Emirates to Hire 20,000 Operational Staff Amid Fleet Expansion

Emirates Airline has announced plans to recruit nearly 20,000 operational staff by the end of the decade as part of a major fleet and network expansion. The hiring initiative is tied to the delivery of new aircraft, which will be deployed to both new destinations and existing routes to increase flight frequency.

Adel Al Redha, deputy president and chief operations officer at Emirates, said during a media briefing in Dubai that the recruitment will focus on a range of operational roles, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, technicians, and airport staff. The 20,000 figure applies specifically to operational positions, with additional hires planned in IT, administration, and other support functions.

Emirates accepts applications from both domestic and international candidates. While the airline runs internal training programmes, these do not fully meet the staffing demand, prompting the broader recruitment drive.

The airline also operates special initiatives to hire Emirati nationals in engineering, cabin crew, IT, and management roles. Currently, the intake capacity for Emiratis in cabin crew and engineering is around 120 per year, but Emirates intends to increase this number over time. Similar programmes exist for IT and management positions, with graduates deployed across the network in managerial roles.

The recruitment push is linked to fleet growth, including the expected delivery of 17 Airbus A350 aircraft this year and Boeing 777X aircraft beginning in 2027. Emirates will also launch hiring for a seat manufacturing unit in Dubai, operated as a joint venture with Safran. Despite regional challenges affecting some European carriers, Emirates continues to operate at full capacity with strong demand across its routes.