- Emirates delayed launching Berlin flights despite new traffic rights.
- Tim Clark noted the airline needs clarity on the bilateral agreement.
- Emirates currently serves four German airports.
- The revised agreement allows seven weekly flights between Dubai and Berlin.
- The route could launch as late as December 2027.
Emirates has indicated it will not for now launch services to Berlin even after Germany granted extra traffic rights to United Arab Emirates carriers. Chief executive Tim Clark told the Routes World conference in Frankfurt that the airline needs clarity on the precise interpretation of the bilateral agreement before starting flights. Emirates currently serves four German airports and has long sought access to the capital.
The revised bilateral agreement allows UAE carriers to serve a fifth German destination adding Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Emirates’ existing network of Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg. Emirates is permitted to operate a maximum of seven weekly flights directly between Dubai and Berlin. The deal excludes fifth-freedom rights.
Industry reports indicate the route could realistically launch as late as December 2027 with the airline expected to deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Finalising a launch involves securing matching airport slots, organising ground handling logistics, configuring fleet capacity and initiating marketing campaigns.
