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| Founded | 1985 | |||
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| Commenced operations | 25 October 1985 | |||
| Hubs | Dubai International Airport [A] | |||
| Frequent-flyer program | Skywards | |||
| Airport lounge | Emirates Lounge | |||
| Subsidiaries | ||||
| Fleet size | 160 (+227 orders) excl. cargo [B] | |||
| Destinations | 106 excl. cargo; 115 with cargo | |||
| Company slogan | Fly Emirates. Keep Discovering Fly Emirates. To over Six Continents |
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| Parent company | The Emirates Group | |||
| Headquarters | Emirates Group Headquarters, Airport Road, Garhoud, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Key people |
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| Website | www.emirates.com | |||
Emirates (Arabic: طيران الإمارات DMG: Ṭayarān al-Imārāt) is the flag carrier of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Based at Dubai International Airport it is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 2,400 flights per week,[1][2] from its hub at Terminal 3, to 115 cities in 67 countries across six continents.[3] The company also operates three of the world's ten longest non-stop commercial flights from Dubai to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.[4][5][6] Emirates is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which has over 50,000 employees, and is wholly owned by the government of Dubai directly under the Investment Corporation of Dubai.[7] Cargo activities are undertaken by the Emirates Group's Emirates SkyCargo division.[8]
During the mid-1980s, Gulf Air began to cut back its services to Dubai. As a result Emirates was conceived in March 1985 with backing from Dubai's royal family, whose Dubai Royal Air Wing provided two of the airline's first aircraft. It was required to operate independent of government subsidies, apart from $10 million in start-up capital. The airline became headed by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the airline's present chairman. In the years following its founding, the airline expanded both its fleet and its destinations.[9] In October 2008, Emirates moved all operations at Dubai International Airport to Terminal 3, a new terminal exclusively dedicated to Emirates to sustain its rapid expansion and growth plans.[10]
Emirates operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft and is one of only nine airlines to operate an all-wide-body aircraft fleet, whose centrepiece is the Boeing 777. Emirates also has orders for 90 Airbus A380s with 20 of them already in service and became the second operator of the Airbus A380-800 after Singapore Airlines when their first aircraft was delivered on 28 July 2008.[11] Emirates has won numerous awards and is an industry bellwether for aircraft purchases, purchasing over 130 aircraft in 2007 alone.[12]
The airline ranks amongst the top 10 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue and passenger kilometres, and has become the largest airline in the Middle East in terms of revenue, fleet size, and passengers carried as of 2007.[13] In 2010 the airline was the sixth-largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried,[14] and largest in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown.[15] The airline was also the seventh largest in terms of scheduled freight tonne-kilometres flown.[16]
Emirates has built up a strong brand name as a leader in the aviation industry, particularly in terms of service excellence, and its very rapid growth, coupled with consistent profitability.[17][18] In 2010, Emirates was voted the eighth best airline in the world by research consultancy firm Skytrax.[19]
In February 2011, Air Transport World gave Emirates Airlines the title of "Airline of the Year" for 2011. The award has been given based on recognition of its commitment to safety and operational excellence, customer service trendsetters, financial condition including a 22-year consecutive annual profit.[20]
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During the mid-1980s, Gulf Air began to cut back its services to Dubai as it was concerned it was providing regional feeder flights for other carriers.[21] As a result Emirates was conceived in March 1985 with backing from Dubai's royal family, and was required to operate independent of government subsidies, apart from US$10 million in start-up capital. Emirates leased a new Boeing 737–300, as well as an Airbus 300B4-200,[22] both from Pakistan International Airlines which were returned in 1987.[23] The Royal Family's Dubai Royal Air Wing also provided the airline two used Boeing 727-200/Advs.[24] The airline's first flight, flight EK600, was Dubai–Karachi on 25 October 1985.[24][25]
Maurice Flanagan, who previously worked at British Airways, Gulf Air, and BOAC and at the time was overseeing Dnata, was appointed chief executive officer of the new airline.[21] To acknowledge his services for aviation, in 2000, Flanagan was made CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honour List, and later honoured with knighthood. He would be joined at the airline by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (as chairman) and now-Emirates president Tim Clark. Current chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has since inherited the role of CEO, as Sir Maurice Flanagan became the carrier's executive vice-chairman.
