On 25th October 1985, Emirates® flew its first routes out of Dubai with just two aircraft - a leased Boeing 737 and Airbus 300 B4. Then, as now, our goal was quality, not quantity, and in the years since taking those first small steps onto the regional travel scene, Emirates® has evolved into a globally influential travel and tourism conglomerate known the world over for our commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of our business.
Though wholly owned by the Government of Dubai, Emirates® has grown in scale and stature not through protectionism but through competition-competition with the ever-growing number of international carriers that take advantage of Dubai’s open-skies policy. Not only do we support that policy, but we see it as vital to maintaining our identity and our competitiveness. After making its initial start-up investment, the Government of Dubai saw fit to treat Emirates® as a wholly independent business entity, and today we are thriving because of it. Our growth has never been lower than 20 per cent annually, and the airline has recorded an annual profit in every year since its third in operation.
Continuing our explosive growth while continually striving to provide the best service in the industry is the secret of Emirates’® success. The Emirates Group announced record net profits of Dhs 3.5 billion (US$ 942 million) for the financial year ended 31st March 2007. The 28.8 per cent increase in profits versus the previous year speaks of a promising future of an airline we feel is greater than the sum of its many parts, which now include:
- An award-winning international cargo division
- A full-fledged destination management and leisure division
- An international ground-handler
- An airline IT developer.
Flying to more destinations on more aircraft every day
With a fleet of 113 aircraft, we currently fly to over 100 destinations in 62 countries around the world, and our network is expanding constantly. Nearly 800 Emirates® flights depart Dubai each week on their way to destinations on five continents. In fact, Emirates® flights account for nearly 40 per cent of all flight movements in and out of Dubai International Airport, and our aim is to increase this market-share to 70 per cent by 2010 without compromising our reputation for quality.
Toward this end, Emirates® has made numerous significant announcements regarding the future of its already state-of-the-art fleet.
In 2001, Emirates® demonstrated its confidence in the industry’s future growth by announcing the largest order in aviation history, valued at US$15 billion. A staggering 58 new aircraft, a mix of Airbus and Boeing, were to join the rapidly expanding fleet.
In 2005, Emirates® announced the largest-ever order for the Boeing 777 family of aircraft - 42 in all – in a deal worth Dhs 35.7 billion (US$ 9.7 billion).
We also have 55 of the A380 double-decker super-jumbos on order, scheduled for delivery starting August 2008.
Emirates’® current order-book stands at 244 aircraft, with a total value of approximately US$60 billion. In combination with what is already the youngest and one of the most modern fleets in worldwide commercial aviation, this commitment to the future reflects our goal to develop Dubai into a comprehensive, global, long-haul aviation hub. In the financial year 2006/2007, Emirates® carried 17.5 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo. We look forward to a bright future in which we carry many millions more across a growing network of international destinations.