EK Airline Code, Emirates
EK is the IATA airline code for Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates. Its ICAO code is UAE and its radio callsign is "Emirates".
What airline is EK?
EK is the IATA airline code for Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates. Its ICAO code is UAE and its radio callsign is "Emirates".
The open dataset lists 289 scheduled routes for the carrier, placing it at number 57 among airlines worldwide. You will see EK as the two-character prefix on its flight numbers, for example EK123.
| IATA airline code | EK |
|---|---|
| ICAO airline code | UAE |
| Radio callsign | Emirates |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Alliance | None (unaligned) |
| Scheduled routes | 289 (ranked #57) |
| Most routes at | DXB Dubai |
| Status | Active |
What is the airline code for Emirates?
The IATA airline code for Emirates is EK, and its ICAO code is UAE. The two-character IATA code prefixes the carrier's flight numbers, for example EK123.
IATA airline codes are two characters and can reuse letters over time, so a retired airline's code may later be assigned to another carrier. ICAO codes are three letters and are more stable, which is why flight plans use them.
Where the EK code comes from
EK identifies Emirates, founded in Dubai in 1985. The E is for Emirates; the K is commonly explained as an arbitrary second letter, since EM and ER were unavailable. The entire operation runs through one hub, Dubai International, itself the world's busiest airport for international passengers.
Emirates is the world's largest operator of both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777, and the largest international carrier by scheduled long-haul capacity.
More on how these identifiers work in what an IATA code is and airline callsigns.
What are Emirates's hub airports?
Emirates (EK) concentrates its network on DXB (Dubai).
Which airport does Emirates serve most?
Emirates (EK) appears on more routes at DXB, Dubai, than at any other airport in the open route dataset.
The airports Emirates appears at most often in that dataset, most routes first:
Routes flown by Emirates
The busiest pairs Emirates (EK) is listed as operating in the open route dataset (codeshare-only listings excluded), with distance and typical flight time:
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Emirates?
Emirates uses the ICAO airline code UAE and the radio callsign "Emirates". Flight plans and air traffic control use UAE, while tickets and schedules use EK.
What is the radio callsign for Emirates?
Air traffic control refers to Emirates by the radio callsign "Emirates".
What country is Emirates based in?
Emirates (EK) is based in the United Arab Emirates.
What is the abbreviation for Emirates?
The two-character IATA abbreviation for Emirates is EK, and its three-letter ICAO code is UAE.
How many routes does Emirates fly?
The open route dataset lists 289 route entries for Emirates, codeshare listings included, which ranks the carrier number 57 by that count. The route table below shows only the pairs Emirates is listed as operating.
Is Emirates in an airline alliance?
Emirates (EK) is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. It relies on its own network and bilateral partnerships instead.