Emirates became profitable within its first nine months.[26] During its first year, it carried about 260,000 passengers and 10,000 tons of freight.[26] To highlight the airline's early success, Gulf Air, during Emirates' first year of operations, suffered a 30% drop in profits, and a loss the following year.[26] By 1986, the airline was adding new destinations such as Colombo, Dhaka, Amman and Cairo to its route network.[24] On 3 July, Emirates received its first bought aircraft, an Airbus A310 (registration A6-EKA),[24] and with two examples, launched daily non-stop services to Gatwick on 6 July 1987. The airline in 1987 added Frankfurt via Istanbul, and Malé (Maldive).[26] This was followed by an expansion into the Far East market in 1989, with flights to Bangkok, Manila and Singapore,[24] and Hong Kong in 1991.[26] During the first decade of operations, Emirates recorded strong growths averaging 30%.[21] This was despite the lack of a regional network, as its main competitor Gulf Air dominated traffic in the region.
By the early 1990s, Emirates was among the world's fastest growing airlines; revenue increased approximately US$100 million each year, approaching US$500 million in the year 1993. The airline and its cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, carried 1.6 million passengers and 68,000 tons of cargo and in the same year, respectively.[26] With the advent of the Gulf War, business increased for Emirates as the war kept other airlines out of the area; it was the only airline to continue flying in the last ten days of the war.[26] Following the conflicts, a total of 92 air carriers were flying to markets internationally and Emirates faced intense competition at its home base. It carried about three million passengers a year to Dubai International Airport in the mid-1990s. Emirates continued to expand during the late 1990s. The growing cargo business accounted for 16 percent of the airline's total revenues.
Emirates started offering round-the-world services from autumn 1993, after a partnership was established with US Airways.[26] It previously had co-operation agreements with Cyprus Airways.[26] By 1994, with its 15 aircraft, the airline was connecting 32 destinations. At this time Emirates was the sixth largest airline in the Middle East. To highlight the carrier's rapid growth, in the financial year ending 30 March 1994, Emirates received revenues of US$643.4 million. The airline's workforce was approximately 4,000 people, carrying two million passengers a year to 34 destinations using a fleet of 18 Airbus aircraft. An order for seven new Boeing 777s, worth over US$1 billion, were placed in 1992, which started to arrive in the spring of 1996. One of the planes was used on a new service to Melbourne via Singapore. Emirates placed a large order with Airbus later the same year. In spite of the large capital expenditures, the Dubai government had laid out only US$50 million since the airline's inception.
In May 1998, Emirates paid the Government of Sri Lanka US$70 million for a 43.6% stake in SriLankan Airlines (then known as Air Lanka).[28] As part of the deal, Emirates received a 10-year contract to manage SriLankan.[29] In January 2008, Emirates announced that it would end the management contract, effective April 2008.[29][30] Emirates subsequently sold its stake in the airline to the Government of Sri Lanka, in an estimated US$150 million[28] deal that was finalised in 2010, thus ending any affiliation the two airlines had with each other.[31]
Towards the end of the year 2000, Emirates was planning to start long-haul service to the East Coast and West Coast of the United States, as well as non-stop flights to Australia and Argentina. In 2001 Emirates was voted Airline of the Year.[32] During 2002, Emirates passenger figures increased 18% to over 6.8 million against the previous year.[33]
At the 2003 Paris Air Show, Emirates signed an order for 71 aircraft at a cost of US$19 billion. The order included firm purchase orders for a further 21 Airbus 380-800s and lease orders for two A380-800s. Emirates also announced operating lease orders for 26 Boeing 777-300ERs – 14 from GE Capital Aviation Services and 12 from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).[34] In the same year Emirates began flying directly to Sydney using three new Airbus A340-500s.
In 2004, Emirates began flying non-stop to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport using their new Airbus A340-500. These flights meant the resumption of non-stop air services between the United Arab Emirates and the USA, after Delta Air Lines's flights since 2001, terminated later[35][36] and restarted again in 2007. In the same year, Emirates signed a £100 million deal with English Premier League football team Arsenal, which includes naming rights to its new stadium for 15 years and shirt sponsorship for eight years, starting from the 2006/07 season. In 2005, Emirates ordered 42 Boeing 777s in a deal worth $9.7 billion, the largest Boeing 777 order in history.[37] A year later, Emirates SkyCargo signed a $2.8 billion order for 10 Boeing 747-8Fs.
