Dubai based Emirates has confirmed that it intends to grow its fleet by two passenger planes every month over the next 12 years as its struggles to keep up with the demand for seats. Sir Maurice Flanagan, the carrier’s executive vice-chairman said the coming years would see the airline grow substantially.
At recent major air shows, Emirates has made the announcement that it has placed orders with Airbus for 32 of its A380 super jumbos and with Boeing for 30 of its 777-300ERs. The orders have a combined list price of more than $20 billion. Emirates also has orders worth a combined $48 billion for 18 more Boeing 777s, 70 A350s and 48 A380s as well as 7 Boeing air freighters.
For the fiscal year ending 30 March, Emirates announced a profit increase of 416 per cent on a year earlier of $964 million. In October the airline will turn 25 and this year is the 22nd in which it has been able to announce a profit.
Flanagan told reporters at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai that even with the increased capacity two new aircraft per month will introduce; the carrier would struggle to meet passenger demand. He explained that territories such as the US and Australia still offered tremendous opportunities for growth. Flanagan added that cities such as St Petersburg, Chicago and Kiev would be better served by the airline, if only it had more aircraft.
Flanagan went on to say the only thing theoretically in the way of continual growth was the capacity of the airline’s hub, Dubai International.
