Germany has approved Emirates to begin service to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, clearing the way for up to seven weekly Dubai-Berlin flights and giving the carrier a fifth destination in the country. The decision, tied to the UAE president’s state visit to Berlin, ends years of wrangling over air traffic rights and opens the door to Berlin’s first direct long-haul link to the Emirates hub in Dubai.
The agreement limits Emirates to traffic between Germany and the United Arab Emirates and excludes fifth-freedom services beyond Berlin. Transport Minister Steffen Bilger set the cap at seven weekly frequencies, effectively allowing a daily operation but leaving the launch date unconfirmed.
Emirates already serves Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, while Berlin had remained outside its network despite long-standing lobbying. Lufthansa has opposed the move for years, arguing that additional Gulf carrier access would shift traffic and jobs away from German hubs. Berlin and Brandenburg officials welcomed the decision as a connectivity gain for the capital region, which could gain easier one-stop access to Emirates’ global network.