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As the conflict in the Middle East rages on, airlines from the region are continuing to feel the pinch. While UAE flag carrier Emirates has been able to restart its operations in and out of its main hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB), these remain heavily restricted, which has resulted in notable cuts to its network. These have manifested themselves particularly starkly in the US, where Airbus A380 flights from Dubai have effectively been cut in two.
Amid its reduced schedules, Emirates will only operate 24 flights to the US a week in the second half of March 2026, with Aero Routes reporting that, according to the Dubai-based UAE national airline’s latest schedule filing, full operations are currently set to resume on the 29th of this month. Let’s dive deeper into the data and take a closer look at where exactly 
Emirates is still flying the Airbus A380 in the US, and which routes have lost it.
Cut In Half
According to scheduling data made available by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Emirates would normally operate 49 Airbus A380 departures a week from Dubai International Airport to various destinations in the United States of America. As such, the fact that this total now sits at just 24 represents a 51% reduction compared to the normal levels. The map above illustrates the handful of routes that will retain their Airbus A380 coverage.
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City represents the bulk of this coverage, as it accounts for 17 of the 24 weekly flights. Of these, 10 will operate on a nonstop basis, while the other seven (one a day) stop en route at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). The other seven are accounted for by San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which Emirates will serve on a daily basis with the A380. Its current guidance says that:
“Following the partial re-opening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule. Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.”
What Would Emirates’ US-Bound Airbus A380 Network Normally Look Like?
While drastic, these cuts are only temporary, with Emirates, as previously noted, hoping to have its full network back up and running by the end of the month. While its Airbus A380 schedules from Dubai International to San Francisco and 
New York JFK Airport via Milan Malpensa have remained unchanged, with daily operations being the norm, the nonstop JFK flights would normally operate twice a day, amounting to 14 departures a week.
Elsewhere in the US, the Airbus A380 has been temporarily cut altogether from a further three stateside routes. Indeed, the double-decker widebody quadjet aircraft would also normally be used to fly on a daily basis from Dubai International Airport to Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Los Angeles International (LAX), and Washington Dulles (IAD). All in all, Emirates would normally fly seven daily A380s to the US, but, now, it has just three or four.
With that being said, other US routes will still be served under the temporarily trimmed schedule, albeit with other aircraft types. For instance, Newark (EWR) will be served daily via Athens (ATH) using the Boeing 777-300ER, with this type also serving Boston (BOS) three times a week. Emirates’ 777 family jets will also serve Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with varying frequencies.
Surprising Return? Emirates Airbus A380 Superjumbo Flights Are Back On Popular Route
The pause of the double-decker was shrouded in mystery, but was it for a much simpler reason?
Where Else Is Emirates Flying The Airbus A380 At The Moment?
Elsewhere in the world, Emirates’ A380s continue to serve a handful of other destinations on a limited basis. Indeed, Seoul will see four superjumbos a week from Dubai. Meanwhile, the type will also fly daily to Amsterdam, Auckland, Birmingham, Casablanca, Copenhagen, Hong Kong (both nonstop and via Bangkok), Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Munich, Nice, Prague, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo Narita, Toronto, Vienna, and Zurich.
In terms of higher frequencies, the second half of March will see two Emirates Airbus A380 flights a day to Bangkok, Denpasar (sometimes replaced by the Boeing 777-300ER), Manchester, and Mauritius. Elsewhere, Bangalore (sometimes with the 777-300ER) and Paris CDG will see the type three times a day, while London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is by far and away the most popular destination, with six A380 flights a day penciled in.
