Summary

  • Emirates has finally launched its months-planned fifth-freedom route from Dubai to Bogota via Miami, the United States.
  • On the Miami International Airport (MIA) to Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG) route, Emirates will compete against three airlines: American Airlines, avianca, and LATAM Airlines.
  • The Dubai-based carrier is almost solely responsible for the growth of the number of seats on the route from June 2024 to May 2025.

With Emirates launching its fifth-freedom route from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to Bogota, Colombia, via Miami, the United States, Simple Flying examined against which airlines the UAE-based carrier will compete on the frequencies between Miami and Bogota.

Five months in the making

In February 2024, Emirates announced that it would add another fifth-destination flight to its network, connecting Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG) via Miami International Airport (MIA). At the time, the airline said that the flights would launch on June 3, marking the first time that an airline would fly between the Middle East and the northern part of South America.

A6-ECK Emirates Boeing 777-31H(ER) (1)

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Emirates finally took off on the inaugural flight EK213 between DXB and BOG via MIA on June 3. The one-stop itinerary was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER registered as A6-EGB. In February, Tim Clark, the President of Emirates, remarked that the airline had wanted to serve Colombia for a very long time, and the addition of BOG to its network was part of its strategy to deliver better connectivity and expand travel options for passengers.

“There is a huge demand for travel to and from Bogotá and we can’t wait for customers to experience Emirates’ signature products and services on the flights between Bogotá and Dubai as well as between Bogotá and Miami.”

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Competing against three airlines

According to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium, four airlines operate flights from MIA to BOG: American Airlines, avianca, Emirates, and LATAM Airlines. In June 2024, the quartet scheduled 70 weekly departures from MIA to BOG, with the largest market regarding weekly flights belonging to avianca and American Airlines.

Weekly departures from MIA to BOG

Market share (departing flights)

American Airlines

21

30%

avianca

28

40%

Emirates

7

10%

LATAM Airlines

14

20%

According to the table above, the two Latin American airlines, avianca and LATAM Airlines, have a majority of the market, operating 40% and 20% of the weekly departures on the route, respectively. However, regarding weekly seats, Emirates has managed to squeeze out a 17.8% market share (2,478 out of 13,869).

Furthermore, data showed that the four airlines began significantly upgauging the route. While flights from MIA to BOG should grow by 8.7% year-on-year (YoY) between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, the number of weekly seats during the same period should increase by 26.5%. Out of the 148,794 seats that have been added to the route during the period, Emirates was responsible for 128,502.

N338ST American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

American Airlines is switching from the Airbus A319 to the Boeing 737 MAX 8, while avianca added 676 more flights with the Airbus A320neo, reducing the amount of flying with the A320ceo on the itinerary. Only LATAM Airlines has downgauged the MIA-BOG route, with the airline stopping flying the route with the Boeing 787-8 since March 2024.

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Launching the fifth-freedom flight

On June 6, Emirates celebrated the launch of the services to BOG, noting that it was the airline’s fourth South American destination. Officials, including ambassadors and local officials, as well as Emirates executives, were present at the launch ceremony at the Colombian airport.

Officials and executives celebrating Emirates' services at BOG

Photo: Emirates

Nevertheless, Emirates emphasized the premium experience that the flight would bring to BOG, noting that its Boeing 777-300ER will offer premium passenger services on flights to Colombia, becoming the first airline to provide first class services between MIA and BOG.

“Customers on flights between Miami and Bogotá can get a taste of Colombian food and beverages with special menus and dishes all provided on a complimentary basis.”

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A rocky start to an agreement with avianca

In addition to the launch of the fifth-freedom route, Emirates noted that it launched its codeshare agreement with Columbia’s avianca on May 22, which has been in effect since June 4. While the partnership does not cover flights from BOG to MIA, it will enable Emirates to add its flight codes on avianca’s flights from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) to BOG, Medellin Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE), and Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO).

avianca and Emirates aircraft

Photo: Emirates

The two carriers’ partnership will also cover the Colombian airline’s flights from Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) to BOG and from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to BOG. In turn, avianca will be able to place its flight codes on Emirates’ flights from BCN, LHR, and MAD to DXB.

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However, the two airlines had an intense hearing in front of the Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia (Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil, Aerocivil) in February 2024. According to a report by the Colombian daily El Colombiano, during the hearing, avianca alleged that Emirates only wants to exploit mature markets and not enhance connectivity with Colombia, alluding to the fact that the UAE-based airline was potentially looking to be approved for more flights to the US.

Furthermore, a source familiar with the matter told El Colombiano that avianca added that the market between BOG and DXB was virtually non-existent, meaning that Emirates would commercially prioritize and profit from flights from DXB to MIA and from MIA to BOG.

Sources also said that one of the potential grievances could be the supposed subsidies that Emirates receives from its shareholder, the UAE government, meaning that the DXB-based carrier would not mind losing cash on flights to BOG.

Emirates crew celebrating the launch of Emirates flights to BOG

Photo: Emirates

Similar arguments have already been expressed by the US-based big three international airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. That conflict eventually resulted in the Gulf airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways beginning to publish their financial results, as well as the UAE signing an open skies agreement with the US.

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