2009 a year of consolidation for Emirates
Emirates Airline is to slow expansion during 2009 – a year seen as one of consolidation.
The Dubai-based carrier plans to increase the number of flights across its network by 14%, against annual growth of 20% in the last five years.
The carrier is to 18 new aircraft to its fleet, increasing seating capacity by 14% to start new routes as well as increase frequencies on many existing services. Cargo capacity will be expanded by 17%.
The fleet of 129 wide-bodied aircraft will rise to 132 by the end of March, increasing over the next 12 months with the addition of a further seven Airbus A380 superjumbos as well as 10 Boeing 777-300ERs, one 777-200LR and one Boeing 777 freighter.
Chairman and chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said: “The next year is not going to be an easy ride for the airline industry.
“Emirates has prepared the best we can for the challenges we foresee, but we also see it as a time of opportunity. 2009, with our significant capacity increase, will be a year of consolidation for us, with fewer new routes launched than in previous years.
“Instead, we will concentrate on strengthening our presence on routes where there is a greater demand from our customers.
“All of our new capacity will be deployed in markets where we see growth potential, particularly Africa and the Middle East.”
As part of this, a new Dubai-Durban route will be introduced on October 1.
Both Los Angeles and San Francisco routes will go from three times a week to daily from May, providing more than 2,000 extra seats a week between the US west coast and Dubai.
There is increased capacity to Australia with additional daily flights to Brisbane and Melbourne, taking the total number of flights a week to 63.
Later this year, a third daily service to Sydney will be added.
Emirates became the first carrier to operate commercial A380 flights into New Zealand with the launch of a Dubai-Sydney-Auckland service earlier this month. Operated by a 489-seat A380 three times a week, frequency will rise will to daily flights from May 1.
The airline also plans to deploy superjumbos on Dubai–Seoul and Dubai–Singapore services in November and December respectively.
In Europe, second daily services into Moscow and Athens are planned for next month.
“Emirates has recorded an annual growth rate of 20 per cent over the last five years,” said Sheikh Ahmed.
“In the last two years alone, we have launched 11 new passenger and three cargo-only routes. In 2007, with the launch of its Dubai–Sao Paulo service, we became the first – and only – carrier to fly to six continentsnon-stop from a single hub.”
Last year 22 million Emirates passengers passed through Dubai International Airport – an 11% increase on 2007.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season