Emirates Plans Network Expansion in 2025, Eyes New Routes to China and Beyond

Emirates plans to add new destinations to its network in 2025, expanding its offering to more than 140 cities.

24 de febrero de 2025 - 16:41

Emirates Plans Network Expansion in 2025, Eyes New Routes to China and Beyond

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Emirates currently operates a network of more than 130 destinations worldwide and is considering expanding its services to more cities in 2025, according to reports from Bloomberg. In its next phase of growth, the Gulf carrier plans to focus on China, where it is evaluating a potential route to Shenzhen using Boeing 777 aircraft. However, the addition of new routes is being affected by delays in Airbus and Boeing aircraft deliveries, as well as the airline’s ongoing cabin modernization program.

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The company aims to strengthen its presence in China, capitalizing on the reduced operations of several European airlines in this market. Another key destination Emirates is planning to enter is Hangzhou, with flights expected to begin mid-year.

Proposed Routes

According to Bloomberg, the cities under consideration for Emirates' network expansion include:

Chengdu, China
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Da Nang, Vietnam
Helsinki, Finland
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Currently, Brazzaville, Da Nang, Siem Reap, and Shenzhen do not have direct connections to a Middle Eastern hub, making Emirates a key operator for improving connectivity to these cities.

Meanwhile, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Kinshasa are already served by Qatar Airways, setting the stage for direct competition between the two airlines. Helsinki, on the other hand, is seasonally served by Finnair with flights to Dubai.

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The new routes are expected to be operated with Airbus A350 aircraft. Emirates is also considering the use of fifth freedom rights to connect certain cities.

Emirates’ expansion plans stand in contrast to decisions by Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and SAS, which have suspended their flights to mainland China due to high operating costs resulting from the closure of Russian airspace. With these new additions, Emirates’ network could surpass 140 destinations.