Emirates Seals 11 Major Deals at ITB Berlin 2025

Emirates expanded its global travel network with 11 mutually beneficial alliances at ITB Berlin 2025. The airline’s exhibition stand attracted more than 6,000 visitors while teams conducted 270 meetings throughout the three-day event. Three new Asian destinations joined Emirates’ network – Shenzhen, Da Nang, and Siem Reap. The airline deepened its partnerships with major cruise operators including TUI Cruises, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises. A special milestone marked Emirates’ two-decade partnership with the Austrian National Tourist Office, celebrating over 5 million passengers transported between Dubai and Vienna. These developments at ITB Berlin 2025 showcase Emirates’ dedication to expanding its global reach and enhancing travel options.

Emirates Showcases Latest A350 Products at ITB Berlin 2025

Emirates showed off its latest Airbus A350 cabin features at ITB Berlin 2025. This marked the first German showcase of the airline’s dedication to passenger comfort and eco-friendly travel. The display covered 429 square meters on two floors in hall 2.2. This was Emirates’ largest trade-fair setup outside its home market.

Visitors Experience Next-Gen Cabin Features

Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, led a notable delegation of tourism industry leaders on a complete tour of Emirates’ innovative stand. The airline’s President, Sir Tim Clark, and senior executives presented their advanced cabin products. They also highlighted Emirates’ lasting connection with Germany since 1987.

The display space featured Emirates’ signature products that caught the eye of both industry professionals and visitors. The showcase included:

• The Premium Economy seat
• The game-changing First Class suite
• The iconic First Class Shower Spa
• The latest version of A380 Economy Class seats
• The newest generation A380 Onboard lounge

The airline’s stand drew nearly 6,000 visitors during the three-day event. This showed how much interest people had in Emirates’ next-generation aircraft amenities. The two-story pavilion hosted more than 260 meetings. This strengthened the airline’s position in the European travel market.

Sustainability Initiatives Draw Attention

Emirates used much of its exhibition space to show its complete sustainability strategy. The focus was on three main areas: reducing emissions, consuming responsibly, and protecting biodiversity and habitats. The airline presented trailblazing solutions that matched its environmental commitments, especially in sustainable aviation.

Visitors could see the airline’s sustainably sourced onboard amenities. They also experienced the unique ‘Air-crafted By Emirates’ collection firsthand. This special capsule collection features:

• Luggage pieces
• Travel bags
• Accessories

The collection items are sustainably made from upcycled materials from modernized A380 aircraft. This shows Emirates’ creative approach to responsible consumption. The airline’s use of responsibly-sourced materials goes beyond merchandise to include various onboard items.

The exhibition stand helped Emirates build mutually beneficial alliances throughout the regional travel and aviation ecosystem. Through these efforts, the airline wants to expand its connections between Europe and global destinations. This enhances its service offerings while keeping a strong focus on sustainability.

Airline Signs Historic Deal with Austrian Tourism Board

Emirates and the Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) renewed their collaboration at ITB Berlin 2025. The agreement will boost tourism between Dubai and Vienna. Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Europe, and Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, ANTO’s CEO, signed the agreement to increase visitor numbers from key markets in the airline’s global network.

Partnership Celebrates 20-Year Vienna Operations

Emirates has completed two decades of operations in Austria. The airline has flown more than 5 million passengers between Dubai and Vienna on 20,500 flights. The airline’s first flight landed in the Austrian capital on May 1, 2004, and daily flights started just a month later.

The airline reached several milestones in Austria:

• Emirates became the only airline to offer scheduled double-decker flights to Vienna International Airport with A380 service in 2014
• The airline increased seat capacity by 20% with improved A380 operations
• Emirates now operates 14 weekly flights connecting Vienna to 143 international destinations

Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, praised Emirates’ contribution to Austria’s aviation world. He noted that the airline brought “a breath of fresh air” to the country’s travel sector.

