The airline Emirates has confirmed its readiness to launch daily scheduled flights to Berlin and Stuttgart – and to allocate over 100 million euros annually for operating and personnel costs, airport fees, fuel, and other expenses – subject to approval by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Berlin is the political hub of Europe’s largest economy. Home to 3.9 million people, the city boasts a thriving start-up ecosystem, a well-established diplomatic community, and a cultural scene that draws millions of visitors each year. At the same time, long-haul connectivity has failed to keep pace with the city’s strong international ambitions. In fact, according to OAG schedule data, over 85 percent of international connections from Berlin Brandenburg Airport are to destinations within Europe.
Stuttgart faces a similar gap in long-haul connections. The economic engine of Baden-Württemberg – one of Germany’s leading export states – remains underserved when it comes to the long-haul flight connections upon which manufacturers, suppliers, and trading partners rely.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline
Emirates is ready to serve Berlin and Stuttgart daily with wide-body aircraft and connect both cities to our extensive route network, backed by significant investment. These are two of Germany’s most important economic hubs, yet both remain underserved in terms of long-haul connections. German companies have told us they need them, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for them, our own data confirms the demand exists, and forecasts predict the flights will be full.
Emirates already connects Germany to 50 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australasia that are not served by any German airline. These destinations are important for German exporters, tourism providers, and millions of travelers seeking greater choice and better connections. All we ask for is the opportunity to connect these cities and their communities. We wish to work constructively with the German authorities to make this a reality and to deliver tangible benefits for both metropolitan regions from the very start of our operations.
Economic impacts and job creation
The new Emirates connections to both cities would create hundreds of new jobs. A 2012 study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) estimated that a daily Emirates flight to Berlin and Stuttgart would generate nearly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. This figure remains largely valid today.
In addition to offering passengers a wider range of options, local freight connectivity for Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, and Brandenburg would also receive a boost. A daily Emirates flight using a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft would provide over 280 tonnes of lower-deck cargo capacity per week, thereby creating a vital new channel for time-sensitive imports and exports – including pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, machinery, and transport technology components.
Dubai: A gateway for complementary connections
Of the 2.36 million passengers Emirates carried on flights to and from Germany in 2025, 40 percent traveled between Dubai and Germany, while 60 percent were connecting passengers. This underscores Dubai’s dual role as a premium destination, a growing source market, and a global transfer hub. If daily flights to Berlin and Stuttgart were approved, Emirates could offer travelers and businesses in these cities and regions convenient one-stop connections.
In 2025, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam were among Emirates’ key destination markets to and from Germany. None of these destinations are served by German airlines from Frankfurt or Munich. Extending these connections to Berlin and Stuttgart would not cannibalize existing routes but rather fill a long-standing gap.
A one-stop connection with Emirates via Dubai would offer a more seamless journey featuring a consistent onboard product across a four-class configuration, representing a significant improvement over the currently available alternatives involving multiple transfers on narrow-body aircraft operated by German airlines. For Berlin, Emirates would offer something for every traveler, including its multi-award-winning Premium Economy Class – offering enhanced comfort – and a First Class featuring enclosed private suites and personalized service that remains unsurpassed in the industry.
Berlin’s business community has already made it clear that such a scheduled service is urgently needed. In 2023, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry published a survey in which 75 percent of respondents described Berlin’s long-haul flight options as poor or inadequate. Dubai was identified as a top priority for connections requiring urgent expansion – serving both as a destination and as a transfer hub. Currently, direct flights to Dubai from Berlin and Stuttgart are operated exclusively using narrow-body aircraft with limited onboard amenities and are only available on a seasonal basis. A daily Emirates flight using a Boeing 777 would represent a significant improvement, not only in terms of the flight experience and passenger comfort but also regarding cargo capacity.
Developing high-value inbound tourism to Germany
In 2024, Germany recorded nearly 1.2 million overnight stays by visitors from the GCC region—a valuable tourism segment that stays longer, spends more, and has a direct, positive impact on tourism revenue. GCC visitors contributed an estimated €2.3 billion to the German economy in 2024 alone. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) projects that the number of visitors from GCC states will rise to three million annually by the end of the decade. Direct flights operated by Emirates would firmly place Berlin and Stuttgart on the map for GCC visitors and unlock a tourism segment with enormous growth potential by connecting both cities with travelers who currently choose destinations served directly by wide-body aircraft.
Outlook and economic arguments
The economic arguments are compelling. Daily Emirates flights to Berlin and Stuttgart would create hundreds of jobs, strengthen trade relations, open up previously underserved destinations, and attract high-value tourism. Emirates is convinced that these flights would complement Germany’s existing aviation network and offer travelers and businesses greater choice and competition on the routes where it is most needed. The airline remains committed to working constructively with the German government and looks forward to the opportunity to bring the benefits of long-haul connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart.
