Emirates: 2021 totals
In 2021, Emirates continued its recovery course, restoring its passenger network to 128 cities by December, including a new route to Miami launched in July. At the end of 2021, all 133 of Emirates’ Boeing 777s and nearly 60 A380 aircraft will be in active service, connecting people to their loved ones and businesses to global opportunities. In addition, more than 120 Emirates lounges and partner facilities have reopened to serve Emirates’ premium customers and frequent flyers.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates, said: “Despite the recent growth of the Omicron option and the slight slowdown it has caused in our network, we are optimistic going into 2022. We have picked up excellent momentum this year and expect business growth to pick up in 2022. Aviation has always been resilient and we will continue to work with our industry partners to bring back the best for our customers and communities.”
This year, Emirates has extended generous discounts on overbooking, expiring frequent flyer miles and tiered status, as well as free COVID-19 medical cover for all customers. emirates.com remains the best reference site for the latest travel requirements, updated at least once a day with information verified by Emirates’ on-site experts across the network. Emirates has also accelerated digital initiatives to provide customers with smoother and safer travel, with Emirates becoming the first airline to implement the IATA Travel Pass solution across its network across six continents; expanding the number of biometric and contactless points at Dubai Airport; and partnering with the Al Hosn app for fast and secure COVID-19 digital travel document verification.
In January, Emirates introduced premium economy class, which received exceptionally positive feedback. In November, the company announced a major upgrade programme that will see 105 aircraft equipped with premium economy seats and the latest cabin interiors to ensure that the Emirates experience remains the best in the world.
Helping travellers access even more destinations, Emirates has joined forces with new interline and codeshare partners – Aeromar, airBaltic, Airlink, Azul, Cemair, Garuda, Gulf Air, South African Airways, TAP Portugal, as well as strengthening existing strategic partnerships with Qantas and flydubai. Emirates has also signed agreements and launched tourism support initiatives in the Seychelles, Maldives, Indonesia and Costa Rica.
Emirates helped establish the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance and signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF to prioritise vaccine transportation for the COVAX initiative aimed at equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. By December, Emirates had transported 600 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights to more than 80 destinations, one of the highest volumes of any cargo airline worldwide. In May, the company set up a humanitarian airlift to support India in the fight against the pandemic.
Emirates is working with Falcon Aircraft Recycling and Wings Craft on a pioneering project to recycle the first scrapped A380 aircraft entirely in the UAE, which will reduce waste in landfills and reduce environmental impact. At the Dubai Airshow, the company also announced an initiative with GE Aviation to conduct a test flight using environmentally friendly aviation fuel (SAF) on its Boeing 777 aircraft. Emirates is an active member of the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies Tomorrow coalition, which supports the transition to SAF as part of the path towards carbon-neutral flying.
The Emirates Flight Training Academy has graduated its 50th cadet and has successfully conducted its second intake of cadets this year. In October, Emirates hosted the AVESEC Global Symposium to exchange best practices on capacity building in a pandemic environment. Emirates also continued to support Intelak and Aviation X-lab, incubator programmes aimed at developing future solutions for travel and aviation. Expo 2020 in Dubai opened in October with attendance at the global mega-event reaching 8 million as people from around the world came together to celebrate human achievements and inspire future solutions for the world. Through various initiatives, including programmes to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to visit, Emirates continues to bring the world to Dubai Expo. It also showcases future aviation technology concepts at its Emirates Pavilion.
Throughout 2021, @Emirates rebuilt its passenger network to 128 cities & over 120 Emirates Lounges and partner facilities have been re-launched to serve travellers. https://t.co/jVLzjOVMrZ pic.twitter.com/lXHqSKZFyg
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 30, 2021
Follow our Telegram Chanel
