Emirates

Q: What are Emirates' airline codes?

Emirates' IATA code is EK , its ICAO code is UAE , and its callsign is EMIRATES .

EK UAE

Emirates is the international airline of Dubai, flying from its hub at Dubai International Airport to cities on six continents. This guide covers its hub, network, fleet, cabins, baggage, check-in, Emirates Skywards and airport transportation.

277
Aircraft: 152
Destinations: DXB
Hub

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The airline

About Emirates

Schedules, aircraft assignments, terminals and fare rules can change. Confirm operational details directly with Emirates before travel.

Official name: Emirates
Callsign: EMIRATES
Country: United Arab Emirates
Founded: 1985
Parent company: The Emirates Group (owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai)
Head office: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Alliance: None (not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam)
Frequent-flyer program: Emirates Skywards
Official website: emirates.com

Emirates is the international airline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 1985, flew its first service on 25 October 1985 and is headquartered in Dubai. The airline is part of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances; it works with partner airlines through bilateral codeshare and interline agreements.

All Emirates passenger flights operate from its hub at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (DXB). From Dubai it serves 152 cities in 80 countries across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas, including 11 cities in the United States and a daily service to Mexico City via Barcelona. Most long-haul passengers connect in Dubai between flights.

The widebody fleet is built around the Airbus A380, the Boeing 777 and the newer Airbus A350-900, with Boeing 777 freighters flown by Emirates SkyCargo.

Network

Where Emirates flies

Routes and frequencies change with the season. Some flights sold with an EK flight number are operated by partner airlines; check the "operated by" line when you book.

Europe

Most major European capitals and many secondary cities, including several airports in the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.

United States, Canada and Mexico

US cities including New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., plus Toronto, Montréal and Mexico City (via Barcelona).

South America

São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires (via Rio de Janeiro).

Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent

A dense regional network across the Gulf, Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Asia-Pacific

East and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, including a few one-stop routes such as Bangkok–Hong Kong and Bangkok–Da Nang.

Aircraft

Emirates fleet

Emirates flies an all-widebody fleet of 277 aircraft (March 2026), including freighters. The aircraft shown at booking is not guaranteed until departure.

Airbus A380

The double-deck A380 operates high-demand routes and offers First, Business, Premium Economy (on retrofitted aircraft) and Economy.

Boeing 777

The 777-300ER and 777-200LR fly across the whole network; many are being retrofitted with new cabins, including Premium Economy.

Airbus A350-900

Entered service in 2025 and flies medium- and long-haul routes in a three-class layout with Premium Economy.

Emirates SkyCargo

Boeing 777 freighters carry cargo only.

On board

Emirates cabin classes

Cabins depend on the aircraft and route. Check the seat map and fare conditions before you buy.

First Class

Private suites on the A380 and selected Boeing 777s.

Business Class

Lie-flat seats on long-haul aircraft.

Premium Economy

Wider seats with more recline, available on a growing number of retrofitted A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft and on the A350.

Economy

The standard cabin. Fare types differ in baggage, seat selection and change rules.

Before you fly

Practical information

Baggage Cabin bags, checked bags, missing luggage

Emirates baggage allowances depend on the cabin, fare type and route, and on Emirates Skywards status. Your allowance is shown on your ticket and in Manage Booking.

Carry-on

Economy passengers may bring one carry-on of up to 7 kg, no larger than 55 x 38 x 22 cm; Premium Economy allows up to 10 kg. Business and First passengers have a larger carry-on allowance. Some airports, including those in India, apply stricter limits.

Checked baggage

Some routes use a weight-based allowance and others, including flights to and from the Americas, use a piece-based allowance. The number of bags and weight depend on the fare.

Special items

Sports equipment, pets, oversized items and medical equipment follow separate rules. Check the official Emirates baggage page before you fly.

Check-in and boarding Steps before departure

Online check-in on emirates.com or the Emirates app opens 48 hours before departure and closes 90 minutes before. Follow the airport check-in and bag-drop deadlines shown for your departure airport.

1 Confirm
Confirm the operating airline, airport and terminal; at Dubai, all Emirates flights use Terminal 3.
2 Documents
Review passport, visa and transit requirements for your destination and for Dubai if you connect.
3 Check in
Check in online or in the app as soon as it opens.
4 Boarding pass
Download the mobile boarding pass or print it.
5 Arrive early
Allow time for bag drop, security and immigration, and for the concourse train in Dubai.

Lounges

Emirates operates its own lounges in all three concourses of Terminal 3 in Dubai and at many airports in its network. Access depends on cabin, Emirates Skywards tier and the itinerary. Check the location and opening hours before you travel.

Loyalty program

Emirates Skywards is Emirates' loyalty program. Members earn Miles on Emirates and partner airlines, and with hotels, cards and other partners, and redeem them for flights, upgrades and more. Tiers are Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Program rules change, so check your account for the conditions that apply to your trip.

Flight status and customer service Official sources

For current operational information, use Emirates' official services:

Emirates website

emirates.com for booking, check-in, trip management and flight status

Emirates app

Available for iOS and Android, with mobile boarding passes and flight notifications

Where you land

Emirates airports

Emirates runs a single-hub network: almost every flight starts or ends in Dubai, and passengers traveling between two other cities usually connect there. A small number of routes stop in a second city on the way.

Dubai International Airport Hub

DXB · Dubai

Emirates' only hub. All Emirates flights use Terminal 3, which has three concourses (A, B and C). Check your boarding pass for the concourse and gate, and allow time for the automated train between concourses.