Dubai: Emirates, the world’s largest airline on international routes, sees a 12 per cent cost saving from the complete redesign of the Middle East’s complex airspace that often prioritises military use.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, said at the World Government Summit on Tuesday there would be huge savings amounting to 12 per cent for the airline from a redesign of the region’s airspace.
Stakeholders in the Middle East’s aviation industry have long lamented the restrictive structure of the region’s airspace, however, little steps have been taken in resolving the issue.
By Gulf News’ calculations, a 12-per cent costs saving would amount to around $2.67 billion (Dh9.81 billion) going by Emirates’ last full-year results reported in May 2015.
Emirates said then that its $7.8 billion fuel bill accounted for 35 per cent of its operating costs, meaning its costs that year were roughly $22.28 billion.
Shaikh Ahmad did not offer a solution for the region’s airspace woes.
However, he said the United Arab Emirates was currently redesigning its airspace and could assist other countries. Shaikh Ahmad sits on the board of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the country’s federal aviation regulator.
Emirati tipped to be Emirates President
An Emirati national could be the next President of Emirates airline, Shaikh Ahmad also said on Tuesday.
Current President Tim Clark, who has been with Emirates since it was launched in 1985, told Gulf News in April 2015 that he would step down from the airline by 2025.
