Emirates Airline is the international airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in Dubai. Launched on October 1985, and now one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Dubai-based Emirates worldwide network now spans over 88 cities in 59 countries.   Emirates was launched with flights to Bombay, Delhi and Karachi on October 25, 1985 with a single Airbus A300 and a Boeing 737-200 that were leased from Pakistan International Airlines. Emirates' European operation started in July 1987 with a flight to London-Gatwick.

In 1998, Emirates acquired a financial stake of 40% and a contract for Air Lanka and subsequently changed its name to Sri Lankan Airlines. In the year 2003 at the Paris Air Show Emirates announced the largest aircraft order in aviation history worth US$19 billion.

One of the largest aircraft in Emirates' fleet, the B777-200 comfortably accommodates 12 First Class, 42 Business Class and 236 Economy Class passengers, carrying a total of 290 passengers. A second configuration offers 42 Business Class seats and 304 Economy Class passengers, allowing for a total of 346 passengers. The B777-300, the largest member of the Emirates fleet, can carry a total of 434 passengers, with 49 Business Class seats and 385 Economy seats.