Emirates celebrates 31mn passengers & 118,000+ flights across Hyderabad, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, & Bengaluru
Emirates-1
The airline celebrates 25 years in Hyderabad & 20 years in Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, & Bengaluru.
Emirates is celebrating a significant operational milestones across four of its key Indian gateways in 2026. The Dubai-based carrier marks 20 years of continuous passenger services to Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, and Bengaluru, along with its silver jubilee (25 years) of operations in Hyderabad. Together, these routes have formed a cornerstone of the airline’s network expansion and trade capacity within the Indian subcontinent. These milestones reflect the airline's long-standing investment in India's aviation growth and its ongoing contribution to the country's travel and tourism industries.
Since the launch, the airline has operated more than 118,000 flights and carried close to 31 million passengers across the four Indian gateways.
Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates' VP – India and Nepal, said: “2026 marks an important year for Emirates in India. Over the years, we have progressively grown our presence in Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru and Hyderabad which has become important centres for business and trade, tourism and international travel. Emirates is proud to have connected millions of passengers between India and the world over these two decades. As we celebrate these milestones, we look forward to innovating and delivering even more “Fly Better” experiences for our Indian customers in the years ahead. The introduction of Premium Economy to six Indian cities, including Kolkata and Bengaluru, is a testament to our focus on delivering exceptional travel experiences and comfort for our customers.”
The airline operates 21 weekly flights to and from Hyderabad utilising its Boeing 777 aircraft. Over the 25 years, Emirates has been a key facilitator in strengthening Hyderabad’s global connectivity by carrying more than 11 million passengers on over 42,000 flights since operations began. The top destinations for travellers from the Southern India city beyond Dubai are US, UK and France, while the US, Canada, UK and Saudi Arabia are leading feeder markets.
In Kolkata, the airline operates 11 weekly flights, currently operated by the Boeing 777 aircraft. From 25 October, the Airbus A350 aircraft will operate daily on the route, delivering the airline’s latest signature experiences, including Premium Economy cabins, while the Boeing 777 aircraft will operate five times per week. The airline has carried more than five million passengers on over 20,000 flights to and from the city. Beyond Dubai, the UK, US, Netherlands and Switzerland are the top destinations for travellers from Kolkata, while the US, Canada, UK and GCC countries remain key inbound points feeding to the destination.
The airline operates seven weekly flights to Thiruvananthapuram on its Boeing 777 aircraft, having carried more than 4.6 million passengers on over 19,000 flights since operations began in 2006. Besides its hub city of Dubai, the UK, US, Germany and Canada are top destinations for travellers from Thiruvananthapuram, while the US, Canada and Kuwait remain key feeder markets.
In Bengaluru, Emirates deploys both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 on scheduled services totalling 21 per week, having carried more than ten million passengers on over 37,000 flights to and from the city. Travellers from Bengaluru have frequented top destinations such as the US, UK, Germany, France and Switzerland, while the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy remain key feeder markets.
The airline has also continued to tailor its inflight experience to Indian travellers, offering entertainment libraries and onboard dining experience.
