The First Emirati Airline: A Life Story extended from the 1880s till today.
In case you are wondering how the first Emirati airline started and developed over the past year to become the best airline in the world.
We will explain for you about the global aviation player in industry-leading products and services.
Emirates Airline, one of the best national and global airlines.
The idea emerged in 1984 and took only 1 year to become true.
1984 – The First Emirati Airline is born.
In 1984, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, then UAE Minister of Defense and a member of Dubai’s progressive royal family, asked Sir Maurice Flanagan, then managing director of dnata, to look into starting an airline.
By December that year, a comprehensive business plan was ready, and the name “Emirates” was chosen for the new airline.
In March 1985, Maurice Flanagan took the ambitious mission to launch an airline in 5 months with $10 million seed funding.
Also, there would be no subsidies or aero-political protection under Dubai’s open skies policy.
On 25 October 1985, Emirates operated its flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai.
By using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet‑leased from Pakistan International Airlines.
So the first Emirates aircraft flew from Toulouse to Dubai on 3 July 1987 by an Airbus A310-304 – Flight No, A6-EKA.
14 First destinations
In its first 5 years of operations, Emirates grew its network to 14 destinations
1985– Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, 1986– Amman, Colombo, Cairo, Dhaka, 1987– Male, Frankfurt, Istanbul, 1988– Damascus, 1989– Jeddah, Kuwait
By 1992 Emirates airline started the Setting of a new standard.
Emirates led the way for inflight entertainment so it became the first airline to install video systems in all seats, in every cabin class throughout its fleet.
During 1992 Dubai International airport completed a major refurbishment.
Also Emirates moved into a new $2 million departure terminal.
First 777 order makes global headlines
Was a vote of confidence for the industry hard hit by the first Gulf War.
During the 1990s Emirates became the first airline to introduce telecommunications on an Airbus – in all three classes.
That financial year (1999‑2000), Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers on its fleet of 32 aircraft.
28 Routes added during the 1990s only.
By the turn of the millennium, the First Emirati airline had grown its global network to 50 destination cities.
1990– Riyadh, Tehran, Singapore, Manila, Manchester, 1991– London Heathrow, Hong Kong, Beirut.
1992– Paris, Rome, Zurich, Jakarta, 1993– Dammam, Muscat, 1994– Nice, Larnaca, London Gatwick.
1995– Johannesburg, Nairobi, 1996– Athens, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, 1997– Dar-es-salaam.
1998– Malta, Peshawar, 1999– Islamabad, Lahore, Munich
2000 – A new era in Emirates Airline story.
Sheikh Rashid Terminal opened by 2000 increasing the capacity at Dubai International to 22 million passengers a year.
Also, Emirates becomes the first airline to sign up for the Airbus A380.
By ordering seven with options for five more at the Farnborough Air Show.
The world’s largest commercial aircraft will become a flagship of the Emirates fleet over the next two decades.
In 2004, Emirates signed a GBP 100 million deal with English Premiership club Arsenal.
Including naming rights to its new stadium for 15 years.
As well as a shirt sponsorship for eight years, starting from the 2006/07 season.
Renewed in 2012 and 2018 and also in 2023.
In fact, it is the longest running shirt partnership in the Premier League, and one of the longest relationships in world sport.
Emirates made history with an order for 42 Boeing 777s in a deal worth $9.7 billion.
This was the largest‑ever Boeing 777 order at the time.
Today, Emirates is the world’s biggest operator of 777 aircraft.
While Emirates Flight Catering began its operations at its new $120 million facility at Dubai International by 2007.
Emirates Airline Expanded its global network by 46 Routes added from 2000-2010.
2000– Bahrain, Sydney, Entebbe, Milan, Chennai, Birmingham, 2001– Dusseldorf, Hyderabad.
2002– Casablanca, Khartoum, Perth, Mauritius, Osaka, Kochi, 2003– Moscow, Auckland, Brisbane.
2004– Lagos, Accra, Shanghai, Glasgow, Vienna, New York, Christchurch, 2005– Seychelles, Seoul, Thiruvananthapuram.
2006– Abidjan, Hamburg, Kolkata, Addis Ababa, Beijing, Tunis, Bengaluru.
2007– Venice, Newcastle, São Paulo, Ahmedabad, Toronto, Houston.
2008– Cape Town, Guangzhou, Los Angeles, San Francisco, 2009– Durban, Luanda
2010 witnessed the first commercial flight of Emirates Airlines.
And also it welcomed its first commercial flights.
