Emirates plans to equip 10 to 12 more aircraft with Starlink each month after bringing the service to 65 planes, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said in an interview with CNBC Arabia.
The connectivity rollout is proceeding alongside a fleet refurbishment program. Kazim said work had been completed on 104 aircraft, and the airline aims to reach 116 by the end of 2026. Emirates Group’s 2025-2026 annual report put the average aircraft age at 10.8 years and listed 277 in the fleet at the end of March 2026.
The aircraft pipeline has already brought in 20 Airbus planes, Kazim said, with four more expected before the end of 2026. Emirates plans one Airbus delivery each month throughout 2027. Boeing aircraft are due to begin joining the fleet in summer 2027.
At the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Emirates announced additional fleet investments valued at about $41.4 billion at published list prices. The commitments cover 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and eight Airbus A350-900s. Emirates Group’s report counted 367 aircraft in outstanding orders, with deliveries scheduled through 2038.
The annual report also recorded Dh10 billion raised for aircraft financing in domestic and international markets. The listed mechanisms ranged from leasing and insurance-backed deals to facilities arranged through export credit agencies.
Kazim said strong passenger demand had helped Emirates absorb part of the increase in operating costs. He also said the airline had carried about 13.2 million passengers to and from Egypt over 40 years. Kazim said load factors on its Egypt services exceeded 75% despite events in the region.
