Emirates grows network to 800 global destinations, connecting 50,000 travellers weekly

Dubai’s flagship carrier,  Emirates Airline has significantly expanded its global reach with connections to an extensive network of 800 destinations worldwide, through its ever-growing number of codeshare and interline agreements with partner airlines.

Network growth

Since it signed its first interline agreement, Emirates’ global partner network has experienced exponential growth across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.

With 29 codeshare partners, 117 interline partners, and 11 intermodal rail partners in over 100 countries, Emirates offers travellers a wide array of travel choices and flexible schedules, as well as seamless connectivity and an extended reach to over 5,250 additional sectors, covering more than 800 cities.

Every week, Emirates connects over 50,000 passengers to their chosen destinations through codeshare and interline flights operated by its partners.

The airline’s strategic partnerships have played a pivotal role in its growth trajectory, enabling seamless connectivity for customers, fostering loyalty reciprocity, and tapping into unique markets that have generated new travel opportunities.

While the airline has always pursued organic growth, its partnerships, interline agreements, and codeshares, have been instrumental in expanding its global presence, allowing customers to access destinations beyond its network.

Looking ahead, Emirates plans to further enhance its partnership strategy by transforming many of its interline partnerships into full-fledged codeshare agreements.

Additionally, the airline plans to strengthen existing codeshares to further boost its network coverage.

Robust partnerships

The airline’s agreements with United Airlines and Air Canada now enable travellers to reach destinations beyond major airports, such as Corpus Christi and Halifax.

In Asia, Emirates offers excellent connectivity opportunities to popular leisure destinations including Koi Samui in Thailand and Luang Prabang in Laos through its partner, Bangkok Airways.

Meanwhile, Emirates customers can access underserved points in Africa such as Vilanculos, Kilimanjaro, Juba, and Maputo through partnerships with South African Airways and Kenya Airways.

Moreover, the airline offers travellers flying on these partner airlines and connecting to Emirates’ network of over 140 destinations via Dubai a seamless travel experience, with single-ticket itineraries, baggage transfers, frequent flyer benefits, and lounge access.

“We have a long-standing history of partnerships that have reshaped the way people travel around the world. It’s a reflection of our commitment to providing our customers greater flexibility and confidence when planning their travel itineraries by leveraging the strength of our partners’ complementary route networks,”

Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim said, adding that partnerships have also helped to enhance Dubai’s connectivity to the world, providing direct and indirect links to over 800 cities, generating more tourism to our hub, and boosting business and trade opportunities.

Kazim further highlighted that these partnerships have also supported inbound tourism to over 100 countries by opening up connection opportunities and smoother journeys via the exclusively served points of the airline’s partners.

“As we enter the next phase of growth for Emirates, codeshare and interline partnerships will be a critical component of our future success and a core part of our commercial strategy, and we’re working hard to develop them even further to offer a huge choice of onwards destinations for our customers,” he added.

In 2022, Emirates expanded its codeshare and interline agreements with 11 airlines, including major players like Air Canada and United Airlines, further broadening the network choices available to its customers.

The airline also signed agreements with Airlink, Aegean Airlines, Air Tanzania, ITA Airways, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Philippine Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, and SKY Express, as well as an interline agreement with Kenya Airways.

This year, Emirates is set to enter into new partnerships and strengthen existing ones across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty program, and Emirates SkyCargo, its freight division, work closely with codeshare and interline partners to provide coordinated benefits, boosting customer rewards and facilitating access to new markets efficiently.

On the operational side, Emirates Airport Services also play a vital role in ensuring seamless connectivity and reciprocal lounge access for customers.

With strategic partnerships with over 140 airlines in place, Emirates has significantly expanded connectivity options, enabling customers to reach a wide range of destinations on a single ticket.

This also offers benefits within the loyalty space, where frequent flyers of Emirates Skywards and partner loyalty programmes, such as Qantas Frequent Flyer, can earn and redeem points while enjoying lounge access worldwide.

Emirates in the Americas

Emirates customers have access to more than 200 US cities through its partnership with United Airlines via Chicago, Houston, or San Francisco, as well as numerous destinations across Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Moreover, Emirates’ partnership with Air Canada allows customers of both carriers to enjoy seamless connectivity to 232 points spanning three continents, including destinations across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.

Emirates in Europe

Customers can connect to more than 313 cities across the continent, including popular holiday destinations across the Mediterranean through Emirates’  five codeshare partners, including Air Malta, Air Baltic, Aegean Airlines, TAP Portugal, and Siberia Airlines, and 35 interline partners.

Rail partners in Germany, Spain, and France also provide convenient on-ground connectivity, allowing travellers to explore Europe on trains while seamlessly connecting with Emirates on a single ticket

Emirates in Asia

Emirates’ Asian network is further strengthened by codeshare agreements with nine partners, including Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Garuda, among others.

These partnerships enable travellers to access over 150 popular cities across Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, as well as other key business and tourist destinations.

Emirates in Australia

Often called one of the most seismic partnerships in the industry, Emirates’ partnership with Qantas provides access to over 60 Australian destinations which are not served by the airline, while Qantas customers can fly on Emirates to Dubai and beyond, accessing over 65 cities in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Frequent flyers of both Emirates Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyer programmes can earn and redeem points and enjoy lounge access at airports across the globe.

Moreover, the airline’s partnership with Jetstar—a subsidiary of Qantas— also enables travellers to reach key cities in Asia all on one ticket.

Emirates in Africa

Emirates has expanded its footprint across Africa to reach nearly 130 regional points through codeshares with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, and interline agreements with other regional carriers.

These partnerships have facilitated better connectivity and more flight options for customers.

Emirates in the Middle East

The keystone partnership between Emirates and flydubai has significantly increased traffic flows to and from Dubai.

This collaboration offers enhanced connectivity to over 215 destinations across 98 countries, with over 250 codeshare flights available daily.

Emirates customers benefit from access to over 80 unique flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers can access more than 100 Emirates destinations. In addition, both carriers’ customers can benefit from reciprocal loyalty remunerations under the joint loyalty program, Emirates Skywards.

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