The Emirates airline has wrapped up its participation at Dubai Airshow 2025 with expanded fleet orders, new cabin technologies, and key partnerships that strengthen the UAE’s aerospace ambitions and signal long-term growth confidence.
Largest-ever display of Airbus A380, A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft attracted over 82,000 visitors throughout the week, with over 15,000 experiencing Emirates’ Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi aboard the Emirates Boeing 777.
Emirates has announced a series of strategic initiatives that support its ambitious plans and Dubai’s D33 goals:
Fleet Growth: Emirates ordered 65 more Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 8 additional Airbus A350-900 jets at Dubai Airshow 2025, bringing its total wide-body orders to 375 aircraft for delivery through 2038. This new commitment is valued at $41.4 billion and continues Emirates’ long-term expansion strategy.
Expanding network partnerships: The airline has enhanced its partnership with South African Airways to a reciprocal codeshare agreement; and extended its reciprocal codeshare and loyalty partnership with Air Canada until December 2032 along with deepened cooperation across several areas. Emirates also highlighted its successful and extensive collaboration with flydubai.
Making flying better and more connected: The airline debuted Starlinkon one of its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs at the Dubai Airshow so visitors could experience high-speed connectivity firsthand. The airline will install Starlink on 232 aircraft within the next two years. Emirates also announced plans for 111 of its existing aircraft to undergo a comprehensive upgrade with sophisticated cabin innovations and immersive next-gen entertainment.
Image credits: Emirates | Cropped by GBN
SAF Advancement: An MoU with ENOCwas signed to explore and develop joint initiatives for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Dubai.
More efficient skies: The airline has partnered with dans and Thales to pioneer research into reducing arrival holding patterns at DXB, enhancing UAE airspace efficiency.
Collaborating on AI: Partnered with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPTEnterprise across the organization, which will be supported by AI training programs and strategic implementation frameworks.
Image Via: Emirates | Cropped by GBN
The next era of logistics: Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Autonomous signed an MoU to explore the development and deployment of next generation air cargo solutions deploying UAE built unmanned, hybrid heavy-lift cargo aircraft.
Emirates boost Dubai’s aerospace capabilities
Boosting Dubai’s aerospace capabilities as a strategic contributor to the global value chain, the company has inked several milestone agreements to establish manufacturing facilities, expand engine MRO capacity, and achieve certification capability for aircraft modifications works.
Emirates andSafran Seats signed an MoU to build Dubai’s first aircraft seat manufacturing facility, initially producing Business and Economy Class retrofit seats for itself and other carriers, with future expansion to line-fit production using advanced manufacturing technology.
The airline signed an MoU with the CCE Group to co-develop next-generation cabin and cargo products and evaluate manufacturing and service capabilities in the UAE.
It also signed an MOU with Rolls-Royce enabling to perform Trent 900 engine MRO for its own A380 fleet from 2027 at a new purpose-built facility. The agreement extends the TotalCare service partnership into the 2040s, with the airline handling fan case repairs while Rolls-Royce maintains global module repair capability.
Image Via: Dubai Media Office | Cropped by GBN
Emirates Engineering was awarded the UAE’s first Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the GCAA, establishing the nation’s independent capability to certify and carry out major aircraft modifications, a milestone that advances Dubai’s aerospace expertise and local design innovation.
During the week, the airline has also won ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the 8th consecutive year at the ULTRAs travel awards, as well as Airline of the Year and Best First Class of the Year at the Aviation Business Middle East Awards 2025.
