Emirates celebrates 10 years of the Bologna-Dubai route

Emirates is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its direct route between Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) and Dubai hub (DXB). An anniversary that highlights ten years of connectivity, with over 1.36 million passengers transported and a strengthening of economic and cultural ties between Emilia-Romagna and the rest of the world.

Over the past decade, the Bologna-Dubai route has enabled Travellers to benefit from Emirates' global route network. Since its launch on 3 November 2015, the airline has carried a total of 1.36 million passengers on 5,738 flights, confirming its role in connecting Emilia-Romagna with international destinations through its Dubai hub.

This "air bridge" has established itself as a key link for different travel needs. From Bologna, passengers can reach large hubs and more remote leisure destinations: among the main destinations via Dubai are cities such as Dhaka, Bangkok and Manila, as well as destinations such as Colombo and the Maldives, and metropolises such as Melbourne and Tokyo. At the same time, Bologna welcomes visitors from many areas of the world, helping to enrich the cultural fabric of the region.

Behind the numbers, however, there are also "passenger stories" that describe the profile of demand over the past ten years. About 1 in 2 passengers (41%) travels alone, a figure that highlights the attractiveness of the Bologna-Dubai axis for those who choose to travel independently, often for stays of less than two weeks: from the beaches of Thailand to experiences in Australia. This is followed by couples (25%), oriented towards exotic destinations for relaxation and leisure, and families (21%), who by planning long-haul trips between Dubai and destinations such as the Maldives, aim to create shared experiences and memorable memories.

The most recent data, referring to the July-September 2025 summer season, confirm the solidity of the route. EK93/EK94 flights recorded an average load rating of 51.5% in Premium Economy, a sign of significant demand for a superior travel experience, considering that the Premium Economy cabin has only been available for a few months. 

Regional presence and global visibility: Bologna as a strategic hub

The success of the Bologna-Dubai route is linked to Emilia-Romagna's growth strategy. Over the past decade, Bologna Airport has experienced significant growth, also thanks to the expansion of Emirates' operations, which has strengthened its role as a relevant hub for international trade.

Emirates' support for the Motor Valley, a symbolic area of the Italian automotive industry that includes luxury car brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Dallara, Maserati and Pagani, also fits into this context. Alongside these, Emilia-Romagna represents a pole of Made in Italy: from high fashion to food (including PDO and PGI products), up to the pharmaceutical sector and high-level manufacturing. Emirates has established itself as a strategic partner, supporting an air bridge for the cargo transport of valuable products and components to international markets, with the aim of ensuring logistical efficiency and continuity in shipments.

Ten years of milestones

The history of the Bologna/Dubai route is marked by some emblematic moments:

• 3 November 2015: Emirates' inaugural flight from Dubai to Bologna landed, opening a new gateway to Italy.
• 2020: Cargo operations played a crucial role during the global pandemic, ensuring the continuity of flows of essential goods to world markets.
• July 2024: celebration of the millionth passenger on the Bologna-Dubai route.
• 21 June 2025: The A350 is introduced on the route, confirming Emirates' commitment to comfort, efficiency and connection development.

Classified as a "strategic airport" in the Centre-North area in the National Airports Plan prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Bologna Airport (BLQ) recorded 10.8 million passengers in 2024, ranking as the seventh Italian airport in terms of number of passengers (Source: Assaeroporti – Airports2030). The airport has among its strategic objectives for the coming years an important development plan relating above all to the expansion of the passenger terminal, in particular in the boarding area.