Emirates Reports Record Demand on Dublin Route

Emirates Reports Record Demand as Dubai and Australia Remain Top Destinations for Ireland’s Passengers.

450,000 Passengers on Dublin-Dubai route in 2024.

Pharma and perishable goods – 4.5 million kg of cargo transported on Dublin route.

Emirates announced today that by the close of 2024, 450,000 passengers will have travelled between Ireland to Dubai and beyond, marking another year of strong demand on the route. This demonstrates the continuing high demand for international travel among Irish holidaymakers and business travelers.

Dubai retained its position as Emirates’ top destination from Ireland, while 2024 also saw significant growth in demand for Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Vietnam, and Indian Ocean destinations such as the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

Globally, Emirates carried 26.9 million passengers between April and September of 2024, a 3% rise on the same period last year.

Changing Travel Trends

Anita Thomas, Emirates’ Country Manager, Ireland, spoke about the changing travel behaviours  among Irish passengers, with an increasing number of families now choosing Dubai as a holiday destination and a notable rise in First and Business Class bookings by leisure travellers.

“We’re seeing a shift in booking trends, with more leisure passengers opting for our premium cabins and planning travel well in advance. This is compared to the last two years where more corporate travelers were opting for our premium cabins, and they tend to book later than leisure travelers who book well in advance. This trend is likely to continue into 2025 as our popular destinations like Dubai, Australia, and emerging hotspots like Bali show robust early bookings,” said Thomas.

Cargo Operations Soar with Pharma and Perishables Driving Growth

Emirates operates a double daily service from Dublin served by state-of-the-art Boeing 777s, each of which can carry 360 passengers and 25 tonnes of cargo. Emirates SkyCargo transported 4.5 million kg of freight on its Dublin route between January and September 2024. Pharmaceuticals, particularly temperature-sensitive products, were among the top exports, with high demand to markets such as Osaka, Singapore, Taipei, and key Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Medical devices also experienced higher volumes, especially to Shanghai and Mumbai. Meanwhile, the perishable goods category – led by seafood and foodstuffs – recorded strong growth, driven by demand in Dubai, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.

Globally, Emirates SkyCargo reported a 16% increase in cargo volume, moving 1.2 million tonnes in the first half of 2024, with yields up by 11%. This growth was propelled by eCommerce and high-value goods, including perishables.

Emirates supports Irish businesses by featuring products like Keogh’s Crisps, Killowen Yogurt, Bailey’s Original Irish Cream Liquor and VOYA into its global offering. Dublin company Botany Weavers supplies Emirates with onboard textiles such as seat and curtain fabrics as well as carpet for many of its aircraft.

2024 Highlights

As 2024 draws to a close, Emirates celebrates another year of connecting Irish travelers to the world with unparalleled service and entertainment. Onboard every Emirates flight passengers can enjoy an unmatched inflight experience with up to 6,500 channels on the award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice. This year, ice includes the addition of Spotify, allowing Irish passengers to stream their favorite music, including iconic Irish albums from U2, Snow Patrol, and The Script. Travellers flying this festive season can also look forward to the latest blockbuster releases, such as It Ends With Us, Despicable Me 4, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Deadpool and Wolverine, and many more.

Passengers flying from Ireland now have even more options to enjoy Emirates’ new Premium Economy Class, offering an elevated travel experience on routes to exciting destinations such as Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Auckland, Melbourne, and Mumbai. The Premium Economy cabin features spacious cream leather seats, a deeper recline, and raised cushioned leg rests for ultimate comfort. Passengers can also savour premium dining experiences with locally inspired menus. Whether heading to the bustling streets of Tokyo or the vibrant culture of Mumbai, Emirates Premium Economy redefines comfort and choice for Irish travelers.

This year, Emirates has introduced the Airbus A350 to its fleet. While not currently available on Irish routes, Irish passengers can still experience the A350’s wider cabins and enhanced onboard features when connecting through Dubai to destinations served by this next-generation aircraft.

The airline also launched an extension of its groundbreaking collaboration with Irish organic luxury brand VOYA, introducing bespoke Eau de Toilette fragrances for First and Business Class passengers, celebrating the best of Irish innovation on over 400 flights daily.

Further enhancing the customer experience, Emirates introduced complimentary inflight loungewear for Business Class passengers in 2024 and announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Visa, focused on enhancing the Emirates Skywards loyalty program. This partnership promises increased personalisation, digitisation, and innovation, offering members tailored rewards and benefits.

Emirates capped off a successful 2024 by earning the prestigious title of World’s Best Airline in a comprehensive Telegraph Travel study of 90 global carriers. With a modern fleet and a network spanning 142 destinations, Emirates continues to deliver an award-winning travel experience with regionally inspired onboard cuisine, and complimentary Wi-Fi for Skywards members.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.