Emirates could add Lima service via Milan

International

The airline is reportedly seeking fifth-freedom rights for a Dubai–Milan–Lima route, potentially adding a new direct connection between Italy and Peru

Emirates could expand its South American network with a new service to Lima via Milan. According to reports citing the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the airline has requested approval from the Italian government to extend one of its existing Dubai–Milan flights to the Peruvian capital using fifth-freedom traffic rights.

The proposed arrangement would allow Emirates to sell tickets between Milan and Lima independently of the Dubai sector. Italian approval is reportedly close, although a final authorisation is still pending. If granted, operations could potentially begin during the IATA winter season starting in late October.

A350 or Boeing 777 considered for the route

Emirates currently operates three daily flights between Dubai and Milan Malpensa, using one Airbus A350 and two Airbus A380 services. One of the A380 flights continues from Milan to New York JFK under fifth-freedom rights, allowing the airline to carry passengers between Italy and the United States.

No aircraft has yet been confirmed for the proposed Lima service. An Airbus A350-900 or Boeing 777-300ER is considered a likely option.

If the route goes ahead, Lima would become Emirates’ fifth destination in South America, joining Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Fifth-freedom operations already play a role in the airline's South American network. Emirates serves Bogotá via Miami and Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro, with tickets available for the intermediate sectors.

Milan seeks stronger links with South America

The proposed service would also provide Milan with an additional nonstop connection to South America. At present, the city's direct scheduled links with the continent are limited, with LATAM operating a daily service between Milan and São Paulo.

For Lima, the new route would add Italy to an already substantial European network. The Peruvian capital is currently connected with Paris by Air France, Amsterdam by KLM, Barcelona by LEVEL and Madrid by Iberia, LATAM, Plus Ultra and Air Europa.

According to the figures cited in the report, these services provide around 140,000 seats per month in both directions between Lima and Europe.

New competition on the Europe–Latin America market

A Milan–Lima service would also introduce a new competitive element into the European market for Latin American travel. Corriere della Sera notes that an expansion by Emirates from Milan could overlap with ITA Airways’ ambitions in the region.

For Emirates, meanwhile, the proposed route would extend a strategy already used successfully elsewhere in its network: combining services from Dubai with fifth-freedom sectors that allow the airline to develop additional traffic flows between markets beyond its home hub.

The project remains subject to regulatory approval, and neither a launch date nor the aircraft type has yet been formally confirmed.