Germany is weighing a compromise that would give Emirates seven additional weekly services, opening the door to a long-delayed expansion of the Dubai airline’s network in the country. The move would avoid naming a single new destination in advance and could pave the way for a new German city pair, with Berlin emerging as the leading candidate and Stuttgart also in contention.
Emirates is currently limited to four German airports under the bilateral air services agreement with the UAE, and any fifth destination would require wider traffic rights. Industry reporting indicates the carrier has already blocked slots at Berlin Brandenburg Airport for a daily Boeing 777-300ER service from December 2026, although no regulatory change has been confirmed. The federal government faces pressure to resolve the issue without triggering a political dispute over which airport benefits.
Lufthansa opposes any further relaxation of access for Emirates, making the decision commercially sensitive for Germany’s long-haul market. Earlier talks reportedly centred on a much smaller offer of two weekly Berlin flights for UAE airlines, which business representatives viewed as inadequate. Officials have not indicated that a final decision has been taken.