Madrid Gains Daily Flights on Emirates’ Upgraded Long-Haul Jet
Starting 16 September 2025, Emirates will begin operating a refurbished Boeing 777 on the route between Madrid and Dubai. This update brings redesigned cabin interiors and introduces the airline’s Premium Economy class to Spain for the first time. Madrid becomes the first Spanish destination to be included in the airline’s cabin upgrade programme, which aims to improve passenger experience on long-haul international flights.
Each day, flights link Madrid and Dubai on a predictable loop, keeping the route active and allowing passengers to count on stable travel times. Here’s how the daily timetable looks:
- EK143 leaves Dubai in the afternoon and touches down in Madrid just before nightfall, at 20:20 local time.
- EK144 takes off from Madrid late in the evening and reaches Dubai early the next morning, just after 07:00.
With departures timed for late evening in Spain and mid-afternoon in the UAE, the schedule supports both overnight travel and smooth same-day transfers.
Travellers flying east from Madrid can reach cities such as Colombo and Kuala Lumpur with a single connection in Dubai. Colombo anchors domestic travel across Sri Lanka, while Kuala Lumpur offers a starting point for cross-border journeys throughout Southeast Asia. These routes are especially useful for multi-stop travelers, offering smooth continent-to-continent connections through Dubai without long layovers or overnight stays.
Madrid welcomes westbound passengers right into its historic core, making it easy to start exploring. A walk through the Plaza Mayor or a stroll in the Retiro Park offers a glimpse of local life and open-air charm. After spending time in the city, travellers can continue their journey by high-speed train to destinations like Córdoba, known for its historic mosque-cathedral, or Valencia, with its coastal promenades and bold cityscapes.
The cabin changes are part of a broader fleet-wide retrofit that updates older aircraft with new seating arrangements and interior design. For travellers using Madrid as a transit or departure point, this means a more consistent onboard environment when flying long-haul. The introduction of the updated aircraft reflects a gradual shift toward standardising travel options across key international routes.