Emirates says it is experiencing “a surge in forward bookings to and from UK” over the next 12 months, with destinations including London and Glasgow faring particularly well.
London is perhaps not a surprise, with the carrier offering some 82 weekly flights across its routes to and from Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted.
But the carrier said that demand for travel between Dubai and Glasgow was also continuing to grow, with forward bookings up by 51 per cent year-on-year. Emirates’ A380 superjumbo returned to the route in March last year.
The airline also said that forward bookings from Hong Kong to the UK have risen 15-fold year-on-year, while demand has also increased sharply on routes from South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan and Australia to the UK.
In terms of outbound travel, Newcastle and Glasgow are experiencing the highest percentage growth in forward bookings, up 56 per cent and 66 per cent respectively.
Emirates also provided an update on demand for its premium economy product, with bookings up 70 per cent between the UK and the UAE, and an increase of 18 per cent for premium economy outbound bookings from the UK to Australia, and 29 per cent for inbound bookings on the route.
The carrier’s four-class A380s which offer premium economy seating are currently operating on the following routes into and out of Dubai – London Heathrow, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Singapore, New York JFK, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Commenting on the news Richard Jewsbury, Emirates divisional vice president in the UK, said:
“The UK has always been one of the most popular destinations in Emirates’ global network. Whether it’s for business or leisure, travellers from all over the world are drawn to the UK thanks to its rich history, business community, diverse culture, and iconic attractions.
“We are proud to play an instrumental role in connecting the UK to our global network, and in boosting travel and trade to and from the country.”