Emirates has been steadily capturing the traffic from South Asia to North America, allowing passengers to bypass the traditional hubs of London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport; the home bases of British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France, respectively, with a transit stop at Dubai International Airport instead. South Asia has remained an important region for the Emirates network. Pakistan was the first country to receive flights from the airline and it still does to this day.[38] India was the second country to receive flights from Emirates, and continues to expand an extensive network in India. Emirates is the largest airline operating internationally in India and operates over 185 flights a week across 10 cities.[39] Similarly, Emirates competes with British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Middle Eastern rivals Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, and other airlines on the lucrative London to Sydney Kangaroo Route.[40]
In 2007, Emirates made an order worth over $34.9 billion, at the Dubai Air Show. The airline signed contracts for 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s and 12 Boeing 777-330ERs.[41] In the same year, Emirates began flights to São Paulo representing the first non-stop flight between the Middle East and South America[42] and also began operations of its $120 million Flight Catering Centre at Dubai Airport.[43]
Emirates introduced an in-flight mobile phone service in 2008, becoming the first international carrier to do so.[44] Also in the same year, Emirates took delivery of their first A380, and flew its first flight to New York.[45]
In 2009, Emirates became the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 with the delivery of the 78th plane.[46] In 2010, at the Farnborough Airshow, the airline placed an order for 30 Boeing 777s, worth $9.1 billion, bringing total spending for aircraft in the year to over $25 billion.[27] In 2011, at the Dubai Airshow, Emirates placed another order for another 50 777s, worth about $18 billion, which its chairman claims to be the single largest order for Boeing.[47]
Emirates announced an order in April 2000 for the Airbus A3XX (later named Airbus A380), the largest civil aircraft ever built. The deal consisted of five Airbus A380-800s and two Airbus A380-800Fs. The deal was confirmed on 4 November 2001, and Emirates announced orders for 15 more A380-800s at the same time. Two years later Emirates again placed an order, this time for 21 A380-800s. In April 2006, Emirates ordered two more A380-800s, and cancelled their two orders for the freighter variant. In 2007, Emirates ordered 15 A380-800s, bringing the total number ordered to 58.[48] Emirates justified its order saying that purchasing the 481- to 656-passenger Superjumbo was to maximize its use of scarce takeoff and landing slots at crowded airports such as London Heathrow.
In November 2005, the first A380-800 in full Emirates livery was flown to Dubai, where it was displayed at Dubai Airshow 2005.[49] On 20 November 2005, Emirates ordered 42 Boeing 777s, to help with its expansion. This order came one day after Airbus announced that the A380-800 Superjumbo would be delayed by another six months.[50] A third delay was announced on 3 October 2006, pushing the initial delivery of the first A380-800 to October 2007.[51] The announcement was met with anger by Emirates' President Tim Clark, who threatened to cancel their Airbus order as it was affecting the airline's expansion plan, saying that "It's very serious. This will do us serious damage."[52] In total as of April 2008, Airbus paid as much as $110 million during 2007 in compensation for the late delivery of the A380-800 to Emirates for the delays.[53] During the same year, on 1 August, Emirates flew its first A380-800 flight, with 489 passengers, from Dubai to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport.[54][55]
In February 2009, Emirates raised many issues concerning its A380.[56][57] Emirates gave a 46-page presentation in Toulouse, informing Airbus officials about heat-damaged power cables, defective engines and numerous malfunctions, many reportedly caused by the two showers installed in the aircraft.[58][59][60]
On 8 June 2010, at the Berlin Air Show, Emirates ordered an additional 32 A380s worth US$11.5 billion. The deal was the biggest single order for the world’s largest passenger aircraft.[61][62] This latest order, added to the 58 A380s previously ordered, brings the total to 90.[63] Emirates expects all 90 superjumbos to be delivered by 2017. None of the additional 32 jets are intended to replace existing A380s; although Emirates received its first A380 in 2008, it does not expect to retire these early airframes before 2020.[64] Later in June 2010, Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, hinted at further orders for A380s.[65]
Emirates aims to operate over 120 Airbus A380s when new airport space is available. The target implies a future Emirates order for 30 of the world's largest airliner, worth US$10 billion at list prices, at an unspecified date. If the airline went ahead with its growth plans it would have an A380 fleet worth over US$40 billion.[66][67]
The airline now uses their Airbus A380-800s on flights to (in order of launch date) London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland (via Sydney),[68] Bangkok,[69] Toronto, Paris–CDG,[70][71] Seoul/Incheon, Jeddah,[72] Beijing–Capital, Manchester, Hong Kong (direct[73] and via Bangkok[73]), New York–JFK, Shanghai–Pudong, Johannesburg,[74] Munich[75] Rome[76], Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo (from July 2012) and Melbourne (from October 2012).[77] The Dubai to Jeddah route currently is the shortest route flown by the Airbus A380 taking approximately 3 hours, following the introduction and withdrawal of the London to Paris services by Air France over Summer 2010.
