Emirates

In 1984, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum initiated the establishment of Emirates Airline, with a comprehensive business plan ready by December of the same year.

Emirates airline was founded on March 15, 1985, with initial support from Dubai's royal family and aircraft provided by Pakistan International Airlines. It started with $10 million in start-up capital and operated independently without government subsidies.

Emirates airline's inaugural flight, EK600, took off from Dubai, UAE to Karachi, Pakistan on October 25, 1985. This marked the beginning of the airline's operations and its journey to becoming one of the world's leading air carriers.

On July 3, 1987, Emirates received its first owned aircraft, an Airbus A310-304, with the delivery flight from Toulouse to Dubai. This marked a significant milestone in the airline's fleet expansion.

In August 1990, Emirates expanded its routes to include Frankfurt via Istanbul and the Maldives. This strategic expansion allowed the airline to connect key European and Asian destinations, enhancing its global reach.

In 1991, Emirates achieved a significant milestone by obtaining a slot at London Heathrow Airport, a key hub for global business. This allowed the airline to further expand its reach.

In 1992, Emirates placed an order for seven Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which included one 777-200 and six 777-2000ER aircraft. This marked the beginning of a significant transformation in Emirates' fleet.

Emirates started offering round-the-world services in 1993 after establishing a partnership with US Airways. This move further solidified Emirates' presence in the global aviation market.

Emirates has not had any narrow-body aircraft in its mainline fleet since 1995.

In 1996, Emirates initiated flights to Melbourne via Singapore using the Boeing 777 aircraft. This route expansion was made possible by the capabilities of the 777 aircraft.

In May 1998, Emirates invested $70 million to acquire a 40% stake in Air Lanka, which later rebranded as SriLankan Airlines. The management of Air Lanka was overseen by Emirates until 2008, when they sold their stake to the Sri Lankan government.

In April 2000, Emirates became the first launch customer for the Airbus A380 by placing an order for the largest civil aircraft built at that time. This marked a significant investment in fleet expansion.

The terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, in the United States, had a significant impact on various industries, including the airline industry. Emirates, like other airlines, faced challenges following these tragic events.

During 2002, Emirates faced challenges due to various events including a recession, the bombing of Colombo Airport, and the September 11 attacks in New York City. These events led to a decrease in profitability and forced the airline to make strategic changes.

At the 2003 Paris Air Show, Emirates signed an order for 71 aircraft, including Airbus A380-800s and Boeing 777-300ERs, amounting to US$19 billion. This significant order marked a milestone in the airline's expansion.

In 2004, Emirates began operating non-stop flights to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport using its new Airbus A340-500. This route reinstated direct air services between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

In November 2006, Emirates signed a deal with AeroMobile to allow in-flight use of mobile phones for calling or texting people on the ground, enhancing communication options for passengers.

In mid-2007, Emirates introduced docking capability for Apple Inc.'s iPod in their aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their devices and integrate with the in-flight entertainment system.

On August 1, 2008, Emirates operated its first A380-800 commercial flight from Dubai to New York, carrying 489 passengers. This marked a milestone in Emirates' fleet operations.

In 2009, Emirates became the world's largest operator of the Boeing 777 with the delivery of its 78th aircraft of this type. This milestone solidified Emirates' position as a key player in the aviation industry.

In the 6 months leading to September 2010, Emirates reported a passenger load factor of 81.2%, showcasing the efficiency of their operations.

On 6 September 2012, Emirates and Qantas signed a 10-year agreement to establish a major alliance, shifting Qantas' European hub to Dubai International Airport. This strategic partnership aimed to enhance connectivity and services for passengers of both airlines.

On November 9, 2013, Emirates airline unveiled its first light sport aircraft to the world. This event showcased Emirates' commitment to innovation and diversification in the aviation sector.

In July 2014, Emirates finalized an order for 150 Boeing 777X aircraft, consisting of 35 777-8s and 115 777-9s. The order was later reduced.

In March 2016, Emirates commenced the world's longest A380 service from Dubai to Auckland, with a flight time of 17 hours and 15 minutes. This highlighted Emirates' commitment to offering unique and extensive flight routes.

Emirates introduced a new first-class cabin for its Boeing 777-300ER fleet on 12 November 2017. The new cabin features six suites on a 1-1-1 layout, with unique amenities such as virtual windows, minibars, a tablet for communication with cabin crew, and a zero-gravity seat position.

Emirates operated the first flight of its Boeing 777-300ER with the new first-class cabin to Brussels and Geneva on 1 December 2017. The new cabin offers luxurious features and is considered one of the best First Class experiences in the world.

In February 2019, Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 40 A330-900s and 30 A350-900s, while reducing its A380 order.

In November 2019, Emirates announced an order of 50 A350-900s and 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, while reducing its 777X order.

At the end of March 2020, Emirates suspended all passenger flights to and from the UAE as part of the national pandemic response, marking a challenging period for the airline and the global aviation industry.

At the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2020, the Emirates Group employed a total of 105,730 employees, with various roles including cabin crew, flight deck crew, engineering staff, and others.

Emirates became one of the official premier partners of Expo 2020 in Dubai. They unveiled a special livery representing the event's themes of Opportunity, Sustainability, and Mobility.

On 15 June 2021, Emirates reported a loss of $5.5 billion for the year 2020-21, attributing it to a drastic revenue decline of over 66% caused by global travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Emirates received the final A380 built by Airbus on December 16, 2021, marking the end of A380 production.

On December 20, 2021, Emirates Flight 231, a Boeing 777-300ER, almost overran the runway during takeoff from Dubai International Airport, flying at a low altitude over nearby houses. Fortunately, no damage or injuries were reported, and an investigation is ongoing.

On December 19, 2022, an Emirates Airbus A380-800 flight from Manchester to Dubai was canceled due to the inflation of the slide raft with the jet bridge attached. The affected aircraft later departed without passengers, and the incident occurred on December 20.

At the Dubai Airshow on November 13, 2023, Emirates finalized an order of 90 777X aircraft and 5 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, increasing the total Boeing backlog.

On November 16, 2023, at the Dubai Airshow, Emirates ordered an additional 15 Airbus A350-900s, expanding its A350 fleet.

On December 4, 2023, an Emirates Airbus A380-800 encountered severe turbulence over the Persian Gulf while en-route from Perth to Dubai, resulting in injuries to 14 individuals.

Emirates signed a multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to become the official airline of the league. The deal includes naming rights for the NBA Cup and placing an Emirates patch on NBA referee jerseys.

On March 27, 2024, a truck became wedged under an Emirates Airbus A380-800 at Moscow Domodedovo Airport, leading to the driver of the truck suffering a stroke.