Flying high: Emirates business grows 22% in country

[Karachiite]

DUBAI: Honeymoons in Mauritius and shopping trips in Dubai are becoming more common as Pakistani passengers flying to other countries through Emirates grew by 22% last year, said a top official of the airline in an interview to a group of Pakistani journalists.
The country’s middle class grew considerably in the last two years along with its disposable income, said Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia and Indian Ocean Sheikh Majid Al Mualla.
With this growing market at its reach, Emirates Airline – one of the largest operators in Pakistan – is looking to expand its operations, said Mualla.
The airline that witnessed a double-digit growth in recent years in Pakistan plans to double its operations from Peshawar, added Mualla. The city is an attractive destination as it includes people from Pakistan and across the border from Afghanistan, where the carrier does not operate. The company recently increased flights from Lahore and Islamabad to seven times a week and three weekly flights from Peshawar.
The company currently operates 45 flights to Pakistan with an average of 82% seats booked in each flight, much more than the industry’s average of around 60% to 62%, said Mualla. The world’s third largest airline fleet-wise has requested the Civil Aviation Authority for more flights from the country, said Mualla, adding that it has the capability to run even 100 flights.
Flights to Saudi Arabia grew the most by 93% followed by Qatar and the US with 53% and 35%, respectively, on a yearly basis.
The fast-growing airline last week placed the single largest commercial plane order in Boeing’s history of 50 Boeing 777s worth $18 billion, which took their aircraft shopping list tally to 239 worth more than $84 billion.
Finance for these orders will not be an issue, said Mualla, adding that Islamic bonds and foreign investors are few of the options the airline is looking into.
The airline is expected to become the world’s largest in the next five years if it grows at its current pace. The company is facing resistance from some countries in expanding routes, however, Mualla is positive that negotiations will end by increasing its wings.
The Dubai-based carrier’s net profit plummeted 76% to Dh827 million for the six months to September 30 from Dh3.39 billion in the same period last year. Mualla cited oil prices as the major factor for the drop in profits.
“A one dollar increase in oil prices causes a $1 billion impact on the entire aviation industry,” said Mualla in an earlier interview with The Express Tribune.
Competition from other airlines of the UAE did not seem to be a problem for Emirates as Mualla said they are always one step ahead.
“Competition is good for customers of the industry as the service standard improves and prices fall,” he said.

Flying high: Emirates business grows 22% in country – The Express Tribune

 

[Donatello]

Very good airline, very good business model, perhaps their most profitable route is KHI-DXB....i mean i hardly see empty seats/rows on their flights. I've always flown with them abroad, and great service, great fleet and fair prices!


I think their KHI-DXB route operates 6 flights a day....so you always have a good transit package to head home!

 

[khail007]

DUBAI: Honeymoons in Mauritius and shopping trips in Dubai are becoming more common as Pakistani passengers flying to other countries through Emirates grew by 22% last year, said a top official of the airline in an interview to a group of Pakistani journalists.
The country’s middle class grew considerably in the last two years along with its disposable income, said Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia and Indian Ocean Sheikh Majid Al Mualla.
With this growing market at its reach, Emirates Airline – one of the largest operators in Pakistan – is looking to expand its operations, said Mualla.
The airline that witnessed a double-digit growth in recent years in Pakistan plans to double its operations from Peshawar, added Mualla. The city is an attractive destination as it includes people from Pakistan and across the border from Afghanistan, where the carrier does not operate. The company recently increased flights from Lahore and Islamabad to seven times a week and three weekly flights from Peshawar.
The company currently operates 45 flights to Pakistan with an average of 82% seats booked in each flight, much more than the industry’s average of around 60% to 62%, said Mualla. The world’s third largest airline fleet-wise has requested the Civil Aviation Authority for more flights from the country, said Mualla, adding that it has the capability to run even 100 flights.
Flights to Saudi Arabia grew the most by 93% followed by Qatar and the US with 53% and 35%, respectively, on a yearly basis.
The fast-growing airline last week placed the single largest commercial plane order in Boeing’s history of 50 Boeing 777s worth $18 billion, which took their aircraft shopping list tally to 239 worth more than $84 billion.
Finance for these orders will not be an issue, said Mualla, adding that Islamic bonds and foreign investors are few of the options the airline is looking into.
The airline is expected to become the world’s largest in the next five years if it grows at its current pace. The company is facing resistance from some countries in expanding routes, however, Mualla is positive that negotiations will end by increasing its wings.
The Dubai-based carrier’s net profit plummeted 76% to Dh827 million for the six months to September 30 from Dh3.39 billion in the same period last year. Mualla cited oil prices as the major factor for the drop in profits.
“A one dollar increase in oil prices causes a $1 billion impact on the entire aviation industry,” said Mualla in an earlier interview with The Express Tribune.
Competition from other airlines of the UAE did not seem to be a problem for Emirates as Mualla said they are always one step ahead.
“Competition is good for customers of the industry as the service standard improves and prices fall,” he said.

Flying high: Emirates business grows 22% in country – The Express Tribune

Dear, it is a fruit of good planning, dedication for goal achievement, hard-work and sincerity. All this earned Emirates the position where it stands today.

I didn't believe on my ears, when I heard the fact that in 1986 PIA offered two aircraft from its fleet on a wet lease basis and engineering staff to start a new airline in Dubai. Today that airline is known as EMIRATES, a respectable name in the world with youngest fleet in the world of almost 162 aircraft. Emirates is the largest operator of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.

On the other hand, we destroyed all our institutions. Railway is taking its last breath, PIA on the verge of collapse, Karachi Steel on its knees, but still we are proud of ourselves and behaves wise.

 

[SHAMK9]

awesome, they might be the first ones to bring a380 to Pakistan, Karachi airport is going through expansions for a380 and new Islamabad airport will handle them a380s easily

 

[Al Bhatti]

Dear, it is a fruit of good planning, dedication for goal achievement, hard-work and sincerity. All this earned Emirates the position where it stands today.

I didn't believe on my ears, when I heard the fact that in 1986 PIA offered two aircraft from its fleet on a wet lease basis and engineering staff to start a new airline in Dubai. Today that airline is known as EMIRATES, a respectable name in the world with youngest fleet in the world of almost 162 aircraft. Emirates is the largest operator of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.

On the other hand, we destroyed all our institutions. Railway is taking its last breath, PIA on the verge of collapse, Karachi Steel on its knees, but still we are proud of ourselves and behaves wise.

All this stared with just USD 10 million and two aircrafts acquired on wet lease basis from PIA.

 

[VelocuR]

All this stared with just USD 10 million and two aircrafts acquired on wet lease basis from PIA.

UAE get benefits from Pakistan, what Pakistan get benefits from UAE? Show me statistics.