While Emirates SkyCargo moved freighter operations to DWC by 2014.
Emirates and Qantas signed an extensive commercial partnership by 2012.
Which aims at giving customers of both airlines seamless Australian and international network connections.
In addition to exclusive frequent flyer benefits and world‑class travel experiences.
The 10‑year partnership was beyond codesharing.
It also included integrated network collaboration with co‑ordinated pricing, sales and scheduling.
As well as a benefit‑sharing model.
Concourse A, the world’s first purpose‑built A380 facility opened in 2013 at Dubai International, expanding the airport’s capacity to 75 million per year.
Home to Emirates’ A380 fleet, Concourse A features dedicated Emirates First and Business Class lounges spanning over 19,000m 2.
With direct boarding to the upper deck of the A380 aircraft.
2014 – 2016 the First Emirati Airline became a well known airline globally.
And also the Middle East’s most valuable brand by Brand Finance, with an estimated value of US$3.7 billion.
In addition, it received its 12th consecutive award for best In‑flight Entertainment at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2016.
By 2017, Emirates and flydubai announced a strategic partnership.
Including an expansive codeshare agreement, schedule alignment and network optimization.
Emirates also launched the world’s first fully‑enclosed First Class private suites, with unmatched luxury and privacy.
This game changer was with design touches inspired by Mercedes Benz.
And it was introduced in a global ad campaign fronted by TV celebrity and motoring expert, Jeremy Clarkson.
Emirates made its fleet bigger by buying 30 Boeing 787‑9 aircraft worth USD 8.8 billion at list prices at Dubai Airshow 2019.
In fact, this added to its USD 16 billion Airbus A350 order, taking its total aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow to USD 24.8 billion.
Over 540 volunteer passengers from 145 nationalities take off on Emirates flight EK2019, breaking the Guinness World Record for the most nationalities on an aircraft.
The historic A380 flight marks UAE National Day and the UAE Year of Tolerance.
It also showcases the diversity and unity of the citizens and residents of the UAE.
54 Routes added from 2010 to 2019 – Connecting the world to, and through, Dubai
2010– Tokyo-Narita, Amsterdam, Prague, Madrid, Dakar, Medina.
2011– Basra, Geneva, Copenhagen, St Petersburg, Baghdad.
2012– Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Lusaka, Harare, Dallas Fort Worth, Seattle, Ho Chi Minh, Barcelona, Lisbon, Washington DC, Adelaide, Lyon, Phuket.
2013– Warsaw, Algiers, Tokyo-Haneda, Stockholm, Clark, Conakry, Sialkot, Kabul.
2014– Taipei, Boston, Abuja, Chicago, Oslo, Brussels, Budapest.
2015– Bali, Orlando, Bologna, Istanbul via Sabiha-Gokcen Airport, 2016– Cebu, Hanoi, Yangon, Fort Lauderdale.
2017– Newark, Zagreb, Phnom Penh, 2018– London Stansted, Santiago de Chile, Edinburgh, 2019– Porto, Mexico City (from 9 December)
By 2020 Emirates named the largest international airline as the industry recovers from the COVID‑19 pandemic, carrying 15.8 million passengers in 2020.
While the Emirates Pavilion opened its doors to visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai, showcasing the future of commercial aviation in 2021.
The First Emirati Airline Continued its Special Achievements till Today.
Emirates has received an impressive five global and regional awards from two prestigious travel and aviation ceremonies.
It won the titles of ‘Best Airline in the World’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ at the ULTRAs 2022 awards.
In addition to a further ‘World Class Award’, ‘5 Star Global Official Airline Rating’
And ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’ at APEX 2023 awards.
Emirates Airline has ranked among the top 100 most reputable organizations in the world by 2022 Global RepTrak® 100.
In fact, it is the only company from the Middle East and North Africa region to make it to the list, with a reputation score of 72.7.
Emirates has recently been crowned as a 2024 APEX World Class Airline winner.
This is for mastering guest experience and delivering outstanding customer service.
Emirates is one of just eight airlines globally to achieve this accolade.
Emirates also received a 2024 IFSA award for‘ Best Onboard Amenity,’ in recognition of Emirates Sustainable Economy Class amenity kit.
Filled with useful amenities to enhance passenger comfort whilst being composed of more sustainable materials designed for reusability.
Recognizing Emirates commitment to ensuring passengers ‘Fly Better,’
Emirates also was awarded the World Class accolade for demonstrating the highest global standards.
Which includes safety and well-being, sustainability, and service-guest experience.
