Emirates Airlines
Based in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirates Airlines is the world’s eighth largest airline. Emirates Airlines was founded in 1985, and has grown to serve 92 destinations in 55 countries around the world. Not offering domestic travel service, Emirates nonetheless is the premier airline of the Middle East and also is a market leader in Southeast Asia. It is one of only six airlines in the world to operate a fleet of all wide-body aircraft built by Airbus and Boeing.
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 service, and safety among all its member airlines.
The government in Dubai is both owner and operator of Emirates Airlines, but it does not invest money into the airline or manage its airfares. The UAE allows Emirates Airlines to function independently. This unique arrangement has worked quite well for both the airline and the government, as Emirates enjoys unmatched profitability and growth.
Emirates Airlines also operates Emirates SkyCargo. This airline is a cargo carrier. It is based at Dubai International Airport and functions like a passenger airline. The SkyCargo division operates nine aircraft, and Emirates SkyCargo also utilizes 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.
Emirates flies to over 100 destinations in 56 countries on six continents from its primary hub in Dubai. While Emirates does not maintain sizable hubs elsewhere, it has taken advantage of agreements between Dubai and Australia, and with Singapore, to offer more onward connections from Sydney and Dubai.
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.