1st September 2025 marks a significant milestone in the annals of Emirates, the world’s largest international airline.
This day 25 years ago launched its inaugural flight in Chennai, Emirates has carried over 10.7 million passengers on more than 38,000 flights between Dubai and Chennai.
Chennai International Airport also marked the anniversary with a celebratory water cannon salute, upon the arrival of EK544 on Monday.
Mohammad Sarhan, VP – India and Nepal – of Emirates said: “The unwavering support of the
authorities and all local stakeholders has been invaluable to the success of our operations and we extend our sincere gratitude on the occasion.”
Chennai continues to be a cornerstone market for Emirates in South India, driving demand from business travelers, leisure seekers and the significant VFR segment. The top destinations frequently visited by passengers from Chennai include San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Boston, Seattle, Paris, London, Manchester, and Frankfurt. Emirates also supports strong inbound flows into Chennai from the same key markets in addition to Kuwait, underscoring its role as a bridge for travel, trade and cultural exchange.
“Beyond passenger services, Emirates SkyCargo has been instrumental in connecting Chennai’s
farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses with global markets. The carrier continues to transport high value and time-sensitive commodities ranging from perishables to electronics and engineering goods. In the last financial year, Emirates SkyCargo uplifted 19,300 tonnes of cargo from Chennai,
consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables, pharmaceuticals and general cargo, supporting local producers and exporters with opportunities for trade on a global scale,” said a release.
Emirates has been in India for the last 39 years. In October 1985, Emirates launched flights from Dubai to Delhi and Mumbai, which formed the base of its initial route network. Since then, Emirates has grown its India operations to serve a total of nine destinations across India – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram
