Emirates has today announced that it will be boosting its US service in the coming weeks. Emirates suspended operations in the spring of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the airline has progressively been building back its network ever since.
With this latest announcement, Emirates still isn’t back to offering pre-pandemic capacity to the US, but it’s still good to see flights being added back. Qatar Airways has in many ways taken advantage of Emirates’ absence in recent months, as the airline has launched flights to two new US destinations — San Francisco and Seattle. The airline is almost offering pre-pandemic levels of US service.
In this post:
Emirates expanding service in the United States
Emirates will be resuming service to three US destinations, meaning the airline will once again offer service to nine North American destinations. On top of that, the airline will be increasing frequencies to two US destinations.
As it stands, Emirates is offering service to the following six destinations in the United States, all with 777-300ERs (with the exception of Houston, which is operated by a 777-200LR):
- Dubai to Boston 4x weekly
- Dubai to Chicago 5x weekly
- Dubai to Houston 3x weekly
- Dubai to Los Angeles 5x weekly
- Dubai to New York JFK 7x weekly
- Dubai to Washington Dulles 4x weekly
Emirates currently flies to six US destinations
Emirates adds back Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle routes
In the coming weeks, Emirates will be adding the following routes back to its US network:
- As of February 1, 2021, Emirates will fly 4x weekly between Dubai and Seattle with a 777-200LR (which doesn’t feature first class)
- As of March 2, 2021, Emirates will fly 3x weekly between Dubai and Dallas with a 777-200LR (which doesn’t feature first class)
- As of March 2, 2021, Emirates will fly 4x weekly between Dubai and San Francisco with a 777-300ER
Emirates’ 777-200LR business class
Emirates adds back New York & Los Angeles frequencies
Not only is Emirates adding back three additional US destinations, but the airline will also be adding additional frequencies on two routes:
- As of February 1, 2021, the Dubai to Los Angeles route will go from 5x weekly to 7x weekly, still operated by a 777-300ER
- As of February 1, 2021, the Dubai to New York route will go from 7x weekly to 14x weekly; the additional frequency will be operated by an A380 as of March 28, 2021
Emirates’ A380 will return to New York
What about Emirates’ fifth freedom routes?
Emirates operates two fifth freedom routes from the US:
- New York to Milan to Dubai
- Newark to Athens to Dubai
While we haven’t received a recent update on this, as of now Emirates is selling these routes as follows:
- New York to Milan flights resume 4x weekly as of June 2 with 777-300ERs
- Newark to Athens flights resume 5x weekly as of June 2 with 777-300ERs
I wouldn’t at all expect those schedules to stick, but that’s what Emirates officially has scheduled as of now. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised to see the routes canceled for the summer.
When will the Emirates A380 return to more US routes?
Since last spring, Emirates has completely stopped flying A380s to the US. A majority of Emirates’ A380 fleet continues to be grounded, and the airline has even laid off a majority of its A380 pilots, meaning it’s unlikely these planes will make a meaningful return anytime soon.
The only US A380 service planned in the coming months is between Dubai and New York, on that second daily frequency. While I’d usually be excited about an upgrade from a 777 to an A380, the frequency being replaced by the A380 is also Emirates’ only US route to feature the new 777 first class product, so that’s a shame.
Emirates may stop offering its new first class to the US
It remains to be seen if Emirates will fly the 777 with new first class to another US airport, or if it will fly to another country. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a last minute change, and for this route to continue to be operated by its current 777.
Bottom line
Emirates is slowly rebuilding its US route network. Soon the airline will operate service to nine US cities, and will also restore its first US A380 route. Emirates is taking a much more slow-and-steady approach to adding back US service than Qatar Airways.
What do you make of Emirates’ US service resumption?
Always love Emirates who fly everywhere we all want to fly to . Once You guys get rid of the nut case who leads ha ha the “free world” we will feel a lot better flying again . Even the leaders of North Korea and China will enforce their people to act nothing like those who attacked the capital of the free world . Seriously how can soooo many Americans not realise what Trump is...
Always love Emirates who fly everywhere we all want to fly to . Once You guys get rid of the nut case who leads ha ha the “free world” we will feel a lot better flying again . Even the leaders of North Korea and China will enforce their people to act nothing like those who attacked the capital of the free world . Seriously how can soooo many Americans not realise what Trump is destroying in global travel ,global economies and why so many non Americans are watching this play out. We all hope Americans stay at home for the forceable future .Impeach and remove and let the rest of us live a normal COVID life style.
@Jasmeet Singh
It appears your caps lock key is engaged. Day going okay?
What about route of Orlando?
@Pietro deMarchi With what justification ? it called demand by consumers. I've been on a dozen or more domestic and long haul international flights in the past four months and almost all of them have been full, some close to completely full. We're far from pre pandemic levels, but people are choosing to fly again. Good for them! If people don't like that, then stay at home.
such a shame cuz the 777 SUCKS compared to the A380 cabin on emirates.....unless u get their newest plane of course....what a downgrade....
Qatar Airways it is!!!!
