There is a smile today on the faces and a swagger in the gait of all who work at Emirates Airlines. And rightly so.
Earlier this week, the Dubai carrier bucked a global trend by airlines, soaring to a 415.7 per cent increase in profits to $964 million (Dh3.5 billion).
Airlines around the world have been battered by the global recession, fewer passengers, higher operating costs and unpredictable operating conditions — such as the eruption of a volcano in Iceland, which disrupted air traffic for days on end.
But the senior management and staff at Emirates are finding ways to beat all expectations, cutting costs and adding to the bottom line at every opportunity.
Thanks to a pioneering spirit and a ‘can do' attitude that envelops all members of staff, the airline is paving the way in profitability. It is literally flying in the face of competitors by being successful, competitive and profitable in very trying market conditions.
Indeed, more airplanes are on the way, more staff are being added, new routes are coming and more flights are being planned to popular destinations.
These turbulent times mean the airline has to operate smarter. Significantly, cost savings and a smarter way of doing business has kept Emirates planes flying fuller and more often.
Lower fuel costs, a newer and more fuel-efficient fleet, attractive borrowing costs for aircraft, and more passengers sitting in its seats through strong pricing and aggressive marketing continue to drive the bottom line.
Over the past year, Emirates' passenger load has increased by 21 per cent, its corporate overheads have been cut by 24.4 per cent, and its profits have increased four fold.
What is more remarkable is that the 2009 results mark the 22nd-straight year that Emirates has returned a profit — while other carriers simply struggle to keep losses in line with expectations.
