The Frequent Flier: Emirates Airline in 1:400 Scale

JJ Skippy

Well-known member
Emirates. If you’ve participated in the hobby long enough, it’s guaranteed you’ve come across a model with their colors. Their releases seem to be very often, like a frequent flier. That got me wondering just how many Emirates models have been released in 1:400 scale, and the numbers are very impressive. Let’s dive into the details.


Emirates’ History
Emirates began flying in 1985, establishing operations in Dubai. They started with a fleet of Boeing 727s and 737s, a far cry from the types they use today. Over the next couple decades, the airline rapidly expanded, especially during the Gulf War when airlines didn’t want to fly to the Middle East.

Throughout the 90s, the A300, A310, A330, and Boeing 777 joined the fleet. Emirates placed large orders for the stretched 777-300, A330, and the A380 into the 2000s. The latter type has become their flagship jet with over 100 active Superjumbos flying today. Emirates began to streamline their fleet in the 2010s, retiring the A330, A340, and the 777-300 non-ER variants. The airline currently operates with a fleet of A350s, A380s, and 777s with the 787s set to join the fleet in the near future. The 777Xs will also join them at some point down the line, though with deliveries delayed until 2027, who knows when exactly they will start flying passengers.
Screenshot_2024-11-09_160630.jpeg
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER landing at the Orlando International Airport (MCO). EK is the largest operator of the type with 119 examples, nearly half of the airline’s entire fleet.

Today, Emirates flies to nearly 150 cities across the six permanently inhabited continents of the world. Currently the largest airline in the Middle East, they have over 250 jets in their fleet with plenty more on order. Their current hub is at the Dubai International Airport, but this airport will be closed once the Dubai World Central Airport becomes fully operational. Some airlines have already shifted flights to DWC, though a majority of flights are still flying to DXB.

Emirates has established a large presence in sponsorships, having sponsored the likes of sports in association football, basketball, cricket, and rugby events and teams; the Expo 2020 event; and wildlife conservation to name a few. Many of these sponsorships resulted in special liveries being painted on their aircraft, primarily the A380s.


The Models
As of October 2025, 140 Emirates models have been released, the majority of which by Gemini Jets as part of their licensing agreement with the airline. Due to the large quantity of releases, I have divided this list into two sections: the standard liveries and the specials.


Regular livery
Our journey begins in 1999 with a Boeing 777-200 released by Dragon Wings (A6-EMF). Gemini Jets threw their hat into the ring in 2000 with a Boeing 777-300 release (A6-EMM). From there, Dragon released a variety of 777s and Airbuses, and the first SkyCargo model was produced in 2001, a 747-400 (N408MC). A380s also got released during this time as the concept phase of the Superjumbo project was underway. Dragon was the first to release one, also in 2001.

A bit of a drought started in the early to mid-2000s, as no Emirates models were made in 2002 nor 2004. Dragon Wings dominated the releases for Emirates for the time being, but by 2007, Phoenix and Netmodels had joined the lineup with a 777-300 and A380 (F-WWDD), respectively. Gemini Jets came back to the Emirates scene that year with a 777-300ER (A6-EBT), and Aviation400 was not far behind with the first Emirates narrowbody plane in 1:400 scale, the Boeing 727-200 (A6-EMB). The first real-registration A380s came from Dragon (A6-EDC) in 2008 and Gemini (A6-EDA) in 2009.

Aeroclassics made their first Emirates release, a polished A300. This choice was quite interesting, but they also produced a standard livery with the same reg (A6-EKM). Entering the 2010s, releases became more streamlined towards the A380 and 777, but Gemini Jets and Phoenix would sneak in a couple A330s and A340s as their retirement drew closer. Aeroclassics returned in 2012 with another A300 (A6-EKF). Witty Wings made a SkyCargo model in 2013 followed by an A380 with the Dubai Expo 2020 sticker; this became prevalent across their entire fleet leading up to the event.