Good to see Emirates expanding, but I think it's more in response to Qatar. With the end of the blockade Qatar is going to take all of that traffic and offer cheaper pricing. Hell hath no fury like a tiny little Akbar whining to his ex-EK CCO about sending a message of vengence!
QATAR AND EMIRATES DO NOT FLY TO LAS VEGAS , NV . REASON QATAR IS FASTEST GROWING IN WORLD IS BECAUSE QATAR FLY TO AIRPORTS THAT EMIRATES DOES NOT FLY EXAMPLE IS ATQ , AMRITSAR , PUNJAB , INDIA . FASTEST GROWING AIRPORT IN WORLD WITH 8% GAIN . QATAR FLY A320 WITH FULL CAPACITY TO ATQ , WERE AS ALL AIRLINES ARE FIGHTING FOR PASSENGERS AND CARGO AT NEW DELHI AIRPORT . ALL AIRLINES...
QATAR AND EMIRATES DO NOT FLY TO LAS VEGAS , NV . REASON QATAR IS FASTEST GROWING IN WORLD IS BECAUSE QATAR FLY TO AIRPORTS THAT EMIRATES DOES NOT FLY EXAMPLE IS ATQ , AMRITSAR , PUNJAB , INDIA . FASTEST GROWING AIRPORT IN WORLD WITH 8% GAIN . QATAR FLY A320 WITH FULL CAPACITY TO ATQ , WERE AS ALL AIRLINES ARE FIGHTING FOR PASSENGERS AND CARGO AT NEW DELHI AIRPORT . ALL AIRLINES ARE REQUESTED TO KINDLY START FLYING TO ATQ BECAUSE OVER 1000 PASSENGERS TRAVEL TO NEW DELHI AIRPORT FROM PUNJAB TO CATCH FLIGHTS .
Who’s on these flights ? The pandemic, particularly in the US is out of control and where are they all travelling outbound from the US- I think this is Emirates trying to keep themselves in the spotlight but I’m doubtful these flights will launch - I guess we shall see
The new flights are not bookable using Alaska miles yet.
@Lucky - From what you write, the A380 on the New York route doesn't seem to replace anything if it is just an additional weekly frequency. Are you saying they are downgrading the other flight to use the older 77W?
@ MKLDH -- Sorry if I wasn't clear. The frequency that currently exists is being upgraded to an A380. Then the second frequency is operated by a 777-300ER, which isn't scheduled to feature the new first class.
Unless the Biden administration is planning to support vaccine passports (which is unlikely because they would exclude disadvantaged populations), this feels 3-6 months premature.
@ Jan - it's a cool story to say "don't worry about it." Did you read the screening failure between Dubai and New Zealand back in September?
Wonder if the 772 will now be permanent on DFW route. It's an upgrade compared to the 777ER
@Rohan: Thanks for the info!
@KK13: the latest is that MCO is suspended through 6/1/21 and FLL through 7/1/21, though the latter is indefinite and it may be suspended further/possibly cancelled.
Any chance they might resume MCO-DXB?
I'd also expect SEA-DXB to be axed in the near future, even after it resumes, given QR's entry and partnership with AS via OW (EK has one with AS too and I suspect that will end very soon).
I think the JFK-MXP-DXB flight will ramp up rather quickly by Summer 2021, not necessarily due to tourism demand, but due to the fact that there are 2 fewer flights in the NYC-MXP market now permanently, with Air Italy gone since the pandemic and AZ no longer flying anything in and out of MXP, thereby cutting the AZ 600/601 flight to JFK. That leaves just DL (guessing they may up a frequency eventually) and AA,...
I think the JFK-MXP-DXB flight will ramp up rather quickly by Summer 2021, not necessarily due to tourism demand, but due to the fact that there are 2 fewer flights in the NYC-MXP market now permanently, with Air Italy gone since the pandemic and AZ no longer flying anything in and out of MXP, thereby cutting the AZ 600/601 flight to JFK. That leaves just DL (guessing they may up a frequency eventually) and AA, which stopped the 198/199 flight in March and has not resumed it.
The UA flight from EWR to MXP is also not operating as of now.
Business on the 772 looks awful, glad they are back in DFW but not sure id pick that over Qatars a350 dfw offering.
@Pietro don’t worry about UAE. They have far, far more testing per capita than any other nation, as well as very good monitoring and contract tracing. Don’t worry about it.
With what justification ? This is totally contraproductive to all hard efforts by health authorities and the WHO to stem the spread of this virus and its new more agressive variants. The UAE will pay a high price if the virus loves flying First Class but lives matter more than money !
I think once they return to the South Florida market, it’ll be to Miami.
Are you sure the DXB to IAH and vice versa is 777-300? Last I checked it shows 777-200. Thanks.
wow, this looks like great news!!
New York will now be seeing the beautiful emirates a380!
Wondering when the dubai-newark service will resume.
Surprising to see the LAX service increasing, considering how rampant COVID is in LA, but I guess the service increase is far less on a % boost than NY.