Setting the skies ablaze, Emirates marks 31 years today!

It was precisely at 11.45am on 25^th October 1985, that Emirates very first flight – EK600 took off from Dubai to Karachi. Then as now, this Dubai-based carrier’s goal was quality, not quantity, and in the years since taking those first small steps onto the regional travel scene, Emirates has evolved into a globally influential travel and tourism conglomerate known the world over for our commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of its business.

Today, it flies the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering its customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies. With a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, Emirates currently flies to over 150 destinations in more than 80 countries around the world, and its network is expanding constantly. Over 1,500 Emirates flights depart Dubai each week on their way to destinations on six continents. In recent years, Emirates has made numerous significant announcements regarding the future of its already state-of-the-art fleet. Emirates brand value has grown 17% to reach US$7.7 billion.

It inspires travellers around the world with its growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine and world-class service. Emirates introduced 6 new destinations in its global network - Yangon, Hanoi, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, Cebu and Clark.

One of the greatest success stories of the Middle East, winning awards is the norm for Emirates. This year it was named the World’s Best Airline and receives 12th consecutive award for best In-flight Entertainment at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2016, and its lovely brand ambassador Jennifer Aniston met a charming young friend and explored Emirates Economy Class in its second advertising campaign.

It is also a year which saw Emirates Skywards celebrate 16 years of operation with 16 million members. In social media, Emirates became the world’s first airline with one million Instagram followers and launched the world’s first interactive amenity kit in Economy Class.