Tourism Growth Targets Set for 2025

The new memorandum targets travelers from:

• United Arab Emirates
• Australia
• India
• Malaysia
• Hong Kong
• Japan

Recent data shows Vienna’s growing popularity among international travelers. GCC visitors booked more than 400,000 hotel rooms in 2023. Room nights from Saudi Arabia jumped 70% in the first two months of 2024 compared to last year.

Emirates will launch new marketing and advertising campaigns to showcase Austria’s landmarks and tourism sites. The airline will use its global network to reach new customer segments, which will benefit the local economy and Emirates’ Austrian operations.

Christina Freisleben, International B2B Relations – Middle East at the Vienna Tourist Board, highlighted Vienna as an ideal European gateway. She emphasized its appeal to couples, families, and individual adventurers from the GCC region. Emirates and ANTO share a vision to advance Austrian tourism and plan to expand their joint efforts.

Emirates currently operates daily flights to Vienna using Boeing 777-300ER and A380 aircraft. This combination of aircraft types provides flexible capacity and service options to support the predicted growth in tourism and business travel between Dubai and Vienna.

Three New Asian Routes Transform Regional Connectivity

Emirates has become the largest non-Asian airline in East Asia with 269 weekly flights to 24 destinations. The airline showed plans for three key routes across Asia at ITB Berlin 2025.

Shenzhen Service Opens Chinese Market

Emirates made history as the first Middle Eastern airline to fly daily non-stop to Shenzhen starting July 1, 2025. This route builds on Emirates’ 20-year relationship with China that started with Shanghai flights in 2002. Flight EK328 leaves Dubai at 1005hrs and reaches Shenzhen at 2200hrs. The return flight EK329 takes off at 2355hrs.

Shenzhen will be the first Chinese city to get Emirates’ updated Boeing 777-300ER with:

• 8 private First Class suites
• 40 lie-flat Business Class seats
• 24 Premium Economy seats
• 260 Economy Class seats

Emirates SkyCargo plans to move 10 tons of cargo per flight between Dubai and China. The service helps transport high-tech devices, e-commerce items, and advanced electronics from Shenzhen’s tech manufacturing hub.

Vietnam and Cambodia Expansions Boost Southeast Asia

Emirates is growing in Southeast Asia with new flights to Da Nang and Siem Reap through Bangkok. The Da Nang route will be Emirates’ third Vietnamese destination with four weekly flights starting June 2, 2025. Flight EK370 departs Dubai at 0900hrs and lands in Bangkok at 1825hrs before reaching Da Nang at 2150hrs.

Siem Reap flights begin June 3, running three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The schedule works well for leisure travelers from:

• France
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Germany
• Portugal
• Russia

Both routes use Emirates’ two-class Boeing 777-300ER that has 35 lie-flat Business Class seats and 386 Economy Class seats. Travelers going through Bangkok can use Emirates’ newly expanded lounge.

These new routes support Emirates’ goal to improve regional connections, especially after the UAE and Vietnam signed their Economic Partnership Agreement. The expansion helps Emirates grow in Southeast Asia’s emerging markets and makes it easier to visit Cambodia’s cultural sites, including Angkor Wat.

The flight times line up well with connections to major European cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Manchester, Milan, and Rome. Passengers can enjoy Emirates’ signature service with local cuisine and the award-winning ice entertainment system that offers over 6,500 channels in multiple languages.

TUI Cruises Doubles Dubai Operations for 2025

Emirates and TUI Cruises renewed their mutually beneficial alliance at ITB Berlin 2025. This renewal marks a big expansion of cruise operations in Dubai. Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, and Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline, signed the agreement. Their partnership shows Dubai’s strength as a leading global cruise tourism hub.

Second Vessel Deployment Enhances Maritime Tourism

TUI Cruises will add a second vessel with Dubai as its home port for the 2025/2026 cruise season. Each vessel can carry over 2,500 passengers and offers different routes that start and end in Dubai. The ships will stop at:

• Abu Dhabi
• Oman
• Qatar

The Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid stands as the world’s largest single covered cruise facility. The terminal can handle 14,000 cruise passengers daily. Dubai’s rise in maritime tourism comes from careful teamwork between tourism and aviation partners.

