What happened
One Mile at a Time reports that Emirates is close to regulatory permission for nonstop fifth-freedom flights between Milan and Lima, a 6,609-mile sector that currently has no nonstops. An Italian newspaper says approval is expected in coming weeks, though a launch is still not certain. The service would work like Emirates' existing Milan-New York fifth-freedom flights and would break the 9,645-mile Dubai-Lima journey into a 2,929-mile Dubai-Milan sector plus the Lima leg, which fits the carrier's aircraft range better than a nonstop from Dubai.
Emirates could sell both local Milan-Lima seats and connecting Dubai-Lima traffic. The airline is also studying further Milan fifth-freedom routes to Los Angeles and Mexico City, with Santiago and Sao Paulo under review as well. LATAM already flies Milan-Sao Paulo. The remaining markets lack nonstop service. Permission would not guarantee a start. Not every extra destination under study is expected to be flown.
New long-haul metal from Milan would add Emirates inventory for cash and award bookings between Italy and South America if the flights actually begin. Do not plan travel on Milan-Lima or the other studied routes until a schedule is published.
- Numbers
- 9,645 miles: direct distance between Dubai and Lima
- 2,929 miles: distance of a Dubai–Milan sector
- 6,609 miles: distance of a Milan–Lima sector
- Where
- Milan (MXP), Lima (LIM), Los Angeles (LAX), Mexico City (MEX), Santiago (SCL), Sao Paulo (GRU)
- Takeaway
- Do not plan travel on these routes yet; watch for official permission and a schedule before treating Milan–Lima or the other rumored flights as real.