Emirates Restores 93% of Capacity as Dubai Aviation Accelerates

Emirates Airlines has restored 93 per cent of its capacity and nearly 98 per cent of its network following months of regional disruption, with the carrier reporting a strong recovery in passenger demand over the summer.

“We have already covered 93 per cent of our capacity. We recovered almost 98 per cent of our network,” Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, told Arabian Business.

The recovery represents a substantial improvement from the early stages of the disruption, when Emirates’ operations were brought to a complete halt. Kazim said the airline restored almost 56 per cent of its network within the first month and carried 4.7 million passengers during March and April.

The reinstatement of services has been accompanied by a strong return in passenger volumes. Emirates carried 8.7 million passengers in July and August, while Kazim said more than 500,000 passengers travelling to Dubai arrived during the final two weeks of August.

“As soon as we put the capacity back, the demand really shaped up and is moving in a positive manner so far,” he said.

The recovery extends beyond Emirates, with Dubai’s tourism sector closely linked to the emirate’s position as a global aviation hub. Restoring international connectivity is therefore an important factor in supporting the return of visitors and strengthening tourism activity.

Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said at the Arabian Travel Market press conference that Dubai had “seen a massive growth, especially in the last quarter”, adding that the overall trajectory was continuing in the right direction.

Kazim highlighted cooperation with international airlines and efforts to restore flight services quickly, while also pointing to an opportunity created by Dubai’s role as a major global connecting hub.

“Even if someone’s transiting through, if I can get them to stop over in Dubai, it’s a great, great privilege to have,” he said.

The disruption also led Emirates to offer additional flexibility to affected travellers. Adnan Kazim said the airline waived penalties, protected the status of Skywards members and arranged support for affected passengers at its Dubai hub and across its overseas network.