Airport-to-Port Integration Plans

Emirates will match its flight schedules with TUI Cruises’ routes to create continuous connections between air and sea travel. Both companies will work together on special ‘cruise blocks’ to meet passenger needs from key markets across the airline’s network.

Emirates created efficient ground transport solutions between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Port Rashid Cruise Terminal. The service has:

• 16 dedicated check-in counters at Port Rashid
• Luggage processing facilities
• Boarding pass issuance up to four hours before departure
• A chance for passengers to explore Dubai freely before airport transfer

Adnan Kazim explained how Emirates helps make Dubai a top global cruise destination. This success comes from years of investment in:

• World-class maritime infrastructure
• Iconic attractions
• Unique connectivity options
• Efficient ground handling operations

Wybcke Meier pointed out that Dubai’s location and excellent infrastructure make it perfect for expanded operations. The partnership uses evidence-based insights to improve service quality and deploys special support staff for cruise passengers.

The partnership looks at chances in Far East cruises, especially from Singapore. TUI Cruise’s Mein Schiff 6 carries more than 2,500 passengers on a 14-day trip connecting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Japan.

Dubai’s quick customs and visa processes, duty-free services, and free city shuttles add value to this partnership. These features make Dubai the preferred gateway for popular cruise routes worldwide. Travelers can enjoy exceptional sea trips aboard TUI’s vessels.

Costa Cruises Partnership Extends Through 2027

Emirates and Costa Cruises celebrated their 20-year partnership at ITB Berlin 2025 by extending their collaboration through 2027. This renewed agreement will improve Dubai’s standing as a major global cruise hub by connecting air, land, and sea transportation seamlessly.

Better Transport Solutions Shown

The partnership optimizes transportation between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal. Major improvements include joint marketing campaigns across Emirates’ network, cruise schedules that go together with flight times, and dedicated ‘cruise blocks’ capacity allocation.

Costa Cruises will bring its newest flagship, Costa Toscana, to Dubai during winter 25/26 season. This move shows the cruise line’s commitment to the region among Emirates’ efforts to boost Dubai’s global maritime tourism status.

Travel Experience Made Simple

Analytical insights drive service improvements with specialized support teams now stationed at Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal. Emirates has set up 12 dedicated check-in counters at Dubai Harbor. Cruise passengers can now complete check-in up to 4 hours before flights, explore Dubai without carrying luggage, and skip most airport procedures.

Daniel Caprile, Vice President Pricing & Revenue Management, Itinerary & Transportation at Costa Cruises, highlighted Dubai and Emirates’ strategic importance in Costa’s tourism portfolio. The partnership reaches beyond Dubai and covers potential growth in Central America, South America, Far East, and Southeast Asia.

Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates Airline, pointed out the cruise traveler segment’s growth potential and its positive impact on Dubai’s economy. The collaboration focuses on better infrastructure that connects Dubai’s entertainment venues, tourist attractions, and Dubai Harbor smoothly.

Dubai’s integrated travel system offers cruise passengers a smooth experience through faster visa processes, modern port facilities, and advanced check-in systems.

Costa Cruises’ presence in Dubai Harbor dates back to 2006. Both companies will share data and insights to deliver better service and ensure exceptional experiences at every customer touchpoint.

This strategic collaboration between Emirates and Costa Cruises shows their shared goal of making Dubai a top cruise destination. Their coordinated marketing efforts, operational efficiency, and strategic planning aim to improve connectivity and ensure smooth trips for cruise passengers across Emirates’ vast network.

Expedia Integration Revolutionizes Booking Experience

Emirates announced a complete integration with Expedia Group at ITB Berlin 2025. This integration establishes a direct connection through New Distribution Capability (NDC) API that delivers its complete portfolio of fare products and services to millions of global travelers.

