Emirates plans to invest USD 80-90 bn to expand its fleet with 315 new aircraft by 2032, comprising 240 Boeing 777X/787s, 65 Airbus A350s, and 10 cargo planes, Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim told EnterpriseAM at the opening ceremony of Emirates World’s store in Egypt. The airline has already received three Airbus A350s, with five more expected in the next three months, Kazim said.

Remember: Back in October, Emirates ordered five additional Boeing 777 freighters, set for delivery in 2025-2026, bringing its total freighter orderbook to 21.

Boeing delays have forced the need for fleet upgrades: Emirates is facing significant delivery delays from Boeing, with Emirates’ President Tim Clark saying he does not expect the 777X aircraft to enter commercial operations before 2026, pushing the airline to extend the service life of its current fleet. The carrier also allocated over USD 3 bn to upgrade 200 aircraft over the next three years, including the introduction of premium economy cabins, with 40 aircraft already refurbished, Kazim told us.

The carrier is growing its network: Emirates currently serves 148 destinations — including 140 passenger and eight cargo — and aims to exceed 170 by 2030, Kazim said. The airline has 162 agreements with other carriers, including 33 codeshares and more than 115 interline agreements, giving it access to 1.7k destinations. In Africa, Emirates operates 161 weekly flights to 20 destinations through partnerships with five codeshare and 18 interline partners, he added.

It had a strong year amid Red Sea disruptions: The carrier’s cargo business benefited from shipping disruptions in the Red Sea, which redirected high-value goods like electronics, pharma goods, and fresh produce to air freight, Kazim said. On the passenger side, high winter demand pushed its seat load factor above 90% in 3Q 2024, while the entire six-month period ending in September saw it land at around 80%, he added. Key growth routes included UK, India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

It is also investing over USD 200 mn in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), while actively testing SAF-powered flights from Singapore, Amsterdam, and London. The airline is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, though Kazim emphasized the limited availability and high cost of SAF, calling for government support to scale production.

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