Emirates has reported strong demand for the 2026 winter travel season after carrying more than 8.6 million passengers in July and August. The Dubai-based airline is adding flights, increasing capacity on key routes and expanding its newer aircraft and cabin products as bookings across several major markets move ahead of last year.
- Location: Dubai and Emirates’ global network
- Organisation: Emirates
- Status: Winter 2026–27 preparations underway
- Who is affected: UAE residents, tourists and Emirates passengers
- Business impact: More flights, aircraft upgrades and stronger connectivity
- What’s next: Helsinki launches on October 1, with further A350 and A380 deployments
Emirates is entering the 2026 winter travel season with strong bookings after carrying more than 8.6 million passengers in July and August, according to the airline. Emirates said demand for the winter season, which begins in late October, is ahead of last year in several major markets, including India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, South Africa and Brazil. The Dubai airline is also adding new flights, increasing frequencies and deploying more A350 and A380 aircraft, giving passengers more capacity and upgraded cabins as travel demand continues to build.
Emirates sees strong demand ahead of winter travel season
Emirates said it maintained healthy seat load factors during the summer, with routes across West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa recording load factors above 75%.
Indonesia, Côte d’Ivoire and the UK were among the stronger-performing markets during the period.
The airline is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, while winter bookings are showing positive momentum.
Several markets are already recording stronger demand compared with the same period last year. These include South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The UAE is also continuing to generate strong outbound travel demand, while Emirates said premium cabin bookings are increasing.
Dubai is seeing strong inbound traffic as well. More than 500,000 passengers arrived in Dubai on Emirates flights in the second half of August, marking a 7% increase from the same period in 2025.
Emirates adds Helsinki and more flights from Dubai
One of the biggest changes for passengers will be the launch of Emirates’ new Helsinki service.
Flights to the Finnish capital will begin on October 1, 2026, with the Airbus A350 operating the route. The aircraft currently serves 30 destinations from Dubai, with Emirates expecting that figure to reach 36 by the end of the year.
The airline is also adding capacity to several existing destinations.
Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will each receive a second daily Emirates service.
For travellers heading to India, one of the daily Dubai-Delhi services will be upgraded to an Airbus A380.
The changes come as India remains one of the markets where Emirates is seeing stronger winter demand compared with last year.
More A350 and A380 flights are coming
Emirates is continuing to introduce its newer aircraft on more routes during the winter schedule.
The Airbus A350 is due to operate services to Larnaca, Malta, Nairobi and Hamburg from late October, followed by Mauritius in November.
Retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft will also begin serving Stockholm in October and Frankfurt in November.
The airline has received 18 new aircraft since the start of 2026, including 11 A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters. Another six A350s are expected to join the fleet before the end of December.
At the same time, Emirates is continuing its major cabin retrofit programme. A total of 104 aircraft have now completed the programme, including 53 Boeing 777s and 51 A380s.
Premium Economy and Starlink continue to expand
Emirates is also expanding its newer passenger products as it prepares for higher winter demand.
Premium Economy is now available on services to 90 destinations, with six more destinations expected to receive the cabin before the end of 2026. These include Paris, Delhi and Stockholm.
The airline currently has 137 aircraft offering Premium Economy and its latest cabin products. Emirates expects that number to reach 155 by the end of December.
Starlink Wi-Fi is also being introduced across the fleet. Nearly 50 Emirates aircraft have now been equipped with the service, with installations continuing alongside the retrofit programme.
For passengers, the changes mean more aircraft with upgraded cabins, better connectivity and additional options on popular routes.
Emirates and flydubai expand Dubai connectivity
The wider Emirates-flydubai partnership is also playing a role in the airline’s network expansion.
The partnership has carried more than 28 million passengers since 2017, connecting travellers through Dubai to more than 214 unique destinations across more than 100 countries.
Emirates passengers can access more than 100 flydubai destinations, while flydubai customers can connect to more than 140 Emirates destinations.
Kathmandu, Zanzibar, Krabi and Belgrade are among the flydubai destinations popular with Emirates passengers.
Across its wider network, Emirates has 168 codeshare, interline and intermodal partnerships, providing access to another 1,750 cities.
Why It Matters?
For UAE residents, Emirates’ winter expansion means more flight options at a time when international travel demand typically increases.
The additional services can provide more flexibility for travellers heading to India, Europe, Asia and other major markets. The Delhi A380 upgrade is particularly relevant for passengers travelling between Dubai and India.
The stronger inbound figures also matter for Dubai. More international passengers support tourism, hospitality, retail and other parts of the city’s visitor economy.
Dubai International Airport handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, highlighting the continued importance of the emirate as a global aviation and connecting hub.
With more aircraft arriving and existing planes undergoing cabin upgrades, Emirates is expected to continue rebuilding and expanding its network through the remainder of 2026.
FAQs
How many passengers did Emirates carry in July and August 2026?
Emirates carried more than 8.6 million passengers during July and August 2026.
When will Emirates start flying to Helsinki?
Emirates will launch flights between Dubai and Helsinki on October 1, 2026, using the Airbus A350.
Which Emirates routes are getting additional flights?
Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are due to receive second daily services.
Is Emirates adding more A380 flights?
Yes. One of Emirates’ daily Dubai-Delhi services will be upgraded to an Airbus A380. The airline is also continuing its wider A380 retrofit programme.
Where is Emirates Premium Economy available?
Premium Economy is currently available on services to 90 destinations, with six more destinations expected to receive the cabin before the end of 2026.
Emirates is heading into the 2026 winter travel season with stronger bookings, higher capacity and continued investment in its aircraft and passenger experience. With new Helsinki flights, additional services on busy routes and more A350, A380 and upgraded aircraft entering the network, the airline is expanding its global connectivity from Dubai as winter travel demand builds.
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