According to data released by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Emirates recorded an average load factor of 73.2% across its US operations throughout 2025. The figure remained below other airlines operating in the US–Middle East market.
The data shows that Emirates carried approximately 3.3 million passengers on its US routes in 2025. However, the airline’s passenger traffic declined by 1.6% compared to the previous year. Passenger numbers especially decreased on routes to Boston, Chicago O’Hare, and Los Angeles.
Emirates’ lowest-performing US route in terms of load factor was the Dubai–Miami service. According to DOT data, only 65.9% of seats were filled on the route in 2025. Miami was followed by Boston with 71.2%, Houston with 71.3%, Orlando with 72%, and Washington Dulles with 72.9%.
The rest of the list included Los Angeles with 73.4%, Newark with 76.5%, Seattle with 76.7%, New York JFK with 77.1%, and Dallas/Fort Worth with 83.3% load factors.
Meanwhile, Emirates’ load factors remained significantly behind rival Gulf carriers. Qatar Airways reportedly achieved a 91.4% load factor on its US operations, while Etihad Airways reached 88.5%.
The report also noted that Manila-bound passengers accounted for a significant share of traffic on Emirates’ Miami route, with the cruise industry playing an important role in demand.
