DUBAI: Emirates has transported more than 20.5 million passengers between Dubai and Karachi over the past 40 years, underlining the importance of Pakistan as one of the airline’s key regional markets.
The Dubai-based carrier said it has operated more than 89,200 flights on the Dubai-Karachi route since launching services, making Karachi one of its oldest and most strategically important destinations due to its large population and strong trade links with the UAE.
Overall, Emirates carried more than 63 million passengers on over 249,200 flights to three major cities in the Indian subcontinent – Karachi, Mumbai and Delhi.
Mumbai recorded the highest passenger traffic, with nearly 25.9 million passengers carried on about 97,700 flights, while Delhi accounted for around 16.6 million passengers on approximately 62,300 flights.
For Pakistani travellers, the figures highlight Karachi’s continued role as a major gateway connecting Pakistan to Dubai and onward destinations across Europe, North America, Africa and Australia through Emirates’ global network.
The airline said the strong demand also reflects the close economic ties between Pakistan and the UAE and the large Pakistani expatriate community living in the Gulf.
Emirates currently serves several Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot, providing thousands of travellers with connections to more than 140 destinations worldwide via Dubai.
The airline began operations in 1985 and has since become one of the largest international carriers linking Pakistan, India and other South Asian countries with the rest of the world through its Dubai hub.