NDC API Implementation Benefits

Emirates’ sophisticated booking system now connects fully with Expedia Group’s platforms through this advanced integration. Travelers can enjoy several advantages:

• Direct access to Emirates’ latest fare products
• Premium services across the global network
• Immediate availability updates
• More flexible booking options for travel planning

Expedia Group now offers Emirates’ NDC fares and additional services like extra baggage options and seat selection through this complete integration. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline, emphasized how this collaboration expands booking possibilities across all elements of travelers’ experiences.

Personalized Travel Options Launch

The partnership brings data-driven customization features to boost the travel experience. Expedia’s platforms offer travelers:

• Quick access to Emirates’ exclusive fare offerings
• Complete travel planning tools
• Custom flight and accommodation packages
• Connection with thousands of hotel options worldwide

Both organizations will use data insights to improve loyalty rewards and involve frequent flyers more effectively. Their work goes beyond fare products and includes Expedia Group’s extensive global hotel inventory for complete package solutions.

Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer at Expedia Group, highlighted how this expanded partnership represents a major step forward in travel experience customization. Travelers can create unique trips that match their priorities without visiting multiple websites.

The partnership delivers end-to-end booking experiences by making use of Expedia Group’s complete hotel inventory. Travelers can easily book custom-made flight and accommodation packages that pair Emirates flights with thousands of hotel options available through Expedia Group’s brands.

Emirates and Expedia Group plan to explore deeper collaboration on loyalty programs to boost travel rewards for their customers. They want to optimize user experiences through custom offers and recommendations based on travel priorities.

Trip.com Alliance Targets Asian Market Growth

Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales & Country Management at Emirates, signed an expanded partnership with Trip.com at ITB Berlin 2025. This partnership sets new standards for digital travel distribution. Trip.com’s online booking channels will help boost Emirates’ presence across Asia.

Digital Distribution Strategy

The partnership connects Emirates’ complete flight offerings with Trip.com’s growing portfolio of hotels and travel services. The digital strategy has these key elements:

• Trip.com’s platform now features Emirates’ Chauffeur Drive service
• Better booking options for air and hotel packages
• Custom loyalty program benefits for Trip.com Rewards and Emirates Skywards members

CT Ooi, VP of Flights Business at Trip.com Group, highlighted how this integration helps travelers access exclusive flight and hotel packages with better loyalty rewards. Trip.com’s innovative travel ecosystem provides smooth booking experiences across many markets.

Market-Specific Promotional Campaigns

The renewed partnership reaches different traveler groups through custom marketing initiatives. Trip.com saw major growth in Middle Eastern travel bookings. The first quarter showed triple-digit increases compared to 2023. The promotional strategy has:

• Special campaigns for families and holiday seekers
• Cross-promotional activities for students and youth travelers
• Marketing efforts that span Asian and European markets

Trip.com continues to expand regionally through mutually beneficial alliances with tourism authorities. These efforts show its dedication to bringing international tourism to key markets. The partnership uses cutting-edge technology, including AI-driven tools like TripGenie for personal travel planning and Trip.Vision for mixed-reality experiences.

Emirates and Trip.com first joined forces in 2020 to grow their Chinese market presence. Their original cooperation focused on joint marketing promotions to increase Emirates’ sales through Trip.com’s online platforms. Both organizations now run effective campaigns to stimulate growth in key global markets.

The partnership thrives on Emirates’ worldwide network and Trip.com’s strong digital travel ecosystem. This expanded alliance helps both companies provide better travel experiences with more convenience and exclusive perks for travelers worldwide.

Malta Tourism Authority Partnership Boosts Mediterranean Access

Emirates and Malta Tourism Authority signed a landmark agreement at ITB Berlin 2025 to improve inbound tourism through shared marketing initiatives. Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (West) Europe and Americas, and Carlo Micallef, Chief Executive Officer of Malta Tourism Authority, signed the memorandum. This marks one of the most important milestones in Mediterranean connectivity.

