National Airlines Soar to Over 590 Destinations with a Fleet of 550 Aircraft

UAE airlines are having their best year yet. The country's four major carriers now fly to over 590 destinations worldwide with a combined fleet of 550 aircraft, posting record profits and passenger numbers that show no signs of slowing down.

This surge comes as the UAE marks its National Civil Aviation Day, with Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia all expanding their fleets and route networks while delivering strong financial results.

Etihad's Biggest Expansion Ever

Etihad Airways carried 14.2 million passengers in the first eight months of 2025, up 18% from the same period last year. The airline maintained an impressive 88% load factor, meaning nearly nine out of ten seats were filled on every flight.

July 2025 became Etihad's busiest month for aircraft deliveries in its 22-year history. The airline took delivery of five new planes in that month alone, including its first A321LR aircraft. This plane brings wide-body luxury to narrow-body flights - a first for the region.

Etihad's fleet now stands at 112 aircraft, serving 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 last year. The airline plans to add 20 more aircraft annually through 2025 and 2026.

Air Arabia Posts Strong Profits

Air Arabia reported net profits of 770 million dirhams ($210 million) for the first half of 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year. Revenue climbed 8% to 3.44 billion dirhams ($937 million).

The low-cost carrier served 10.1 million passengers from January to June 2025, a 13% jump from the same period last year. Its load factor reached 84%, and the airline now flies to 228 destinations.

Air Arabia added two aircraft to its fleet during the first half of 2025, bringing its total to 83 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The airline expects to start receiving new planes from Airbus by year-end as part of an order for 120 aircraft.

Emirates Breaks All Records

Emirates Group delivered its most profitable year ever in 2024-2025, becoming the world's most profitable airline group during this period. The company posted record pre-tax profits of 22.7 billion dirhams ($6.2 billion), up 18% from the previous year.

Revenue hit a record 145.4 billion dirhams ($39.6 billion), growing 6% year-over-year. Emirates invested 14 billion dirhams ($3.8 billion) in new aircraft, facilities, equipment, and technology during the financial year.

By March 2025, Emirates operated flights to 148 cities across 80 countries and territories. The airline's fleet reached 260 aircraft with an average age of 10.7 years. Emirates has 314 aircraft still on order, including 61 A350s, 205 Boeing 777Xs, 35 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and 13 Boeing 777 freighters.

The airline added 99 aircraft to its retrofit program, bringing the total to 219 aircraft in a comprehensive $5 billion upgrade plan.

flydubai Keeps Growing

flydubai received seven new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft between April and August 2025, with five more expected before year-end. This brings the fleet to 93 aircraft, serving over 135 destinations in 57 countries.

By the end of 2025, flydubai's fleet will exceed 95 aircraft. This expansion reinforces Dubai's position as a leading global aviation hub and opens new markets for passengers.

Strong Airport Traffic

UAE airports welcomed 75.4 million passengers in the first half of 2025, up 5% from 71.7 million in the same period last year. January was the busiest month, with over 13.7 million passengers.

The four national carriers launched flights to 15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East during the first half of 2025.

This performance shows how UAE airlines are capitalizing on the country's strategic location between East and West. With strong demand for travel and Dubai positioning itself as a global transit hub, these carriers are well-placed to capture more of the growing aviation market. The combination of new aircraft, expanded routes, and strong financial results suggests this growth trend will continue.