Since 2014, Gemini Jets has become the primary maker of Emirates models due to the aforementioned licensing agreement; on average a new model is released every couple of months, but it can vary depending on new special liveries that the airline wants made. As for the other brands, Aeroclassics wanted another slice of the pie in 2017 and 2018, each time releasing an A310 (A6-EKA, A6-EKK). 2022 marked their return with a Boeing 727 (A6-EMA), the first Emirates narrowbody release in over a decade.
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A Gemini Jets release of an Emirates A380 (A6-EUC, July 2018). GJ has produced 41 A380s for Emirates, making up more than half of all GJ EK releases.

AV400 and NG Models have also produced Emirates models in the last couple years; these planes became quite rare immediately after release. The former produced a 777 in the new livery (A6-ENV) in 2023, while NG released an A350 (A6-EXA) in 2024. They came back in 2025 with the second A350 (A6-EXB). AV400 would release an A350 in early 2025 of the first tail number. Panda Models joined the scene in 2024 with a very tiny Boeing 737-300 release (AP-BCD) in collaboration with C Model. As of late, AV400 has also released two A380s (A6-EVS in old colors, A6-EOE in new colors), the second A350, and an A340-300 (A6-ERS).

Now let’s look at Gemini Jets’ regular livery releases. Below is the full list; including specials which will be detailed next, they have made 81 models, just over half the total production. Plus, there might be more that weren’t given public releases, though I cannot confirm this. Sorted by aircraft type:
  • 2231 A300-600 A6-EKC
  • 2234 A310-300 A6-EKB
  • 1283 A330-200 A6-EAJ
  • 1284 A340-300 A6-ERT
  • 1039 A340-500 A6-ERJ
  • 1243 A340-500 A6-ERE
  • 1373 A340-500 A6-ERH
  • 2241 A350-900 A6-EXA
  • 2330 A350-900 A6-EXB
  • 650/A A380-800 A6-EDA
  • 995 A380-800 A6-EDB
  • 1027* A380-800 A6-EDD
  • 1055 A380-800 A6-EDE
  • 1292 A380-800 A6-EDX
  • 1483 A380-800 A6-EEG
  • 1608 A380-800 A6-EUE
  • 1771 A380-800 A6-EUC
  • 1941 A380-800 A6-EUD
  • 2054 A380-800 A6-EUV
  • 2175 A380-800 A6-EVC
  • 2218 A380-800 A6-EOG
  • 1285 B777-200 A6-EMI
  • 1090 B777-200LR A6-EWD
  • 1352 B777-200LR A6-EWE
  • 1465 B777-200LR A6-EWF
  • 1907 B777-200LR A6-EWI
  • 087 B777-300 A6-EMM
  • 705 B777-300ER A6-EBT
  • 895 B777-300ER A6-ECG
  • 999 B777-300ER A6-ECH
  • 1018/B* B777-300ER A6-ECI
  • 1189 B777-300ER A6-EGO
  • 1320 B777-300ER A6-ECJ
  • 1351 B777-300ER A6-ECK
  • 1439 B777-300ER A6-ECL
  • 1609 B777-300ER A6-EPP
  • 1745 B777-300ER A6-ENJ
  • 1770 B777-300ER A6-ENV
  • 2068/F B777-300ER A6-END
  • 2219/F B777-300ER A6-ENV
  • 1875 B777-9 N/A
  • 2160/W B777-9 A6-EXA
  • 1761 B787-10 N/A
*exclusive release
 
Special liveries
As mentioned above, Emirates has had a number of sponsorships, resulting in a wide array of special liveries. Of course, a lot of these have been produced, starting with the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 plane on an A340-500 (A6-ERA). This was released by Dragon Wings in 2005. Also done was a Dubai 2005 Shopping Festival livery on the same tail number. They produced one for the 2006 event which was on an A330-200 (A6-EAO).

The specials returned in the 2010s with two A380s: one from Phoenix promoting the 2011 Rugby World Cup (A6-EDN) and another from Dragon Wings for the 50th anniversary of the Rome airport (A6-EDJ). Phoenix did another A380 celebrating 40 years of the UAE. As the 2014 World Cup came around, there were a couple more specials: one Phoenix A380 (A6-EEQ) and a JC Wings 777-300ER (A6-EGU) and A380 (A6-EEQ). One more special to mention is a fantasy Star Alliance 777 (A6-EGO) released by GeminiStar using the JetHut mould in 2025.

From 2014 onward, Gemini took care of the specials, producing all of these since:
  • 1469 A380-800 A6-EDZ (2015 Cricket World Cup)
  • 1485 A380-800 A6-EEQ (2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil)
  • 1528 A380-800 A6-EEN (2015 Rugby World Cup England)
  • 1550 A380-800 A6-EEI (Wildlife One)
  • 1551 A380-800 A6-EDG (Wildlife Two)
  • 1557 A380-800 A6-EOA (Real Madrid)
  • 1559 A380-800 A6-EOT (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • 1594/1663 A380-800 A6-EEQ (Wildlife Three)
  • 1595 A380-800 A6-EER (Emirates FA Cup)
  • 1668 A380-800 A6-EER (Wildlife Two)
  • 1747 A380-800 A6-EUZ (Year of Zayed 2018)
  • 1762 A380-800 A6-EUG (Real Madrid)
  • 1788 A380-800 A6-EEW (Expo 2020 Green - Sustainability)
  • 1815 A380-800 A6-EOU (Expo 2020 Orange - Opportunity)
  • 1833 A380-800 A6-EOC (Expo 2020 Blue - Mobility)
  • 1924 A380-800 A6-EEH (UAE In Space “The sky is only the beginning”)
  • 1959 A380-800 A6-EVB (Year of Tolerance)
  • 2051 A380-800 A6-EVG (50th Anniversary)
  • 2063 A380-800 A6-EEU (Dubai Expo)
  • 2134 A380-800 A6-EEW (Dubai Expo)
  • 2242 A380-800 A6-EOE (2023 Rugby World Cup France)*
  • 2271 A380–800 A6-EOD (Official Airline Partner of the NBA)**
  • 2283 A380-800 A6-EOE (Wimbledon 2024)
  • 2345 A380-800 A6-EES (Destination Dubai)
  • 1484 B777-300ER A6-EGE (2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil)
  • 1816 B777-300ER A6-EPO (Expo 2020 Orange - Opportunity)
  • 1817 B777-300ER A6-EPU (Expo 2020 Green - Sustainability)
  • 1834 B777-300ER A6-EPK (Expo 2020 Blue - Mobility)
  • 2050 B777-300ER A6-EGE (50th Anniversary)
*also produced by AV400
**also produced by Phoenix under the Falcon series & YY Wings



And that’s the complete Emirates collection in 1:400 scale. I know there are collectors who groan at the sight of these releases, especially from Gemini Jets, but it is fun to look at just how much has been made. Definitely an easy airline to collect, especially if you’re looking to get a special that you either spotted or possibly flown on. What Emirates models do you have? Do you have the other manufacturers instead?
 
From Gemini I have A6-EUU (A380) , A6-EWD (777-200LR), A6-EXA (A350-900), A6-EZA (777-9), A6-ENJ (777-300ER), A6-ENV (777-300ER), A6-EOG (A380) and A6-EUV (A380), from NG I have A6-EXA (A350-900) and from Av400 I have A6-EVS and A6-EOE (both A380s). I also have A6-EOX by Herpa in 1:500 with a Dubai Expo 2020 sticker.
 
I do not have a single Emirates model in my fleet. Does not interest me either. Funny I don't know why. Gulf Air is the only United Arab carrier I like and I have a TriStar in beautiful old livery. If I had to get an Emirates I would get a 777-200 LR. If someone gave me an A380 I would take it.
 
I do not have a single Emirates model in my fleet. Does not interest me either. Funny I don't know why. Gulf Air is the only United Arab carrier I like and I have a TriStar in beautiful old livery. If I had to get an Emirates I would get a 777-200 LR. If someone gave me an A380 I would take it.

I also don’t have a single Emirates in my collection, and they don’t interest me either 😆. Also Gulf Air is the only carrier from the Middle East that I have in my collection (A340-300 o/c).

Emirates flies to my home airport, and I have flown on their A380s, which is an experience, but to me the airline’s history is disproportionately shallow for their size. Same goes for Qatar and Etihad.

Simply put, I don’t think there are that many native Emiratis who feel proud of their flag carrier in the same way the Saudis feel about Saudia, or the Dutch about KLM. Emirates just doesn’t have the charm that traditional flag carriers have.

Very nice writeup JJ.
 
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