Emirates plans to expand and recruit more staff

San Francisco: Emirates has plans to hire more people, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said, stressing that the global financial crisis has not impacted the airline to the extent that it must lay off employees.

"We are always optimis-tic and our intentions are to expand and we won't see the airline losing people but on the contrary we have plans to expand and hire more staff," Shaikh Ahmad told reporters in San Francisco following Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight on December 15.

Shaikh Ahmad denied rumours of a merger between Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Emirates, saying, "This issue has never been discussed... Emirates airline is always committed to supporting the economic and tourism development across the UAE as one family."

His address came after Emirates flew the world's longest inaugural green non-stop flight which carried 197 passengers and crew from Dubai to San Francisco on Monday.

The Los Angeles service which was inaugurated recently is doing well and Nigel Page, Emirates Senior Vice-President of Commercial Operations for the Americas, confirmed this Monday at San Francisco airport.

Shaikh Ahmad said, "Our plans for this market are ongoing and promising. Our constant aim is to be number one in the services we render and not in size.

He said starting May 2009 Emirates will fly daily to San Francisco.

Competition

Concerning the current financial crisis and its impact on Emirates, he reiterated that the airline has and will always be optimistic, "especially since the crisis has affected nearly everyone... it won't be over in a short period but it will take years".

Asked by Gulf News whether the UAE should have one national carrier, he said: "Emirates has always been independent. I am sure that having more than one national carrier creates a healthier and competitive market... competition is better because it influences the turnover of passengers."

He cited how politics between four states which ran Gulf Air made it an unsuccessful experience.

He announced that Jebel Ali Airport will become operational late next year, "but the cargo terminal will start earlier. Meanwhile Dubai International Airport's cargo services will continue because they render excellent services to different countries," he added.

Discussing the launching of Emirates' first green flight and how soon the airline could have a full-fleet of green flights, Shaikh Ahmad said: "We need around 12 months to assess our first green flight."

Shaikh Ahmad was joined by Steve Kava, San Francisco Mayor's Chief of Staff, and San Francisco International Airport Director John Martin.

"Emirates promises Bay Area travellers and businesspeople an opportunity to reach Dubai and key transit markets, including the Indian subcontinent and Africa easily and more quickly than ever before.

"This new service creates a critical new connection between Northern California and Dubai - a destination for business and tourism unlike any other in the world," said Shaikh Ahmad.