Emirates has announced it will need approximately 20,000 new employees over the next five years across sectors including in-flight services, airport operations, pilots, and engineers. This move is driven by strong and sustained demand for travel to and from Dubai, as the airline prepares to take delivery of 17 new Airbus A350 aircraft in the upcoming financial year.
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Emirates, Adel Al Redha, confirmed that the robust travel demand, combined with continuous expansion plans, is driving the airline to continue large-scale hiring. He stated that the hiring plans cover various operational specialties, aligning with the ongoing growth in the fleet and network. Adel explained, "We continue to hire to meet our needs as we will be taking on more aircraft that will be deployed to new destinations or on existing routes to increase frequencies."
Adel also revealed that the airline has special programs aimed at attracting more Emirati nationals to a variety of positions through specialized training in the required sectors. He emphasized, "We continue to invest in our products and develop all aspects of our service, whether in the air or on the ground, from food and beverage to aircraft amenities and infrastructure, to provide premium services and an unrivaled travel experience across all cabins."
These plans reflect the airline's strong confidence in the future demand for travel to Dubai for tourism and business, and confirm Emirates' commitment to investing in its human capital alongside its fleet and service investments. This year, the airline will open 38 new lounges worldwide as part of its plans to enhance lounge services at outstations.
Adel Al Redha confirmed that Emirates is preparing to take delivery of 17 Airbus A350 aircraft in the new financial year, which will enhance its operational capabilities and support its expansion into global markets. He affirmed that demand for travel to and from Dubai remains strong and steady across all travel classes, fueled by an increasing number of travelers to the emirate for both tourism and business. Demand across Emirates' global network is also strong, and the airline continues to operate its flight schedule as usual.
To improve the in-flight travel experience, 10 Boeing 777 aircraft are now equipped with Starlink satellite internet service, with expectations that the number of aircraft with this service will exceed 150 by the end of the year. Passengers have shown great appreciation for this service. Adel also highlighted that the airline has made significant progress on its largest-ever cabin retrofit program, having completed 83 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft to date. "Premium Economy" is now available on 105 aircraft in the Emirates fleet, reflecting growing passenger demand for this class and demonstrating the airline's commitment to offering flexible travel options and high-quality products.
In support of the retrofit program and to enhance local industrial capabilities, Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Safran during last year's Dubai Air Show to establish a state-of-the-art facility for manufacturing and assembling seats in Dubai. The first phase of this project will focus on manufacturing seats for Economy and Business cabins to meet the requirements of the cabin retrofit program. The new facility will have dedicated production capacity to serve Emirates as well as Safran's other customers. The program's current scope is limited to seat manufacturing and installation, without expanding to other aircraft components.
