Emirates Airlines: Premier Carrier Of The Middle East
The world’s eighth largest airline, Emirates Airlines is based in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since the company was founded in 1985, it has grown to serve 92 destinations in 55 countries around the world. Although it does not offer domestic service, Emirates is nonetheless the leading air carrier of the Middle East and enjoys large market share in Southeast Asia. Emirates Airlines is one of only six carriers in the world to operate a fleet consisting entirely of wide-body aircraft built by Boeing and Airbus.
Emirates also stands out among carriers in that it has been reliably profitable, posting only one loss in the last 24 years. Its sales growth has stayed above 20 per cent a year, doubling every three and one-half years between 1985 and 1996, and doubling every four years since. It maintains a lean, efficient work force that gives it the competitive advantages of a low-cost carrier, and it also benefits by its association with the Arab Air Carriers Association. Founded in 1965 by the Arab League, the Arab Air Carriers Association is open to any airline based in a member state, and seeks to promote cooperation, quality travel service, and safety among all its member airlines.
Emirates Airlines is owned and operated by the Dubai government, but the government does not invest money into the airline, nor does the government meddle in airline affairs, allowing the airline to function as an independent company. This arrangement seems to work well for both the airline and the government, as the airline is consistently profitable and continues to grow.
Emirates Airlines also runs a cargo carrier, Emirates SkyCargo. Also based at Dubai International Airport, Emirates SkyCargo functions like a passenger airline. It operates nine aircraft, and also uses the cargo capacity of the passenger fleet.
Emirates was the second carrier to place the Airbus A380 into service, accepting delivery in July 2008. Emirates Airlines flies the A380 between Dubai and JFK (New York) and Heathrow (London), and also on its flights to Australia and New Zealand.
Although Emirates’ only hub is at Dubai International Airport, it flies to over 100 destinations in 56 countries. The company has agreements with the aviation authorities in Australia and Singapore that allow it to fly from their countries to even farther-flung destinations around the world.
Frequent fliers enjoy the benefits of Skywards, allowing them to earn or spend frequent flier miles on Emirates or any of its Skywards partners, including Korean Air, Japan Airlines, United, South African Airways, Jet Airways, Continental, Kingfisher Airlines, and Virgin Blue.
Emirates also has a stake in Dnata, one of the premier travel service organizations in the Middle East. Dnata has over 6,500 employees who take care of cargo, ramp, technical, and passenger services at Dubai International Airport.
Emirates Airlines, Emirates SkyCargo, and Dnata all belong to the Emirates Group, an international holding company with headquarters in Dubai. The airline alone employs about 35,000 workers.
