Emirates has surpassed the milestone of 3 million passengers transported on its Nice Côte d’Azur–Dubai route, launched in 1994.
This route, operated by an Airbus A380, offers daily connections from Nice to over 140 destinations via the Dubai hub.
Emirates SkyCargo has exported over 26,000 tonnes of freight from Nice, including perfume products, automotive parts, and specialized goods.
A historic route between Nice Côte d’Azur and Dubai
On April 9, 2025, Emirates celebrated reaching the milestone of 3 million passengers on the Nice–Dubai route. This symbolic threshold was marked at Nice Airport with a ceremony honoring the three-millionth passenger, a member of the Emirates Skywards loyalty program. She was awarded a round-trip economy class ticket for two between Nice and Dubai.
The event also served as a reminder that the route, in operation since 1994, is a key pillar of the Côte d’Azur’s international connectivity. Emirates currently operates a daily flight between Nice and Dubai on an Airbus A380, configured in three classes: 14 First Class suites, 76 Business Class lie-flat seats, and 427 Economy Class seats.
Strong performance in freight and tourism activities
In addition to passenger transport, Emirates contributes to regional economic development through its freight operations. Over the past six years, Emirates SkyCargo has transported more than 26,000 tonnes of goods from Nice and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. These shipments include perfumes, flavorings, automotive components, and other high-value goods.
The airline currently serves Nice with a daily year-round flight. Flight EK78 departs Nice at 3:50 p.m. and arrives in Dubai at 11:59 p.m. The return flight, EK77, departs Dubai at 8:40 a.m. and lands in Nice at 1:30 p.m., local times respectively.
Official statements
On this symbolic occasion, Cédric Renard, Country Manager for Emirates in France, stated: “Nice and its region are a key gateway for us in France and within our global network, and we are delighted to celebrate this milestone today with our three-millionth customer. Since the launch of the Nice–Dubai route in 1994, Emirates has played a vital role in boosting tourism and trade in the city, and we are proud to be the only international airline serving the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region with our iconic Emirates A380.”
True to our brand promise ‘Fly Better’, passengers continue to trust Emirates for the premium travel experience we offer, including our unique onboard features and extensive global network.
A big thank you to all our partners for making this possible, and we look forward to welcoming the next 3 million passengers on this route!”
Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, emphasized: “It is a great pleasure and an honor to celebrate Emirates’ three-millionth passenger in Nice. This symbolic milestone reflects not only the close ties between our region and Dubai and its international airport—one of the world’s major hubs—but also the mutual trust between the airline and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in a win-win partnership approach.”
Emirates now serves six continents with a fleet consisting of Boeing 777s, Airbus A380s, and Airbus A350s. In France, the airline operates 35 weekly flights, including three daily from Paris, one from Lyon, and one from Nice.
Source: Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur
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