Data released by Emirates Airlines and Flydubai shows a continuous increase in passenger destinations within the networks of both airlines around the world, reaching a total of 219 destinations, including 124 for Emirates Airlines and 95 for Flydubai. Emirates Airlines has recovered about 60% of its flight numbers, covering 90% of its destination network compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, while Flydubai has resumed operations to 50 countries in Africa, Central Asia, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East.
**Ongoing Increase**
Specifically, the data indicates a steady increase in passenger destinations within the networks of both airlines, facilitated by air travel protocols that ease travel for UAE nationals, residents, and tourists while ensuring the health and safety of visitors and communities. Currently, the total number of destinations within the networks of both companies stands at 219, comprising 124 destinations for Emirates Airlines and 95 for Flydubai.
**Emirates Airlines**
Emirates Airlines confirmed that it has restored about 60% of its flight numbers and has operated additional flights to certain destinations, anticipating growth in demand for Dubai in the fourth quarter of the year, coinciding with Expo 2020 Dubai. The airline currently operates in 124 passenger destinations (down from 143 before the pandemic) and runs A380 aircraft to 18 cities with 129 weekly flights on 30 planes.
In July 2021, Emirates Airlines resumed flights to Nice, Mexico City, Phuket, Lyon, Mauritius, and Malta, in addition to its new service to Miami with four weekly flights, bringing its network in the United States to 12 destinations and over 70 weekly flights. Emirates Airlines emphasized its efforts to reconnect more broadly through code-sharing partners, allowing customers to connect from Emirates points to over 500 other cities across the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
**Flydubai**
In parallel, Flydubai’s network has expanded to over 95 destinations in 50 countries globally. Flydubai has enhanced its destination network by launching flights to Egypt's Sohag International Airport starting July 25, and to Austria's Salzburg International Airport from July 15, as well as resuming operations to Italy's Naples Airport from July 31. Flydubai will also begin flights to Turkey's Ankara, starting July 29, with two weekly flights.
Additionally, Flydubai announced the launch of three weekly flights to Somaliland’s Hargeisa Egal International Airport beginning August 10, increasing its destination count in Africa to 12 locations across nine countries, including Sohag International Airport and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport earlier this summer. Flydubai confirmed it will be the first airline operating flights to Hargeisa from Dubai while continuing to open underserved markets and expand its African network, with plans to resume operations to Uganda in the coming weeks.
**Emirates Airlines Offers Free Tickets for Expo 2020 Dubai**
Emirates Airlines announced that it will offer a free one-day ticket to visit the Expo 2020 Dubai for all passengers on its flights to Dubai from October 1 to March 31, 2022. The airline stated on its website that transit passengers with layovers longer than six hours in Dubai can also receive a free ticket to the international event.
Emirates Airlines mentioned that every passenger traveling on its flights to Dubai between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, will receive a free one-day entry pass to Expo 2020 Dubai on any day they choose. Passengers were invited to secure the free ticket by entering details for each traveler through a specific link on the company’s website to have the tickets sent via email.
Regarding lost one-day admission tickets to the expo, Emirates Airlines stated that travelers could re-enter their booking reference or ticket number to resend the ticket to the email address originally provided.
Expo 2020 Dubai is set to run from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, making it the first international expo in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia's history. The exhibition will welcome visitors from around the world to participate in creating a new world and celebrating creativity, innovation, culture, and human progress over six months.
**Expanded Partnership**
Flydubai's expanded code-sharing partnership with Emirates Airlines offers travelers smoother connecting flights through Dubai International Airport, which today serves as a global aviation hub providing access to over 200 destinations between Emirates and Flydubai networks, including Australia, the Indian Ocean, Japan, South Asia, and the United States.
