Emirates runs one of the world’s largest wide-body fleets in 2026, built mainly around the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777, with the new Airbus A350 now joining in. In India, Emirates flies to nine cities, and from 25 October 2026 Delhi is scheduled to become the third Indian city, after Mumbai and Bengaluru, to receive the A380.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Emirates has built its reputation on big aircraft flying long distances, and 2026 is a year of real change in that fleet, with a new aircraft type arriving and the double-decker A380 reaching a third Indian city.
How many aircraft does Emirates have in 2026?
Emirates’ active fleet runs to around 270 aircraft as of mid-2026, according to aviation fleet-tracking data. The backbone is still the Boeing 777 family, with well over a hundred 777-300ERs and 777-200LRs combined, and the Airbus A380, where Emirates is the largest operator in the world with well over a hundred of the type in service. Exact counts shift every few weeks as deliveries and retirements happen, so treat any single number as a snapshot rather than a fixed figure.
What is the Emirates A350, and how is it different?
The Airbus A350-900 is Emirates’ first new aircraft type in roughly sixteen years, and its first A350 entered commercial service on 3 January 2025, flying Dubai to Edinburgh. It is smaller and more fuel-efficient than the A380 and the 777, which lets Emirates serve routes and airports that cannot easily take the larger jets. The cabin carries a refreshed look, including bigger touchscreens and a wider aisle feel, and Emirates has been adding more A350s and more A350 routes through 2025 and 2026 as deliveries continue.
Which Indian cities does Emirates fly to, and where does the A380 land?
Emirates currently serves nine Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Mumbai carries the airline’s highest frequency from India, with Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad each getting multiple daily flights.
Until recently, only Mumbai and Bengaluru saw the Emirates A380 from India. That changes from 25 October 2026, when Emirates is scheduled to start flying the A380 to Delhi as well, making it the third Indian city with the aircraft. Emirates has also been rolling out premium economy across more of its India network, reaching six cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi, by the end of October 2026.
Why hasn’t Emirates added unlimited capacity to India?
Air travel between India and the UAE is governed by a bilateral agreement between the two governments that sets a limit on the number of seats airlines on each side can operate. This is why Emirates and other Gulf carriers have historically grown their India capacity through bigger aircraft and better cabins on existing routes, such as the A380 and premium economy additions, rather than simply adding unlimited new flights. The exact seat entitlements are a matter between the two governments and change from time to time.
What else is changing in the Emirates fleet?
Beyond the A350 rollout, Emirates has been running a large cabin retrofit programme across its existing A380s and 777s, replacing older seats and interiors on aircraft that otherwise still have years of flying left in them, rather than retiring them early. The airline also has a substantial order book for the next-generation Boeing 777X family and for Boeing 787s, aircraft types it does not yet operate in scheduled passenger service, with first deliveries expected later in the decade. None of this changes what you fly on tomorrow, but it points to a fleet that will keep shifting over the next few years, with the A380 and 777 doing most of the work for now, the A350 taking a growing share, and the 777X arriving after that.
For a traveller booking today, the practical takeaway is simpler than the fleet planning behind it: your aircraft type for a given Emirates flight is usually shown at the time of booking or on the airline’s own flight-status page, and it is worth checking if a specific cabin, such as premium economy or the A380’s upper deck, matters to your trip.
Common Questions
How big is the Emirates fleet compared to other airlines?
Emirates operates one of the largest wide-body-only fleets of any airline, and it is the world’s biggest operator of the Airbus A380 by a wide margin. It does not fly narrow-body aircraft on scheduled passenger routes.
Does Emirates still fly the A380?
Yes. The A380 remains central to Emirates’ long-haul network in 2026, and the airline has continued to add destinations for the type rather than phase it out, even as the A350 joins the fleet.
When did the Emirates A350 start flying?
Emirates took delivery of its first A350-900 in November 2024 and began commercial A350 flights on 3 January 2025, with Edinburgh as the first destination. More routes were added through 2025 and into 2026.
Which Indian city most recently got the Emirates A380?
Delhi, scheduled from 25 October 2026, joining Mumbai and Bengaluru as the three Indian cities with Emirates A380 flights.
Does Emirates offer premium economy from India?
Yes, and the airline has been expanding it. By the end of October 2026, premium economy is available from six Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi.
Where can I check Emirates fare types before booking?
See our separate guide to Emirates fare types for what each economy and business fare includes.
Comparing Emirates against other airlines to Dubai or onward to Europe, the US or Africa? Search your route on HappyFares to see live fares side by side, with no domestic convenience fee and a price-match guarantee on eligible fares.
Fleet numbers, routes and cabin availability change often. Check emirates.com or contact Emirates directly for the current position before you travel.
