---
title: "Emirates airline profit drops 66% amid regional conflict and high fuel costs"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/business/emirates-airline-profit-drops-66-amid-regional-conflict-and-high-fuel-costs"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/emirates-airline-profit-drops-66-amid-regional-conflict-and-high-fuel-costs"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/emirates-airline-profit-drops-66-amid-regional-conflict-and-high-fuel-costs.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/emirates-airline-profit-drops-66-amid-regional-conflict-and-high-fuel-costs"
category: "Business & Economy"
area: "Middle East"
published: "2026-11-05T08:25:13.051Z"
source_reported: "2026-11-05T08:04:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-05T08:25:13.051Z"
trust_score: 60
critic_score: 65
hype_score: 45
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-11-05T09:30:14.244731+00:00"
---

# Emirates airline profit drops 66% amid regional conflict and high fuel costs

*The airline reported a 66% decrease in net profit for the first half of the fiscal year due to war-related airspace disruptions and soaring fuel prices.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and multiple digests corroborate profit drop and revenue figures, with specific figures attributed to Emirates Group.
- Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports include quotes from executives and details on operational capacity and passenger numbers.
- Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines mention profit slump and challenges, but the body of reports details resilience and specific figures.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Emirates airline reported a 66% drop in net profit for the six months ending September 30, 2026.
- Revenue fell by 13% to 56.9 billion dirhams ($15.5 billion) over the same period.
- The airline carried 21.8 million passengers, a 22% decrease year-on-year, with average seat factor dropping to 72%.
- Fuel costs, before hedging, rose by 60% compared to the previous half-year, impacting profitability.

Emirates airline announced a 66% decrease in its net profit for the first half of its fiscal year, which concluded on September 30, 2026. The airline's net profit for this period was 3.3 billion dirhams ($903 million). Revenue also saw a decline, falling by 13% annually to 56.9 billion dirhams ($15.5 billion).

The drop in profit and revenue was attributed to disruptions in regional airspace caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran, which affected travel and led to soaring jet fuel prices. Fuel costs, before accounting for hedging gains, increased by 60% compared to the prior half-year. The airline carried 21.8 million passengers between April 1 and September 30, a 22% reduction from the previous year, and the average passenger seat factor decreased to 72% from 79.5%.

## Disagreement on profit figures

While Emirates airline reported a net profit of 3.3 billion dirhams ($903 million) for the first half of the fiscal year, other reports presented different figures for profit before tax or for the wider Emirates Group. The National and Reuters reported the airline's net profit as $903 million. However, Gulf News, Emirates24|7, economymiddleeast.com, and saudishopper.com reported a profit before tax of 4.1 billion dirhams ($1.1 billion) for the Emirates Group. Emirates24|7 and economymiddleeast.com also stated the Group's profit after tax was 3.6 billion dirhams ($1.0 billion), down 66% from last year.

## What the coverage left out

None of the centre-rated reports mentioned the specific figure for Emirates SkyCargo's transported tonnage, which was down by 1% compared to the same period last year. The right-rated reports did not mention the specific figure for Emirates SkyCargo's transported tonnage or the 1% decrease in that tonnage.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 0% (0)
- Centre: 37% (3)
- Right: 63% (5)

7 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-05T09:30:14.244731+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-05T10:00:11.007Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

No separate framing summary.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports from The National and Reuters led with the 66% drop in Emirates airline's net profit. The National highlighted the profit figure of $903 million and attributed the decline to regional disruption and high fuel costs. Reuters also reported the 66% profit drop, linking it to regional airspace disruptions and soaring jet fuel prices. Bloomberg's digest also focused on the profit drop, citing regional warfare and high oil prices as causes.

