Emirates to Double US Destinations in 3 Years

Emirates plans to more than double its network of US destinations in the next three to five years to a total of 15 cities, up from seven currently. Emirates plans to add three new US city destinations in the next 12 months, Emirates is set to add new service between JFK and MXP in October. That fifth-freedom route, because it goes between two countries other than the carrier's home base, is out of step with Emirates' Dubai-centric, single-hub strategy.
The freedoms of the air are a set of commercial aviation rights. The fifth freedom allows an airline to carry traffic between foreign countries as part of services connecting with the airline's own country.
The Dubai-based carrier has increased US destinations "over-proportionally" in the last 18 months, adding three routes to four existing ones. It now flies between DXB-JFK , IAH, LAX, SFO, SEA, DFW and IAD.
On December 2, Emirates will add capacity on its LAX-DXB route by changing to an Airbus A380, replacing the Boeing 777 it currently uses. The airline's two daily flights from JFK already use the 525-seat A380 superjumbo.
The next step in the US development is to open a 3rd flight from JFK and MXP. The step after that will be to open new destinations between US and DXB. The cities haven't been decided, but ORD, BOS and MIA are possible, he said.
In three to five years, the airline will have 15 routes from the US to Dubai, he said.
Emirates also is very interested in Boeing's new 777X and probably will announce orders at the Dubai Airshow in November.