While Emirates only has one primary hub in Dubai (DXB), the airline does operate some fifth freedom flights around the globe. It looks like the airline may be significantly growing its number of fifth freedom flights to the Americas, though only time will tell how this plays out.
In this post:
Emirates may launch Milan to Lima flights, and more
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (which typically has very accurate reporting) shares that Emirates is very close to receiving permission to operate nonstop flights between Milan (MXP) and Lima (LIM). Say what now?!
For context, fifth freedom flights are when airlines operate services between two countries other than their home country, and it requires regulatory approval (or being part of an Open Skies framework).
For example, in the Americas, Emirates already has fifth freedom flights from Athens (ATH) to Newark (EWR), Barcelona (BCN) to Mexico City (MEX), Miami (MIA) to Bogota (BOG), and Milan (MXP) to New York (JFK). Emirates is now reportedly close to receiving permission to also add service from Milan to Lima.
The idea is that this is an underserved market that doesn’t currently have nonstop flights, so the airport is keen to get more nonstop links, given the positive economic implications of more long haul service. Meanwhile Emirates has been trying to expand more into South America, though that’s not necessarily so easy in terms of aircraft range limitations.
For example, the direct distance between Dubai and Lima is 9,645 miles, so that’s really pushing the range of any aircraft that Emirates flies, at least without major payload restrictions. Meanwhile by routing through Milan, the journey would be broken up into a 2,929-mile flight between Dubai and Milan, plus a 6,609-mile flight between Milan and Lima.
Presumably the intent would be to serve both demand between Milan and Lima (one of Milan’s largest underserved long haul markets), as well as demand between Dubai and Lima. And of course there would be connectivity on both ends, for those traveling to or from either region.
Let me emphasize that this isn’t yet a done deal. Regulatory approval is expected in the coming weeks, and then we’ll see if Emirates actually decides to launch this service in the foreseeable future.
Emirates considers other fifth freedom Milan flights as well
The story suggests that Emirates is also considering adding flights to several more destinations out of Milan. Airports under consideration reportedly include Los Angeles (LAX), Mexico City (MEX), Santiago (SCL), and Sao Paulo (GRU).
With the exception of Milan to Sao Paulo (which is served by LATAM), all of those markets don’t currently have any nonstop service. So we’ll see what comes of this. I wouldn’t expect all of these routes to be operated by Emirates, but maybe we’ll see a couple launched over time.
Ultimately Emirates has amazing economics and scale, so the carrier can make all kinds of services work that might not necessarily be profitable for other airlines. As stated above, the huge benefit of fifth freedom flights is also all the potential “funnels” you have for getting passengers, since you can sell seats on either sector, so it really helps with keeping load factors up.
Bottom line
Emirates is reportedly close to receiving permission to launch new fifth freedom flights out of Milan, with service to Lima expected to be the first new route. We’ll see if anything actually comes of this — clearly Emirates is interested, but that’s not to say it’ll actually happen.
Beyond the Milan to Lima route, Emirates is also reportedly studying flights from Milan to Los Angeles, Mexico City, Santiago, and Sao Paulo, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this evolves.
What do you make of Emirates possibly adding Milan to Lima flights, among other routes?
Obviously there is something to be said about Emirates growing hubs away from the Gulf and doing so becoming a truly global airline.
We've seen foreign focus cities in American carriers before so it's not a first.
Hormuz probably triggered it. We'll see if it's a seed of something much bigger and if it sticks or if it's just a way to relocate planes in a place people don't actively avoid.
Delta obviously know something very profitable that EK doesn't.
Otherwise we would have been seeing MXP-AUS.
Your list of EK fifth freedom flights in the Americas is also missing GIG-EZE.
And the cash printing flight is called EZE-GIG.
?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
Interesting route choice but expanding MXP makes so much sense for them. They dominate that terminal and have such a great set up.
what's this one?
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/QTR778/history/20260813/2350Z/KMIA/LGAV
Was really surprised to see that LAX-MXP isn't already served, given the socio-economic links. Be interested to see what the private jet movements are like on it - maybe this is it's true market.
Equally surprising LAX-FCO is only operated by ITA.
Don't forget Emirates' mini hub at Bangkok, as well.
I'll be flying Bangkok - Hong Kong nonstop on them, in 2 months.
My buddy will be on their Bangkok - Da Nang flight.
I flew on the BKK-DAD flight just last week, 100% full and it was great, nice to have a 777 on such a short flight and it was cheaper than any of the LCC options with luggage included
Also, for the benefit of the geographically challenged, LIM is a coastal city so it has none of the altitude problems that MEX and BOG do. Serving MEX or BOG nonstop from DXB is impossible from that reason alone, so EK had to go via BCN and MIA respectively. While MXP–LIM is a long flight, at least LIM’s coastal altitude make a nonstop European route practically feasible, demand and economics aside.
Honestly, LIM should’ve had...
Also, for the benefit of the geographically challenged, LIM is a coastal city so it has none of the altitude problems that MEX and BOG do. Serving MEX or BOG nonstop from DXB is impossible from that reason alone, so EK had to go via BCN and MIA respectively. While MXP–LIM is a long flight, at least LIM’s coastal altitude make a nonstop European route practically feasible, demand and economics aside.
Honestly, LIM should’ve had more European flights (MAD aside) earlier!
What a VT social climber you are -CIE.
You gaslighted Ben consistently.
Now you're trying to gaslight Sir Tim Clark?
Perhaps there’s an argument for 5th freedom service when there’s no other option however on MXPNYC there are currently 3 other operators (all American) and there was a 4th (Italian) which no longer exists. It operated a daily flight for decades then after EK entered reduced to less than daily and eventually ceased operations.
Why does the Lima route sound surprising to you? It makes perfect sense to me - It lets Emirates access a new market for their global network, despite them not being able to support a direct DXB-LIM route with purely LIM - Asia/Ocenia demand. Peru is a rather popular destination for Europeans, so they get to fill the plane with them for the TATL sector to make it make sense. MXP is a strong market...
Why does the Lima route sound surprising to you? It makes perfect sense to me - It lets Emirates access a new market for their global network, despite them not being able to support a direct DXB-LIM route with purely LIM - Asia/Ocenia demand. Peru is a rather popular destination for Europeans, so they get to fill the plane with them for the TATL sector to make it make sense. MXP is a strong market for both outbound and inbound traffic to fill the seats on the remaining sector, and Italy has no reason to deny traffic rights since it doesn't affect any Italian carrier.
It makes perfect sense, and it's a win-win(-win-win) situation for everyone.
Wait, Delta doesn't fly LAX to MXP?!?
DXB-LIM is actually 9,219 miles. The distances in the article have the two legs combining to less than the direct flight.
Can't wait for MXP-HNL next!
It'd be pretty funny if Emirates somehow became the largest long haul carrier in Milan
LAX-MXP would be a banger. Sorry the US airlines won’t like it, but no one is serving that market
Agreed. The pre-existing JFK-MXP route f***s (in a good way.)