New Tourism Corridors Established

Emirates has transported over 1.2 million passengers between Dubai and Malta during its 20-year old operations. The airline’s extensive network now connects travelers to:

• 375 cities across the Americas through United and Air Canada partnerships
• 380 cities via European partnerships including Air Malta and Aegean Airlines
• 500 destinations across Asia through 12 codeshare and 42 interline partners

This partnership wants to showcase Malta’s unique appeal as a Mediterranean gateway through hosted media familiarization trips from key target markets. Emirates has managed to keep a strong presence in the EU since 1987 and expanded to all but one of these Member States.

Cultural Exchange Initiatives

The collaborative effort goes beyond traditional tourism promotion and covers detailed cultural exchange programs. The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) focuses on:

• Advancing eco-friendly tourism growth
• Ensuring high-quality experiences for visitors
• Promoting the Maltese Islands as a year-round destination
• Encouraging authentic cultural experiences

Carlo Micallef emphasized that this strategic collaboration represents a pivotal step to elevate Malta’s position as a premier destination for quality tourism. The UAE’s role as a central hub in the emerging Indian-Arabian-Mediterranean commercial corridor strengthens this partnership’s value.

The agreement makes shared advertising campaigns possible and works with tour operators to develop compelling promotional packages. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted Malta’s growing popularity as a sought-after leisure gateway.

Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Ian Borg, emphasized how this agreement strengthens the long-standing collaboration between Malta and Emirates. This partnership arranges with Malta Tourism Authority’s mission to encourage sustainable growth and ensure exceptional hospitality experiences for visitors.

Emirates Transforms Air-Land-Sea Connectivity

Emirates announced major changes to its integrated transport network at ITB Berlin 2025. The changes connect air, land, and sea services through 162 partners in over 100 countries.

Integrated Transport Solutions

The airline’s network has 31 codeshare agreements, 118 interline partnerships, and 13 rail and helicopter services. These strategic collaborations help Emirates connect more than 61,000 passengers every week.

Emirates partners with leading European rail operators to provide ground transportation:

• Trenitalia in Italy
• Renfe in Spain
• OBB in Austria
• SJ in Sweden

The airline’s trailblazing urban mobility initiative includes an interline partnership with BLADE. Passengers can now book helicopter transfers between Nice and Monaco on single tickets. This service shows Emirates’ dedication to premium “last mile” connectivity solutions.

Hub Strategy Enhancement

Emirates optimizes Dubai’s position as a global connectivity hub. The Airport Services teams ensure smooth flight transitions and provide dedicated lounge access in Dubai and international stations.

The network expansion has achieved significant results:

• Access to 230 destinations across 100 countries
• 275 daily codeshare flights
• Over 17.5 million passengers connected through joint networks

Emirates builds partnerships beyond traditional aviation through data sharing and operational coordination. Emirates Skywards and SkyCargo divisions work with codeshare partners to benefit passengers and cargo customers.

Regional connectivity includes:

• Americas: Access to 375+ cities through United and Air Canada partnerships
• Europe: Connections to 380+ cities via 7 codeshare and 33 interline partners
• Asia: Coverage of 500+ destinations through 12 codeshare and 42 interline agreements
• Australia: Links to 85+ cities via Qantas partnership
• Africa: Reach to 210+ points through 5 codeshare and 18 interline partners

Emirates aims to make Dubai the world’s most connected city through its enhanced network structure. This aligns with the D33 economic strategy. Travelers get unprecedented access to global destinations with seamless single-ticket itineraries, better baggage transfers, and detailed frequent flyer benefits.

ITB Berlin 2025 Marks Record Visitor Engagement

Emirates wrapped up a highly successful run at ITB Berlin 2025, the world’s largest travel trade show. The airline’s two-storey exhibition stand covered 429 square meters in hall 2.2 and drew strong interest from both industry professionals and visitors.

Exhibition Stand Highlights

Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, led a distinguished delegation that opened Emirates’ stand during the official Opening Tour. The delegation members were:

• Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Industry and Tourism
• Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism
• Julia Simpson, President and CEO of World Travel and Tourism Council
• Norbert Fiebig, President of German Travel Association
• Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin

Emirates’ President Sir Tim Clark, along with Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, and Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales and Country Management Nabil Sultan greeted the VIP delegation. Visitors could experience Emirates’ latest-generation A350 cabin products, signature Onboard Lounge, Shower Spa, and complete eco-friendly initiatives.

