Funding and organisation plans for the massive expansion of Emirates airline are underway, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, said yesterday.

Speaking from the national carrier's double-deck stand on the second day of the eighth Arabian Travel Market, Sheikh Ahmed said he did not find it daunting to consider the prospect of heading a fleet almost as large as that of British Airways.

News of the plans, which will see the airline grow six-fold in the next decade, were released on Monday by Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence.

Such dramatic growth will require Emirates to add 175 aircraft to its present fleet of 35, bringing the number to 210 and making it one of the world's largest airlines. Sheikh Ahmed said: "If you have an aircraft fleet of 10, 20 or 100, it's all the same in terms of management strategies. There won't be a problem in maintaining Emirates' high reputation because if you choose and work with a good team you can always monitor your staff and the company's activities."

He said the growth of tourism in Dubai would make the expansion necessary and added that new destinations would be forged to ensure the airline achieves global status.

"We are always concentrating on making Dubai a hub, and as there are plans to increase tourism from its present 3.3 million to 15 million over the next 10 years - which is a five-fold increase anyway - it is the sensible thing.

"We are working with the Indian government to increase our destinations and recently acquired 2,000 extra seats through a bilateral agreement for the route to Hyderabad which begins in July."

The Americas will be the next challenge, but despite the growth, the airline would not join any alliance. "Today we already have 57 destinations and in the future this will branch out to the Americas. North America and Canada are high on the agenda and South America is also a big possibility. However, we will not be joining up with any alliance in the near future. Emirates will stay solo."

Expansion plans for Dubai's airport to cope with the fleet growth have been taken into account. "We already have big expansion plans for Dubai airport with the construction of the new terminal. With the increase in fleet size, this may mean things will need to be pushed through a little faster in terms of facilities. If, with the building of terminal three, there is a need for more expansion in terms of concourses and terminals, it will be done."

Sheikh Ahmed added that the expansion will be funded through careful company investment and through a bond issue - the first $150 million of which will be authorised in the second half of this year and that the airline had no plans for privatisation.

"The full details have yet to be worked out, but the bonds will be issued in the second half of this year. But a final date has not yet been set," he said.

"The bonds will be available to corporate markets and will not be open to private buyers. As far as privatisation goes, it is not something we are considering. Companies that privatise are generally suffering from certain problems which is why they choose this route. Emirates is healthy and growing, so it's not an option."