Emirates Boosts Toronto Flights As Canada, UAE Reach New Deal

Emirates A380
Credit: Airbus

Emirates is expanding frequencies to Toronto after the governments of Canada and the UAE reached a deal to expand air service between the two countries. 

The expanded agreement allots 21 flights per week for each country, which is 50% more than what was previously available, Transport Canada said. 

After the new deal was reached, Emirates stated its plans to add two additional flights from Dubai to Toronto Pearson International airport on April 20. As a result, Emirates will operate the route daily. 

The airline operates Airbus A380 widebodies equipped with 491 seats on the pairing. Emirates explained once the new frequencies are added between Dubai and Toronto, seats on the route will increase to 2,000, representing a 40% increase in capacity in the market. 

Data from Aviation Week’s CAPA show for the week of April 10 Emirates deploys 2,575 seats one-way between Dubai and Toronto, which represents a 40% seat share from Canada to the UAE. Air Canada offers 2,086 one-ways seats between Toronto and Dubai that account for a 32% share. Etihad’s 1,842 one-way seats deployed from Abu Dhabi to Toronto represent a 28% share between Canada and the UAE. 

Emirates said it has operated to Toronto since 2007, and although it has deployed the A380 on the route since 2009, demand has consistently outstripped the allocated capacity. 

The enhanced air service agreement between Canada and the UAE occurs after Air Canada and Emirates launched a new landmark codeshare agreement near the end of 2022. The airlines have said their customers have access to 46 points across North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Lori Ranson

Lori covers North American and Latin airlines for Aviation Week and is also a Senior Analyst for CAPA - Centre for Aviation.