Meeting Milestones Achieved

The three-day event proved Emirates’ strength as a global aviation leader. The airline reached several important milestones:

• Secured 11 mutually beneficial alliances across sectors
• Held 270 high-level meetings with industry stakeholders
• Drew over 6,000 visitors to its exhibition stand
• Presented eco-friendly initiatives that reduce emissions, promote responsible consumption, and protect biodiversity

Emirates’ largest trade-fair presence outside its home market made discussions about future collaborations and industry trends easier. The airline used ITB Berlin as a platform to grow its partnerships with key global travel platforms, showing its steadfast dedication to customer experience excellence.

Emirates’ success at ITB Berlin 2025 shows its ongoing commitment to improving global connectivity. The airline strengthened its position in the international travel market through coordinated efforts that built new partnerships and reinforced existing relationships with industry stakeholders.

The stand became a hub that showed Emirates’ latest breakthroughs while focusing on eco-friendly practices and customer-focused solutions. The airline’s presence at ITB Berlin 2025 proved its role in shaping global travel’s future and set new standards for excellence in the industry.

Global Network Expansion Signals Market Leadership

Emirates has achieved outstanding results by doubling its partnership connectivity and becoming a dominant force in global aviation. The airline now connects passengers to nearly 1,700 additional cities beyond its network. More than 61,000 passengers easily connect on shared networks every week.

Strategic Growth Areas

The airline’s expansion strategy covers multiple regions with major emphasis on emerging markets. Emirates has become the largest non-Asian carrier in East Asia and operates 269 flights per week to 24 points. The airline’s strategic presence extends across:

• The Americas: Access to more than 375 cities through partnerships with United and Air Canada
• Asia-Pacific: Coverage of over 500 cities via 12 codeshare and 42 interline partners
• Africa: Reach to more than 210 regional points through 5 codeshare and 18 interline partnerships

Competitive Advantage Analysis

Several distinctive capabilities help Emirates maintain its market leadership. Dubai’s strategic location serves as the only super hub that enables non-stop flights to all corners of the world. This geographical advantage helps facilitate growing connections between emerging economies, particularly in trade between China and Africa.

The airline gains its competitive edge through close cooperation with Dubai Airports and proactive investment in new terminals to accommodate growth. This advantage contrasts sharply with cities like London, where congestion and political complexities limit airport expansion.

Emirates demonstrates operational excellence through advanced solutions like Flex Tracks technology, which has saved 10 million liters of fuel in its first five years. The airline’s unique approach to customer service shows attention to detail. Japanese speakers serve on Sao Paolo flights to accommodate the Japanese-Brazilian community.

Emirates will introduce eight new routes and use its expanding Airbus A350 fleet to strengthen its presence in key international markets. The airline focuses on breakthroughs, excellence, and sustainability. The rollout of Premium Economy class will improve its competitive position in the global aviation world.

Emirates created history with a soaring win at ITB Berlin 2025. The airline strengthens its position as a leading global carrier through strategic collaborations with cruise lines, digital platforms, and tourism boards. Emirates has become the largest non-Asian airline in East Asia with 269 weekly flights by adding routes to Shenzhen, Da Nang, and Siem Reap.

Dubai emerges as a premier cruise hub thanks to Emirates’ complete agreements with TUI Cruises and Costa Cruises. The airline’s partnerships with Expedia and Trip.com boost booking options in major markets. Emirates delivers uninterrupted travel experiences with expanded transport connectivity through 162 partners worldwide.

Emirates’ network connects more than 61,000 weekly passengers and proves its market dominance. The company’s growing fleet, expanding route network, and customer-focused breakthroughs prepare it for future success in global aviation. This growth strategy matches Dubai’s vision as a global connectivity hub and sets new benchmarks for international air travel excellence.