Emirates Posts Record Profit, Hires 450+ Pilots, and Opens New Crew Training Centre in FY2025–26

Pilot Training, Recruitment, and Crew Development

• Emirates conducted global recruitment campaigns in 215 cities across 90 countries during FY2025–26, hiring over 450 pilots, over 4,800 cabin crew, and over 500 engineers and technicians. In the UAE alone, 3.5 million applications were received, 390,000 candidates were shortlisted, and 9,700 people were hired across all roles. The Group's total workforce grew 8% to 130,919 employees, with UAE national employees surpassing 4,000.
• During the year, Emirates opened a new flight crew training centre in Dubai featuring six full flight simulator bays dedicated to the A350 and Boeing 777X, with two A350 simulators already installed and operational and four more — including the initial 777X devices — to be delivered in the coming years. The expanded facilities will support an annual capacity of 130,000 training hours across 17 full flight simulators.
• Emirates invested USD 48 million in advanced A350 training equipment including three full flight simulators, a fixed base training device, and cabin emergency evacuation and door trainers. Emirates' first A350 FFS received EASA Level D qualification with zero findings.
• The airline developed an industry-first Pilot Support System (PSS) in-house, enabling interactive flight deck setup and flight planning in an immersive environment before simulator sessions, with replay and review capability for instructor debriefing.
• Emirates collaborates with IATA and Airbus on an enhanced Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) program for A350 type rating, and plans to recruit 5,000 pilots over the coming years to support widebody fleet expansion.

Financial and Operational Highlights

• The Emirates Group reported record group profit before tax of AED 24.4 billion (USD 6.6 billion), record revenue of AED 150.5 billion (USD 41.0 billion), and record cash assets of AED 59.6 billion (USD 16.2 billion).
• Emirates carried 53.2 million passengers with a seat factor of 78.4% and grew its network to 152 cities in 80 countries.
• Emirates is well-hedged for fuel until 2028–29 and enters FY2026–27 with strong cash reserves, with aircraft deliveries and the retrofit program continuing on schedule.

Statements

• "These outstanding results, despite significant challenges in the last month of our financial year, reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Emirates Group's business model, which is rooted in safety, excellence, innovation, people and partnerships," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group.