Emirates Airline considers expanding fifth freedom flights – with mixed success so far

Emirates Airline has twice as much capacity on fifth freedom routes as it did a decade ago, although its overall capacity share on fifth freedom routes has decreased from 10% in 2003 to 5% in 2013. But the fifth freedom proportion may be on its way back up if Emirates can realise stated ambitions to serve more fifth freedom routes: Milan-New York launches in Oct-2013, and beyond that Emirates has flagged potential opportunities from the UK to the US as well as trans-Pacific.

These would represent different markets from Emirates' core grouping of fifth freedom routes in Australia: to Australia via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore as well as from Australia to New Zealand. These routes comprise 77% of its fifth freedom network. Entry into other markets would be on more competitive ground where the market is more mature and also reliant on loyalty programmes, which Emirates is a bit shy on - but this could change substantially if it receives its wish and is able to partner with American Airlines.