Emirates Airline is ready to launch daily flights to Berlin and Stuttgart and spend more than €100 million a year on operations if German authorities approve the services, the Dubai carrier announced. The proposed routes would add long-haul capacity to two of Germany’s most important economic centres that remain underserved by direct international connections.
Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said the airline has identified strong demand for the routes, with more than 85% of Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s international connectivity currently limited to within Europe, according to OAG schedule data. Stuttgart, the economic centre of Baden-Württemberg — one of Germany’s strongest export-driven states — similarly lacks the long-haul links needed by manufacturers, suppliers, and trading partners.
“Emirates is ready to bring daily widebody connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart and connect them with our extensive network, backed by substantial investment,” Clark said. “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.”
Daily services would connect Berlin and Stuttgart through Dubai to 50 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australasia that are not served by German airlines. In 2025, Emirates carried 2.36 million passengers to and from Germany, with roughly 60% connecting onward through Dubai to markets including Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The cargo case is central to the proposal. A daily Boeing 777-300ER service would provide more than 280 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity per week, supporting exports and imports of pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, machinery, and transport technology components. A 2012 study by the German Aerospace Centre estimated that daily Emirates services to both cities would create close to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, a figure the airline said remains broadly consistent today.
Berlin’s business community has been vocal about the need for better long-haul links. A 2023 Berlin Chamber of Commerce survey found 75% of respondents described the city’s long-haul offering as deficient, with Dubai named the top priority connection to strengthen. The proposal is subject to approval from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport.
