Emirates Airline has reached 40 million passengers per year and by the time of EXPO 2020 it anticipates to fly 70 million passengers every year, said Majid Al Mualla, Senior Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Emirates.
”Emirates will continue to grow and deepen its investment in routes and new aircrafts around the world. We are about to commence routes to Oslo and Brussels with Budapest coming on stream by the end of the year giving us 140 destinations worldwide,”Al Mualla said in an interview with the media centre of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and is a long-standing supporter of Dubai Summer Surprises, as well as other major festivals and events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival.
”Year on year we anticipate putting on an average of 10 new routes a year plus increasing the frequency to a number of key destinations – that will include more flights to a number of GCC and regional cities. We now have a fleet of 50 A380s and we are also very proud that our aircraft are replaced after flying just over six years to give our passengers the best experience they can receive.” Excerpts from the interview : How has this DSS compared to previous years for Emirates? A. Emirates Airline has enjoyed a highly successful summer period and passenger numbers have shown a healthy increase in the bulk of our markets. Overall we have seen a 5 per cent increase in year on year numbers during Dubai Summer Surprises – and we believe this is a very good number for inbound visitors to Dubai during this period. It reinforces the fact that Dubai – thanks to the work and promotional initiatives from our partners at DFRE – has become more and more a year round visitor destination.
What markets have seen the biggest growth this summer? A. In the GCC we have seen the growth mainly come from GCC and neighbouring countries including Kuwait, Yemen, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. We have seen very strong numbers from Kuwait with a 25 per cent year on year increase in the number of passengers travelling to Dubai.
Traditionally we have always seen strong regional numbers for DSS and Dubai as a regional attraction during the summer months with passengers attracted by the great summer promotions, events and the range of quality accommodation, shopping and eating out.
However an important trend for this year has been the growth in non GCC markets for Emirates. Africa is very strong for us now with a 36 per cent increase in visitors from the continent – with much of that driven by growing visitor numbers from North and West African Arabic nations.
The powerful and well established network that is now in place for West Asian routes into Dubai for Emirates saw this market register a major 15 per cent spike in passenger numbers compared to the previous DSS period led by a 25 per cent increase in Pakistani visitors and 7 per cent from India.
But we have also seen steady growth in Europe that is 6 per cent up and a 12 per cent increase in visitor numbers from the Far East and Australasia.
Have you seen any major surprises in the passenger numbers this DSS? A. There has been nothing particularly unexpected but we have been encouraged by the growth of passenger numbers from outside the region. In the past Dubai was always considered too hot for summer visitors from around the world – but the greater influx of European, Asian and African visitors demonstrates that the promotion of Dubai as a year round vacation destination is clearly working. Emirates is also very proud to have been able to work closely with DFRE and DTCM to promote Dubai as a destination through our growing network of international offices that are growing year on year along with our increasing number of routes.
What has Emirates been actively doing to help encourage more summer visitors? A. Through our specialist holidays business – Emirates Holidays – we have been offering a range of fantastic summer breaks in Dubai that has certainly helped to boost passenger numbers and help with the growth of visitors to Dubai.
Emirates Holidays saw a 30 per cent year on year increase in sales this year – which once again demonstrates how Dubai has totally transformed itself into a year round destination. It is also that level of growth that gives us confidence that Dubai will not reach, but should exceed, its target of 20 million visitors by 2020 with the added catalyst of hosting EXPO 2020.
Meanwhile now that summer is coming to an end we are working with our Emirates Holidays colleagues to develop a range of exciting deals and offers for the forthcoming Dubai Shopping Festival. As a founding partner of DSF we are looking forward to working in close partnership with DFRE to support and promote this milestone event as the Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary.
How significant is EXPO 2020 for Emirates Airline and for Dubai? A. EXPO 2020 is a genuine game changing initiative for Dubai that will ensure a stronger focus than ever before on this dynamic, visionary city. Emirates Airline is proud to have the opportunity to play an integral role in communicating Dubai as the host city throughout our global network and to have the opportunity to bring millions of visitors to Dubai to experience the EXPO. Traditionally the EXPO has the bulk of its visitors from the host nation – but for Dubai we are anticipating the majority of attendees, approximately 70 per cent, – flying into the Emirate. That is where we will play a significant role in ensuring fast direct communication links to the millions of visitors who will attend from around the world.
How important has Emirates and DFRE been together for the growth of Dubai? A. There is no doubt that the strength, growth and development of Emirates Airline into a global brand that flies to every major city and continent in the world is one of the reasons how Dubai has got to where it is today. We have reached 40 million passengers per year and by the time of EXPO 2020 we anticipate we will be flying 70 million passengers every year. Equally DFRE – and through DSF in particular – has been part of the concerted push involving many bodies from the Government and private sector that has helped Dubai to become a household name around the world.
What are the immediate growth plans for Emirates? A. Emirates will continue to grow and deepen its investment in routes and new aircrafts around the world. We are about to commence routes to Oslo and Brussels with Budapest coming on stream by the end of the year giving us 140 destinations worldwide. Year on year we anticipate putting on an average of 10 new routes a year plus increasing the frequency to a number of key destinations – that will include more flights to a number of GCC and regional cities. We now have a fleet of 50 A380s and we are also very proud that our aircraft are replaced after flying just over six years to give our passengers the best experience they can receive.”
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
