Emirates maintains flights to France despite geopolitical context and offers attractive fares

Despite a tense geopolitical context in the Middle East, Emirates continues its operations to/from France with a reduced schedule but no major cancellations. The Dubai-based airline currently serves Paris-CDG with two daily rotations, Nice with five weekly rotations, and Lyon with three weekly rotations.

This reduced flight schedule is part of a stabilization phase. After significant disruptions in March following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the cancellation rate has dropped sharply. According to aviation data provider Cirium, Emirates is operating around 150 to 160 daily flights in early April, with almost no cancellations in recent days (compared to over 65% of flights canceled at the peak of the crisis).

A resilience superior to competitors

Emirates stands out for its relative strength compared to its two main Gulf competitors, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. According to Cirium, the Dubai-based airline has reduced its capacity by around 40% compared to pre-crisis levels. For comparison, Etihad has cut 50 to 63% of its flights, while Qatar Airways has seen reductions ranging from 62 to 87% depending on the day.

The average number of scheduled flights in Gulf hubs has dropped from around 3,500 to 3,800 daily departures to just 2,500 today. However, Emirates maintains a coherent network and avoids mass cancellations, reassuring travelers connecting to Asia, Australia, or Africa.

Temporary withdrawal of the A380 on 15 major routes

To adjust capacity since late March, Emirates has temporarily withdrawn its iconic Airbus A380 from 15 key routes. Affected destinations include major cities in North America (Houston, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Toronto), Europe (Birmingham, Munich, Nice, Prague, Zurich), Asia and Oceania (Osaka, Brisbane, Adelaide), as well as the Middle East and Africa, including Casablanca. On several of these routes, Emirates is now using smaller aircraft like the Boeing 777 or has temporarily suspended flights. A380 departures from Dubai have decreased by about a third, and services to the United States have been reduced by over 50%. Only New York-JFK and San Francisco retain regular operations with the superjumbo. The Dubai-based airline plans a gradual return of the A380 around May 1, 2026, subject to the evolution of the security situation.

Attractive fares to boost demand

In an uncertain environment, the “three sisters” of the Gulf—Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways—are leveraging low prices. Recent analyses highlight “dumping fares” aimed at attracting travelers heading to Asia-Pacific. Tickets to Asia or Australia via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha are being offered at highly competitive levels, sometimes 20 to 40% below usual rates.

As reported by the Bee Travel News newsletter, Etihad Airways is offering very competitive prices from Frankfurt: Singapore at €399.70, the Maldives at €449.76, Bangkok at €586.85, and Sydney at €1,027.80, for departures as early as next week and a 14-day travel duration. Emirates and Qatar Airways are broadly aligning with these offers, with Bangkok at €626 with Qatar Airways, or Bali from €817 with Emirates.

This strategy aims to fill aircraft and maintain the attractiveness of Gulf hubs. For travelers to or from France, this represents a real opportunity to travel at a lower cost, provided they check real-time availability. Emirates, like its competitors, continues to adjust its schedule daily. Industry experts praise this resilience: Gulf carriers, despite lighter schedules, remain operational and reliable.

However, passengers are advised to remain vigilant. “We are actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our operations accordingly. Connecting passengers at Dubai are accepted provided their connecting flight is scheduled to operate and their reservation on the connecting flight is confirmed. Emirates urges all passengers to check their flight status and the latest operational updates on emirates.com, as well as to consult their emails for any notifications regarding changes or cancellations to their flights before heading to the airport,” the Dubai-based airline reminds travelers.