The airline also flew their Airbus A380-800 on one off flights to the following destinations:
The airline has also expressed interest in starting A380 flights to Melbourne via Singapore.[82] The airline is also looking at adding secondary regional A380 routes in the near future.
| External videos | |
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| A promotional video used by Emirates on Terminal 3 | |
Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 was built exclusively for the use of Emirates at a cost of $4.5 billion and officially opened 14 October 2008. Terminal 3 is the second largest building in the world by floor space, with over 1,500,000 m2 (370 acres) of space. The Terminal has annual capacity of 27 million passengers, and with the expansion of Concourse 3, will have an annual capacity of 43 million passengers by 2011, once concourse 3 is complete.[83] The new concourse 3 will be exclusively for the A380- 800.[84][85][86]
In May 2011, Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports revealed that Emirates will eventually take over the operation of Concourse 1, along with concourse 2 and 3 which it will already be operating, by 2018.[87]
The airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which itself is a subsidiary of the Dubai government's investment company, Investment Corporation of Dubai.[88][89][90] The airline has recorded a profit every year, except the second, and growth has never fallen below 20% a year. In its first 11 years, it doubled in size every 3.5 years, and has every four years since.[91]
In 2010 Emirates paid dividends worth AED956 million (US$260 million), compared to AED2.9 billion (US$793 million) in 2009.[92] The government has received Dhs7.1 billion from Emirates since dividends started being paid in 1999 for having provided an initial start-up capital of US$10 million and an additional investment of about US$80 million at the time of the airline's inception,[93] the Dubai government is the sole owner of the company. However, it does not put any new money into it, nor does it interfere with running the airline.[91]
Emirates has diversified into related industries and sectors, including airport services, engineering, hospitality services, catering, and tour operator operations. Emirates has seven subsidiaries and its parent company has more than 50.[94][95]
Emirates employed a total of 38,797 staff at the end of the fiscal year on 31 March 2011.[96] Its parent company, The Emirates Group, employed a total of 49,950 employees of which 10,785 were cabin crew, 2,237 were flight deck crew, 1,904 were in engineering, and 9,084 were listed as other.[97]
The primary focus for Emirates and its employees is to deliver superior customer service. In turn, Emirates provides its employees with benefits such as comprehensive health plans and paid maternity and sick leave. Another strategy employed by Emirates is to use profit sharing and merit pay as part of their competency based approach to performance management.[98]
In the financial year 2009–10 reached passenger numbers reached 27.4 million,[96] up from 22.7 million reported in 2008–09 representing an increase of 20.1% over the previous year. Cargo carried in 2009–10 also improved, by 12.2% to 1,580,000 tonnes (2008–09: 1,408,000 tonnes).[99] The airline's profits for the 2009/10 fiscal year rose by more than fourfold to AED 3,538 million ($964 million) up by AED 2,852 million (2008–09: AED 686 million) on the back of cost cutting and a nearly 21 percent rise in passengers.[100] Its parent company saw profit up 248% for to $1.1 billion for the year to 31 March compared with a $406m profit for the previous year.[101][102][103] The airline claims it pays market rates for its fuel, contrary to common belief, however it has a highly successful fuel-price-hedging program.[98]
The airline was the seventh-largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried,[14] and the largest[15] in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometers flown. It is also the seventh-largest in terms of scheduled freight tonne-kilometres flown (sixth in scheduled international freight tonne-kilometres flown).[104]
| Year Ended | Passengers Flown (thousand) | Cargo carried (thousand) | Turnover (AEDm) | Expenditure (AEDm) | Net Profit(+)/Loss(-) (AEDm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 1997 | 3,114.3 | 159.4 | 1,198.7 | 1,097.1 | (+)101.623 |
