirates stands as one of the world’s largest international airlines. As of 2024, its fleet comprises of over 250 wide-body aircraft, operating to more than 144 destinations across six continents.
The airline’s hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) has become one of the busiest airports in the world, handling millions of passengers annually.
Emirates’ impact extends beyond its own operations. The airline has played a crucial role in establishing Dubai as a global business and tourism destination. The effect has led to increased trade, tourism and investment in Dubai and the UAE, contributing significantly to the emirate’s economic diversification efforts.
As Emirates looks to the future, the airline continues to invest in fleet modernisation, with significant investment in refurbishment, connectivity and more. The airline is also at the forefront of digital innovation in the aviation industry. From biometric check-ins to blockchain technology for loyalty programs, Emirates is leveraging technology to enhance the passenger experience and streamline operations.
From its modest beginnings in 1985 to its current status as a global aviation powerhouse, Emirates Airline has come to embody the ambition and vision of Dubai and the UAE.
Through strategic growth, a commitment to quality, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions, Emirates has not only established itself as a leader in the aviation industry but has also played a pivotal role in transforming Dubai into a global hub for commerce and tourism.
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