Emirates eyes ‘several hundred destinations’

Emirates plans to fly to more places and order more planes, ingoring claims of unfair competition from rivals, the airline’s chairman has said.

The airline’s aggressive expansion has been criticised by European carriers who say the Dubai-based company and other Gulf carriers are effectively subsidised, provoking fears that Gulf-based superjumbos will draw traffic from their hubs.

Emirates, which is state-owned, will soon fly to ‘several hundred destinations’ from 111 locations now, Emirates’ chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said after the airline reported a 52-per cent jump in 2010 profits.

‘I’m sure this will make a lot of people unhappy but the market is there to grow. Airlines in Europe don’t want to see us there because we are giving them competition. But we get good market share because of the product,’ he said.

‘We have big plans. We will operate more to North and South America and also Asia,’ he added.

Sheikh Ahmed indicated that Emirates would announce new aircraft orders at the Dubai Airshow in November.    

Dubai has led the charge in a war of words between North American and European carriers and their Gulf rivals over subsidies, export credits and landing rights, blaming their woes on ‘parasitic’ taxes.

‘If they spend as much time running their business as they do trying to run us down they might make even more money,’ Emirates president Tim Clark said last year.

The UAE failed to gain greater access for Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways in Canada last year, leading to tension between the two countries.    

Meanwhile, German airline Lufthansa has asked that Emirates be denied landing slots at Berlin’s new airport.

Emirates is the largest customer for the Airbus A380 superjumbo and has so far ordered 90 of the aircraft. It plans to increase its fleet to eventually include 120 A380s, from the 15 it currently flies. That could turn the European aviation market upside down.

‘If Emirates continue to execute as they have done they will force a restructuring of the industry simply by deploying the 90 or so A380s they have on order or in service,’ Sudeep Ghai, a partner at London-based Athena Aviation, said.

‘Expect other markets to start making even more protectionist noises than they have been in defence of their local carriers.’  - Reuters

Emirates offers bonus miles on Colombo – Dubai route

Travellers with Emirates from Colombo to Dubai can now earn up to 10,000 bonus Skywards Miles by making their bookings in May.

The offer by the award-winning Dubai-based international airline via its ‘Miles Accelerator’ feature is valid for travel in May, June and July on Emirates flights EK651 and EK653 from Colombo to Dubai and on return flights EK348, EK650 and EK652 from Dubai to Colombo. It is open to all passengers who are members of Skywards, the airline’s frequent flyer programme.

Economy Class passengers on the designated flights from Colombo to Dubai can earn up to 2,000 bonus miles in May and June and 1,000 miles in July while Business Class passengers can earn 3,000 miles in each of the three months. First Class passengers can earn 10,000 miles in May and June and 9,000 in July.

Economy Class passengers on the designated return flights from Dubai to Colombo can also earn 2,000 bonus miles in May. Business Class Passengers can earn 3,000 bonus miles in May and 2,000 in June on flights EK348 and EK650 while passengers on flight EK652 can earn 3,000 bonus miles in May and July and 2,000 in June, the airline said.

These bonus miles are in addition to the Skywards Miles that passengers are already entitled to and the bonus miles they would normally earn if they fly First or Business Class.

 “The benefits of the Miles Accelerator offer, which has been extended for purchases in May, will be enjoyed by a significant number of our passengers who travel between Dubai and Colombo,” said Devika Ellepola, Emirates Sales Manager in Sri Lanka. “This value addition will further enhance the appeal of travelling with Emirates and is an incentive to register for Skywards membership.”

The winner of more than 400 top industry awards, Emirates operates 21 flights a week from Colombo to Dubai. The Emirates network now comprises 111 destinations on six continents.

For more information or for bookings, please call 4704070 or visit www.emirates.com/lk