| 31 March 1998 | 3,683.4 | 200.1 | 4,089.1 | 3,826.7 | (+)262.413 |
| 31 March 1999 | 4,252.7 | 214.2 | 4,442.9 | 4,130.2 | (+)312.959 |
| 31 March 2000 | 4,775.4 | 269.9 | 5,113.8 | 4,812.9 | (+)300.900 |
| 31 March 2001 | 5,718.8 | 335.2 | 6,417.3 | 5,970.7 | (+)421.825 |
| 31 March 2002 | 6,765.1 | 400.6 | 7,274.6 | 6,783.7 | (+)468.231 |
| 31 March 2003 | 8,502.8 | 525.2 | 9,709.7 | 8,749.6 | (+)906.747 |
| 31 March 2004 | 10,441.3 | 659.8 | 13,286.3 | 11,602.1 | (+)1,573.511 |
| 31 March 2005 | 12,528.7 | 838.4 | 18,130.9 | 15,628.3 | (+)2,407.385 |
| 31 March 2006 | 14,497.5 | 1,018.5 | 23,050.9 | 20,489.6 | (+)2,474.999 |
| 31 March 2007 | 17,544.1 | 1,155.9 | 29,839.6 | 26,675.9 | (+)3,096.416 |
| 31 March 2008 | 21,229.2 | 1,282.1 | 40,196.6 | 35,121.7 | (+)5,020.424 |
| 31 March 2009 | 22,730.9 | 1,408.3 | 43,266.3 | 43,143.4 | (+)981.676 |
| 31 March 2010 | 27,454.5 | 1,580.6 | 43,455.8 | 39,890.4 | (+)3,538.000 |
| 31 March 2011 | 31,422.0 | 1,767.0 | 54,384.0 | 48,943.0 | (+)5,441.000 |
| External videos | |
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| A promotional video launched in 2008, to promote the airline's new First Class Airbus A380-800 product | |
From 2004, the airline changed its slogan to Fly Emirates. Keep Discovering In 2008, Emirates launched a slogan mainly revolving around their route network of 100 destinations in 59+ countries across six continents – Fly Emirates. Keep Discovering and Fly Emirates. To over Six Continents.[107] Most recently Emirates launched a campaign to promote Dubai as a destination using the slogan Fly Emirates. Meet Dubai.
Other slogans used in the past by the airline include:
Emirates introduced a new design in August 2008 for its 16,000 uniformed staff, designed by Simon Jersey plc. The offboard uniform includes the Emirates hat, red kick-pleats in the skirts, more fitted blouses and the return of red leather shoes and handbags. For the onboard uniform, male and female cabin crew wear service waistcoats in place of the previously worn service jackets and tabards. The male flight attendants wear a chocolate brown suit, featuring pinstripes, with a cream shirt and a caramel, honey and red tie. Both male and female Pursers wear this chocolate brown color, but with no red featured.[108]
Since its formation in 1985, though to a limited extent until all aircraft were repainted, Emirates aeroplanes carried a section of the United Arab Emirates flag on the tail fins, a calligraphy of the logo in Arabic on the engines and the "Emirates" logo on the fuselage both in Arabic and English. The colour scheme used since 1985 was changed in November 1999 to the one still in use today. This change saw the modification of logotype, the enlargement and move of the English logo (the Arabic remaining smaller) towards the front of the aircraft and a different, flowing flag on the tailfin.[109] Some newer aircraft such as the Airbus A380-800, have the Emirates logo painted on the belly of the aircraft. Emirates aircraft also have the FIFA World Cup logo on them, as Emirates is the official airline sponsor. [110]
In cricket, Emirates sponsors Cricket Australia,[111] Lord's Taverners,[112] and Pro Arch Tournament.[113] Their branding also features on International Cricket Umpires shirts.[114] Emirates has also become an official partner of the International Cricket Council until 2015. This deal gives emirates association with all major ICC tournaments, including the 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20.[115] They are also the major sponsor of the Kings Xi Punjab team of Indian Premier League, the largest domestic Cricket tournament in the world. Emirates are the Twenty20 shirt sponsor of Durham County Cricket Club and hold the naming rights to the Chester-le-Street Riverside Ground now known as Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground. the Dubai International Racing Carnival, Melbourne Cup Carnival, and the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn and Spring Carnival.[116] Emirates are also major sponsors of English Premier League club Arsenal.
Emirates operates over 2,300 flights every week across its network of 103 destinations in 65 countries on six continents from its hub in Dubai.[117] Several new destinations are added each year.
