Emirates managed to fill an average of almost 80 per cent of all its seats last year despite launching 10 new routes, its latest annual report reveals.
The Dubai carrier underlined the strength of its expansion by carrying 44.5 million passengers in the year to March 31, an increase of 13 per cent. The airline maintained a load factor – the measure of how many seats are sold – of 79.4 per cent, despite new route launches that grew its seat capacity by 15 per cent.
Emirates’ airline saw profits rise 43 per cent last year, recording a surplus of $887 million, although the carrier faces criticism that it does not pay the market price for oil, something it has always denied.
The airline recorded a profit margin of 3.9 per cent, in line with rivals and emphasising the industry’s fragile nature.
In 2013/14, Emirates introduced Airbus A380 double decker services to Barcelona, Brisbane, Gatwick, Los Angeles, Mauritius and Zurich, bringing to 27 the total number of destinations served by its flagship aircraft. Emirates’ Los Angeles service is also the world’s longest A380 flight at 16 hours and 20 minutes.
Emirates will receive 24 new aircraft during 2014/15, including 16 Airbus A380s, bringing its total fleet count to 217. In the current financial year it will launch routes to the Nigerian cities Abuja and Kano plus Brussels, Chicago and Oslo.
Gary Noakes
