Dubai: Emirates, the world’s largest airline by passenger numbers, has carried “48 million passengers” so far this financial year, an executive from the airline said in Dubai on Wednesday.
Emirates carried 44 million passengers in its previous financial year, and was previously forecast to carry 50 million passengers across the 12 months ending March 31, 2015. Emirate Group’s financial year is from April 1 to March 31.
Adel Al Redha, executive vice-president and chief operations officer at the airline, speaking to reporters at the Future of Borders summit, also said that lower fuel process had eased pressure that weak currencies were putting on the airline’s margins.
“Last year, fuel was accounted for around 42 per cent of our operating costs. This year we expect it to be somewhat around 35 to 37 per cent,” he said.
The euro, Russian rouble and Australian dollar have all weakened in the past 12 months. The euro is down 23.45 per cent against the US dollar compared to a year ago, rouble is down 72.57 per cent and Australian dollar is down 15.13 per cent. The UAE dirham is pegged to the dollar. Emirates flies to more than 30 European cities, to Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia, and to five points in Australia.
New aircraft orders
Emirates is also engaged in discussions with Airbus and Boeing over ordering the A350 or 787 Dreamliner. The orders would be a replacement for the order of 70 A350s Emirates cancelled last year.
Al Redha said both manufacturers have “amended” the specifications of their aircraft to reduce the weight, improve the range and interiors.
The order “will be in excess of 50,” he said but declined to state when a decision would be made.
A380 engine order to finalise
Emirates will soon make a decision on whether it will award a contract to Rolls-Royce or General Electric and Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Alliance for a batch of engines for 50 Airbus A380s scheduled for delivery.
A decision is likely to be made by the “end of April”, Al Redha said.
Emirates is the largest operator of the world’s largest passenger plane, of which it has ordered 140.
Two-class A380 to seat 615
Emirates will receive its first two-class A380 in November, Al Redha said, which will be able to seat 615 passengers. The two-class A380s will fly on select routes where the airline is more likely to fill economy and business class seats over its premium product, Al Redha said in December.
Currently, Emirates’ largest A380 aircraft by passenger capacity seats around 515 passengers.
