Emirates said Tuesday it is prepared to launch daily flights to Berlin and Stuttgart, committing more than 100 million euros annually to operations in each city, as the Dubai-based carrier renewed its call for approval from German transport authorities to expand its presence in Europe's largest economy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Emirates said the proposed services would connect two of Germany's key economic centres to its global network, creating jobs, boosting trade and tourism, and improving long-haul connectivity for passengers and businesses.

The airline said it would operate daily widebody aircraft services to both cities, subject to approval from Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport. Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said Berlin and Stuttgart remain underserved in terms of long-haul air links despite their economic importance.

"German businesses have told us they need it, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce has called for it, our own data confirms the demand is there and flights are forecast to be full," Clark said.

Berlin, a city of nearly four million people and Germany's political capital, currently relies heavily on intra-European air connections, with more than 85 percent of its international connectivity concentrated within Europe, according to airline-cited industry data. Stuttgart, the industrial hub of Baden-Württemberg state, also faces limited long-haul flight options despite its strong export-oriented economy.

Emirates said a daily Boeing 777-300ER service to each city would generate significant economic benefits. Citing a study by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the carrier said daily operations at both airports could create close to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The airline also highlighted cargo opportunities, saying each daily Boeing 777 service would provide more than 280 tonnes of weekly belly-hold freight capacity, supporting shipments of pharmaceuticals, machinery, electrical equipment, and transport technology components.

The proposed expansion would further strengthen Dubai's role as a global transit hub for German travellers. Emirates said that of the 2.36 million passengers it carried to and from Germany in 2025, around 60 percent used Dubai as a connecting point to destinations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia.

According to the airline, some of its most popular markets from Germany include Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, destinations that are not currently served directly by German airlines from Frankfurt or Munich.

Emirates also argued that additional services could support Germany's tourism sector by attracting more visitors from the Gulf region. The airline cited data showing Germany recorded nearly 1.2 million overnight stays by visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2024, contributing an estimated 2.3 billion euros to the economy.

The carrier said direct widebody services from Dubai would improve access for Gulf travellers to Berlin and Stuttgart, potentially helping both cities capture a larger share of the growing high-spending tourism market.

Source: Emirates PR