The Emirates Group delivers strong FY26 performance

The Emirates Group has released its 2025-26 Annual Report, reporting record-high profit, revenue, and cash balance levels despite facing a disruptive and challenging final month of the financial year.

Emirates Sky Cargo delivered a strong performance in 2025-26, transporting 2.4 million tonnes of cargo worldwide, a 3% increase compared with the previous year. The division’s capacity expanded significantly following the delivery of five new Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft, boosting freighter capacity by 13%.

SkyCargo reported revenue of AED 16.2 billion ($4.4 billion), contributing 12% to Emirates’ total revenue. However, cargo yield per Freight Tonne Kilometre (FTKM) declined by 3% due to market pressures and the impact of tariffs on global trade, particularly within the eCommerce sector.

The division expanded its freighter network to 44 destinations during the year with the addition of Bangkok, Budapest, Liege, and Tokyo Narita, while also increasing frequencies on existing routes and growing its trucking network. Emirates SkyCargo also strengthened its specialist logistics offerings with the launch of Emirates Courier Express, a cross-border door-to-door delivery solution, alongside a new Aerospace and Engineering suite tailored for time-sensitive shipments in aviation, engineering, defence, and space industries.

By the end of March 2026, Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter fleet stood at 13 Boeing 777Fs, with eight more aircraft pending delivery. Emirates also took ownership of 29 A380s and five Boeing 777 aircraft at the end of their leases, while raising AED 10 billion through various aircraft financing structures to support its fleet expansion programme.

The Emirates Group closed the financial year with a strong cash balance of AED 54.9 billion ($15 billion), enabling it to meet all financing obligations, including aircraft pre-delivery payments and lease commitments.

Emirates’ total passenger and cargo capacity increased by 1% in 2025–26, reaching 60.6 billion ATKMs, reflecting steady growth in its global operations. The company reported a record revenue of AED 150.5 billion ($41.0 billion), marking a 3% increase compared with the previous year.

In 2025–26, the Group invested a total of AED 17.9 billion ($4.9 billion) in new aircraft, infrastructure, equipment, and advanced technologies to support its ongoing expansion and growth strategy.

Similarly, dnata reported a 12% rise in total revenue, reaching a record AED 23.6 billion ($6.4 billion), supported by stronger global flight and travel demand, especially across key markets including Australia, Europe, the UAE, the UK, and the US.

dnata’s Airport Operations segment, which includes ground and cargo handling, recorded revenue of AED 11.2 billion ($3.1 billion). Aircraft turns handled globally rose by 12% to 888,793, while cargo volumes increased by 2% to 3.2 million tonnes, supported by new contracts and higher flight activity across key international markets.

During the year, dnata announced a joint venture to launch ground handling and cargo services at Azerbaijan’s Alat International Airport, scheduled to open in late 2027. In Amsterdam, the company inaugurated a new fully automated cargo facility with an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes, backed by a €70 million investment.

In Italy, dnata fully integrated its ground operations under its brand following the acquisition of its local subsidiary, alongside further investments including €20 million in modern ground support equipment in Rome and €25 million for a new cargo facility in Milan. In Manchester, dnata also introduced its marhaba meet-and-greet services, expanding its customer experience offerings.

Amed Bin Saeed, Chairman and Chief Executive at Emirates Airlines and Group, said, “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.”