Emirates is currently not a member of any of the three global airline alliances – Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance. In 2000, however, the carrier briefly considered joining Star Alliance,[118] but opted to remain independent of the three alliances. The reason for this was later revealed by senior vice-president of the airline's commercial operations worldwide that, "Your ability to react in the marketplace is hindered because you need a consensus from your alliance partners."[119]
As of June 2011, Emirates has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[120]
Emirates operates an exclusively wide-bodied aircraft fleet making up from 3 aircraft families: the Airbus A330/A340, Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777. In keeping with its policy of maintaining a young fleet, which stands at an average of 6.7 years in December 2011,[121] it renews its fleet frequently. It operates the youngest fleet of any major airline as of May 2011. The airline also ranks as the largest in the world by international seating capacity, according to the latest annual report by IATA.[122]
On 30 July 2009, Emirates received its 45th Boeing 777-300ER making it the world's largest operator of Boeing 777s with 84 in the fleet as of July, 2010.[123] In July 2008, Emirates received its first Airbus A380-800 and in August 2008, it became the second airline to fly the Airbus A380-800, after Singapore Airlines.[124]
In the 2009/10 fiscal year, Emirates added 14 new aircraft to the fleet which included 10 Boeing 777s and 3 A380-800s. Emirates has one of the world’s highest fleet-utilisation rates at about 18 hours a day.[125]
On 11 June 2010, Emirates put in £8 billion to Airbus for another 32 A380s bringing the A380 fleet to 90 when delivered.[126] The airline has confirmed that they have aborted a planned deal for 30 A330-300s and 30 more A350-1000s announced in July 2008 and are currently in talks with Boeing for smaller wide-body aircraft.[127]
On 19 July 2010, Emirates announced a deal with Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show, to buy 30 Boeing 777-300ER at a value exceeding $9 billion.[128]
Emirates will begin phasing out 31 older widebodies – A340-300s and 777 “Classics" from February 2011.[127] Emirates plans to have as many as 260 aircraft by 2018.[129]
Emirates has said that it aims to have 120 Airbus A380s in its fleet when new airport space is available, and is working with Boeing on the next generation of 777 jets.[130][131] Tim Clark claims that 120 was the baseline figure and that they couldn't order that amount because it was too many for their home base, so 90 was a compromise. The target implies a future Emirates order for 30 of the world's largest airliner, worth $10 billion at list prices, at an unspecified date. If the airline went ahead with its growth plans it would have an A380 fleet worth over $40 billion.[132]
Emirates has hinted that it will make a large order at the Dubai Airshow in 2011 possibly for more A380's.[133] On 13 November 2011, Emirates placed an order for 50 Boeing 777-300ER valued at $18 billion with options for another 20.[134][135]
The Emirates passenger aircraft fleet consists of the following widebody aircraft as of December 2011:[136][137]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | J | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A330-200 | 27 | — | 12 | 42 | 183 | 237 | 7 to be phased out 2012 |
| — | 27 | 251 | 278 | ||||
| Airbus A340-300 | 8 | — | 12 | 42 | 213 | 267 | All to be phased out 2012 |
| Airbus A340-500 | 10 | — | 12 | 42 | 204 | 258 | |
| Airbus A350-900 | — | 50 |
|
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| Airbus A350-1000 | — | 20 |
|
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| Airbus A380-800 | 20 | 70 | 14 | 76 | 399 | 489 | Largest operator of the A380 |
| 14 | 76 | 427 | 517 | ||||
| Boeing 777–200 | 3 | — | 12 | 42 | 236 | 290 | To be phased out |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 6 | — | 12 | 42 | 236 | 290 | To be phased out |
| Boeing 777-200LR | 10 | — | 8 | 42 | 216 | 266 | |
| Boeing 777–300 | 12 | — | 12 | 42 | 310 | 364 | To be phased out |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 64 | 87 | 8 | 42 | 304 | 354 | Largest operator of the 777 |
| 12 | 42 | 304 | 358 | ||||
| 12 | 42 | 310 | 364 | ||||
| — | 42 | 385 | 427 | ||||
| — | 42 | 400 | 442 | ||||
| Total | 160 | 227 | |||||
| Aircraft | Total | Operations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | F | ||
| Airbus A300B4 | 1 | 1985 | 1988 |
| Airbus A300-600R | 6 | 1989 | 2002 |
| Airbus A310-300 | 11 | 1987 | 2007 |
| Boeing 727-200 | 3 | 1985 | 1994 |
| Boeing 737–300 | 1 | 1985 | 1987 |
Emirates SkyCargo is the air freight division of Emirates. It began operations in October 1985, the same year Emirates was formed. Since then it has been the main cargo division of Emirates, and the anchor cargo airline at Dubai International Airport.
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Cargo capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 747-400BDSF | 1 | — | 117,000 kg (260,000 lb) | operated by World Airways |
| Boeing 747-400ERF | 2 | — | 117,000 kg (260,000 lb) | operated by TNT Airways |
| Boeing 747-400F | 3 | — | 117,000 kg (260,000 lb) | operated by Atlas Air |
| Boeing 747-8F | — | 10 | 140,000 kg (310,000 lb) | |
| Boeing 777F | 3 | 5 | 103,000 kg (230,000 lb) | |
| Total | 9 | 15 |
The airline claims to have lower emissions than other airlines due to its fleet which has an average fuel burn of less than four litres for every 100 passenger kilometres it flies.[140] The Cargo division of the airline uses a similar hub-and-spoke network of operations.
