Emirates back at 96% as Dubai carriers recover

Dubai’s aviation sector is rapidly rebounding following recent regional airspace disruptions, with Emirates restoring nearly its full global network while Flydubai gradually rebuilds schedules across its regional and international routes.

 

The recovery follows the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority lifting all air travel restrictions on 2 May, with Dubai Airports subsequently increasing flight movements as operations normalise across the hub. 

 

Emirates has restored 96% of its destination network, operating to 137 destinations across 72 countries. The airline is currently running more than 1,300 weekly flights, representing around 75% of pre-war capacity, as it continues to ramp up services across key markets. Even amid reduced schedules between February and April 2026, Emirates transported 4.7 million passengers, and was among the fastest recovering airlines regionally.

 

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Meanwhile, Flydubai operated more than 3,800 flights in March during regional airspace restrictions, maintaining service continuity through emergency air corridors and adjusted schedules. The airline averaged around 130 daily flights in March, compared with approximately 320 daily flights before the disruption, according to Flightradar24 data. Currently, its data indicates Flydubai is operating at close to 50% of its pre-war network.

 

The carrier also reported an ’Excellent’ Net Promoter Score (NPS) in March, with customer confidence more than doubling during the disruption period.

 

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of Flydubai, said: “The fact that our customers continued to choose to fly with us during this time is a testament to the trust placed in our airline, the wider aviation ecosystem of the UAE and Dubai as a leading aviation hub.”

 

As operations recover, Flydubai is expanding its network, with services to Chattogram in Bangladesh having launched on 1 April 2026, and flights to Bangkok scheduled to begin on 1 July.

 

For more information, visit emirates.com, flydubai.com