### Right

- Right-rated reports from The Star and Emirates24|7 led with the 66% drop in Emirates airline's net profit, with The Star's headline also citing the Iran war as a cause. The Star's full report detailed the impact of regional airspace disruptions and soaring jet fuel prices. Gulf News' digest focused on the Emirates Group's profit of Dh4.1 billion amid regional aviation challenges and rising fuel costs. Emirates24|7's digest also highlighted the Emirates Group's profit before tax of AED4.1 billion ($1.1 billion) despite regional conflict and higher fuel costs.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- mixed: 3
- high: 3
- unknown: 7
- veryHigh: 1

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/economie/emirates-ziet-halfjaarwinst-fors-dalen-door-impact-oorlog) — Emirates Profit Falls 66 Percent Due to War
- [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/emirates-ziet-halfjaarwinst-fors-dalen-door-impact-oorlog) — Emirates Sees Half-Year Profit Drop Sharply Due to Impact of War
- [Dagens industri](https://di.se/live/irankriget-slaktar-flygbjassens-vinst) — The Iran War Is Killing the Airline's Profits
- [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/11/05/2719779.html) — The Wall Street Journal:. Emirates airline reports a sharp decline in first-half profits due to the war against Iran, with profits falling by 66% compared to last year
- [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/emirates-group-posts-980-million-h1-net-profit-despite-regional-challenges-2026-11-05) — Emirates airline net profit drops 66% in first half dragged down by Iran war
- [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-05/emirates-profit-drops-66-as-iran-war-high-oil-prices-hit-dubai-airline) — Emirates Reports 66% Profit Slump on War, High Fuel Costs
- [Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/emirates-group-reports-dh662b-revenue-dh41b-profit-in-first-half-of-2026-27-1.500736676) — Emirates Group Posts Dh4.1 Billion Profit Amid Regional Aviation Challenges
- [borskollen.se](https://borskollen.se/nyheter/27/irankriget-pressar-emirates-vinsten-rasar-och-farre-flyger) — The Iran War Is Putting Pressure on Emirates – Profits Are Plummeting and Fewer People Are Flying
- [The Star Kuala Lumpur](https://thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2026/11/05/emirates-airline-net-profit-drops-66-in-first-halfdragged-down-by-iran-war) — Emirates airline net profit drops 66% in first half dragged down by Iran war
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/dab49185d475ff53) — Emirates Profit Drops 66% as Iran War, High Oil Prices Hit Dubai Airline
- [Unknown](https://snabusiness.com/article/1902800-18-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-6-%D8%A3%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1) — $18 Billion in Income From the Emirates Group in Six Months.
- [Emirates24|7](https://emirates247.com/business/emirates-group-posts-aed41-billion-half-year-profit-despite-regional-conflict-and-higher-fuel-costs/7470) — Emirates Group posts AED4.1 billion half-year profit despite regional conflict and higher fuel costs
- [economymiddleeast.com](https://economymiddleeast.com/news/emirates-group-delivers-1-1-billion-profit-before-tax-18-billion-revenue-6m-2026-27) — Emirates Group delivers $1.1 billion profit before tax, $18 billion revenue in 6M 2026-27
- [Unknown](https://saudishopper.com.sa/ar/emirates-group-half-year-profits-2026) — The United Arab Emirates Group's Profits Record 4.1 Billion Dinars.
- [The National](https://thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2026/11/05/emirates-airline-posts-903m-in-half-year-profit-amid-regional-disruptions) — Emirates airline posts $903m in half-year profit despite regional disruption

## Questions

**What was Emirates airline's net profit in the first half of the fiscal year?**

Emirates airline reported a net profit of 3.3 billion dirhams ($903 million) for the six months ending September 30, 2026. This represented a 66% drop compared to the same period in the previous year.

**What caused the drop in Emirates airline's profit?**

The decline in profit was primarily due to disruptions in regional airspace caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran, which affected travel and led to a significant increase in jet fuel prices. Fuel costs rose by 60% before hedging gains.

**How did passenger numbers and revenue change?**

Emirates airline carried 21.8 million passengers, a 22% decrease year-on-year. Revenue declined by 13% annually to 56.9 billion dirhams ($15.5 billion) for the six-month period.

---

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