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| Emirates Environmental Corporate Video | |
There are 2 types of first class seating; the full suite and the regular first class seating (classified as 'Skycruiser').
The full suite options comes complete with closing doors to ensure privacy, a mini-bar, a coat rack and storage. They also feature the ICE system on a 23 in (58 cm) LCD screen. The seat converts into a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) fully flat bed. Private suites are available on all A380-800, A340-500, Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, as well as 27 of 39 3-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
'Skycruiser' seating is available on the remaining 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 777-200s and Boeing 777-300s feature seat that extend to flat beds using integrated passenger seat control, along with the ICE system and a 19 in (48 cm) screen. First class seats may also include a personal minibar.[144]
On its newly delivered A380-800, first class features private suites,[145] two shower-equipped lavatories and spa,[146] and access to the first/business class bar area and lounge.[147] Premium class seating is located on the entire upper deck of A380-800 aircraft. In 2009, Emirates was voted the second best First Class by Skytrax. Skytrax had said that the Emirates A380-800 product greatly helped influence its position.[148]
Business class on Boeing 777-200LRs, Boeing 777-300s and 29 of 39 3-class Boeing 777-300ERs as well as 5 of 14 2-class 777-300ERs feature seats with a 60 in (150 cm) pitch that recline to 79 in (200 cm)-long, angled lie-flat beds.[149] Amenities include massage function, privacy partition, winged headrest with six-way movement, two individual reading lights and an overhead light per seat, in-seat power supply, USB Ports and an RCA socket for laptop connection, over 600 channels of entertainment on ICE, shown on a 17 in (43 cm) wide TV screen.
The A340-500s have deeply reclining sleeper seats which have a 60 in (150 cm) pitch and are 18 in (46 cm) wide. All A340-500 aircraft feature the ICE system in all three classes. The Boeing 777-200s and remaining 777-300ERs have deeply reclining seats which are almost lie-flat. They have a 58 in (150 cm) pitch and are 20.5 in (52 cm) wide. The Boeing 777-200s also feature the ICE system. On Airbus A330 aircraft and A340-300s, the seats are standard business class recliners and feature a leg rest and seat back screens. These business class seats are smaller than other business class seats in the Emirates fleet as these aircraft are used predominantly on short-medium haul routes. On Airbus A380-800 aircraft, the seats recline to form a fully flat bed and are equipped with personal mini-bars. Business class passengers also have access to an on-board bar at the rear of the aircraft.[149] Business class passengers have the ability to customize and save seat and in-flight entertainment settings to a memory key for re-use on future flights.[150]
Emirates Economy Class offers a 32–34 inch seat pitch (81–86 cm) and standard seat width (except on the Boeing 777 fleet). The seat features adjustable headrests, a 600–1000 channel ICE In-Flight-Entertainment and in-seat laptop power-outlets on newer aircraft and laptop recharging facilities in galleys in older aircraft. There is additional recline on A380 Economy Class seats.[151][152][153]
Emirates is unusual in that it operates a ten-abreast, 3-4-3, seating configuration on its 777 fleet (rather than the customary 3-3-3 or 2-5-2 configuration). This results in a cramped cabin environment especially during meal times due to the reduced width of the seat. Other airlines with this layout include Air France-KLM (except on 777-200ER aircraft operating for KLM), China Southern Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Air New Zealand (only on 777-300ER aircraft), and two Japanese airlines in domestic services (All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines).[154]
Emirates became the first airline in the world to introduce a personal entertainment system on a commercial aircraft after introducing the world’s first seat-back screens in 1992. All three classes feature a personal in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on Emirates aircraft. There are three types of entertainment system on Emirates: ice; ice Digital Widescreen; and Emirates tv&radio.
Emirates has won the award for best in-flight-entertainment from Skytrax for their ICE system every year since the systems inception in 2003. At present, almost 70% of the fleet has the ice in-flight entertainment and by 2011 the entire Emirates fleet is set to have the system. ICE offers more channels than any other in-flight entertainment system.[155]
Emirates TV&radio is also offered mainly on short haul routes, and 30% of the Emirates fleet offers passengers with 15 video and 26 audio channels, as well as 50 video games. Also available are BBC headlines, an airshow and external cameras giving a birdseye view from the plane.[156]
ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment) is the in-flight entertainment system operated by Emirates.
