Emirates is on track to outdo last year's record billion-dirham profit performance, chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said at the show yesterday. Sheikh Ahmed remains unconcerned about the growing number of competitor airlines – low fare and upmarket – appearing in the region, and is already looking to route development beyond next year's USA launch – to South America.
Stories from within the airline that this year's performance is ahead of last year's stunning return were confirmed by Sheikh Ahmed. Staff received two months' salary bonus last year and are joking that this coming year it could be three months.
"If they achieve that, they will have deserved it," he said. "I have to say that things are going well. It is going much better than we expected."
Emirates now faces competition from low fare airlines and upmarket operations such as Etihad, operating from Abu Dhabi and designated the national airline of the UAE.
Location
Is he worried?
"No. I tell everyone that this is making my job easier. I have been promoting the UAE for many years. Now others will have to do the same if they are entering the business. What benefits Sharjah or Abu Dhabi will benefit Dubai," he said.
Will Emirates cut fares?
"No. We have invested in aircraft interiors and upgraded IFE as well as new seats. Our passengers expect and get excellent value."
Next year, Emirates rounds out its route network with the launch of, first Dubai-New York services and then operations to the west coast of America.
"The next step from North America will be South America and that is something we are looking at," he said. "I don't want to say it will be in one or two years, but we are studying this."
Sheikh Ahmed has already stated that his long-term vision is to make Dubai "the airline hub of the world". He said yesterday: "Like a shop it is about location, location, location. With modern aircraft, you can fly around the world with just two stops. I would like to see those people passing through Dubai."
Source: Flight Daily News
