Emirates has fitted 65 of its aircraft with Starlink satellite internet and plans to add the service to 10 to 12 more planes every month, a senior airline executive said.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, told CNBC Arabia the airline was moving ahead with deliveries, cabin refurbishment, and onboard connectivity upgrades, Gulf News reported.

“We have introduced Starlink on 65 aircraft and plan to add the service to between 10 and 12 aircraft a month,” Kazim was quoted as saying.

He said Emirates expects to start receiving Boeing aircraft in summer 2027, while Airbus deliveries will continue. The airline has so far taken 20 Airbus aircraft and expects four more before the end of 2026. It plans to receive one Airbus aircraft a month throughout 2027, Kazim said.

On refurbishment, he said 104 aircraft have already been upgraded, and the airline aims to reach 116 by the end of this year.

Emirates Group’s annual report for the 2025-26 financial year showed the airline operated 277 aircraft at the end of March 2026, with an average fleet age of 10.8 years, Gulf News said.

The report said Emirates raised Dh10 billion through aircraft financing in domestic and international markets. The funding included operating leases, insurance-backed financing, and export credit agency facilities.

At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Emirates announced additional fleet investments worth about $41.4 billion at published list prices. The orders covered 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and eight Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

By the end of March 2026, the airline’s outstanding order book stood at 367 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled through 2038, according to the report.

Demand helps offset costs

Kazim also said strong passenger demand had helped Emirates absorb part of the rise in operating costs.

Speaking about the airline’s Egypt operations, he said Emirates had carried about 13.2 million passengers to and from the country over 40 years.

“Load factors on our Egypt services exceed 75 percent despite the events in the region,” he said.

Source: Gulf News, citing CNBC Arabia and Emirates Group's 2025-26 annual report