Introduced in 2003, ICE is available on all new aircraft and features between 600 and 1200 channels to all passengers.[157] ICE is found on the airline’s Airbus A380-800, Airbus A340-500, Boeing 777-300ER/ULR and Boeing 777-200LR/ULR aircraft. It is also available on all Boeing 777–300 aircraft which have all been retrofitted.[158]
In July 2007, Emirates introduced ICE Digital Widescreen, an updated version of ICE. It offers over 1200 channels of entertainment (up from 600) available to all passengers. ICE Digital Widescreen is available on all new aircraft.[159]
The system is based on the 3000i system from Panasonic Avionics Corporation. ICE provides passengers with a direct data link to BBC News. ICE is the first IFE system to be connected directly to automatic news updates. This is complemented by ICE's Airshow moving-map software from Rockwell Collins. Exterior cameras located on the aircraft can be viewed by any passenger, through the IFE system, during takeoff and landing. Emirates was also one of the first airlines to introduce high-speed, in-flight Internet service along with Singapore Airlines, by installing the Inmarsat’s satellite system and became the second airline in the world to offer live international television broadcasts using the same system.[160]
ICE also contains a link to an in-flight email server which allows passengers to access, send or receive emails for US $1 per message.[161] ICE also contains a seat-to-seat chat service. In November 2006 the airline signed a deal with mobile communications firm AeroMobile to allow in-flight use of mobile phones to call or text people on the ground, on selected 777s. The service was first introduced on a commercial service between Dubai and Casablanca on 20 March 2008.[162]
The ICE system includes movies, music, and video games. ICE offers over 130 on-demand movie titles and 15 video on demand channels, 60 prerecorded television channels, 350 audio channels, and around 50 video-game titles. ICE can also be accessed in 10 languages such as English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, and Japanese.[163] Since 2003, all entertainment options are available on-demand to all classes with options to pause, forward, and rewind them.
Emirates now features docking capability for Apple Inc.'s iPod portable music and video player as of mid-2007. This allows the device's battery to be charged, but also allows integration with Emirates' in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. This also enables the IFE system to play music, television shows, or movies stored on the iPod, as well as function as a control system.[164]
Passengers may check-in between two to 48 hours prior to flight departure. This may be done over the counter or at the lounge within the airport. Self-service kiosks are also available at Dubai International Airport,[165] as well as at certain stations of the Dubai Metro.
Alternatively, they may check-in through the Internet or by short message service. Online printing of boarding passes is available through Internet check-in. Passengers on short trips may also check-in on their return flight upon departure from the city of origin.
First and business class passengers, as well as Skywards Gold and Silver members, have access to Emirates Lounges. The airline has 28 lounges in 26 cities.[166] Skywards Silver members can use the lounge in Concourse 1 at Dubai Airport. At airports in which Emirates does not operate a departure lounge, a third party departure lounge is usually provided for First and Business class passengers as well as Skywards Gold members.[167]
First and business class passengers can make use of complimentary chauffer-driven airport transfers in selected cities.
Emirates uses Skywards as their frequent-flyer program. Skywards is a four-tier frequent-flyer program operated by Emirates. It is used by over 5.72 million customers.[168] The three primary tiers are Blue; Silver which requires 25,000 tier miles for entry; and Gold, which requires 50,000 tier miles for entry. A fourth tier is IO (Invitation Only)[169]
The established network carriers in Europe and Australia, i.e. Air France-KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qantas, perceive Emirates' strategic decision to reposition itself as a global carrier as a major threat because it enables air travellers to by-pass traditional airline hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and Frankfurt Airports on their way between Europe/North America and Asia/Australia by changing flights in Dubai instead. These carriers also find it difficult to deal with the growing competitive threat Emirates poses to their business because of their much higher cost base.[170][171]
Some of these carriers, notably Air France and Qantas, have accused Emirates of receiving hidden state subsidies and of maintaining too cozy a relationship with Dubai's airport authority and its aviation authority, both of which are also wholly state-owned entities that share the same government owner with the airline. They also stipulate that Emirates is able to reduces its borrowing costs below market rates by taking advantage of its government shareholders' sovereign borrower status. They claim that this government support cross-subsidises the airline, masking its true financial performance.[91][172]
In May 2010, Emirates Airline executives refuted claims that the carrier does not pay taxes and receives substantial financial assistance from the Dubai government. They claimed that the airline received $80m in cash in kind since the start of the airline 25 years ago and this was substantially lower to what other national carries have received. Maurice Flanagan also claimed that Emirates incurred social costs of around $600m in 2009 and this included municipal taxes to the city of Dubai. The airline also paid a dividend of AED956m ($260m) in 2010, compared to AED2.9bn ($793m) in 2009 and each year the Government has received at least $100m in dividends.[173]
Emirates also faces competition from another UAE-based airline, Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi.