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Dubai airport on fast growth track
By Ivan GaleStaff Reporter
Published: October 08, 2007, 23:16


Dubai: A record 34 million passengers are expected to pass through Dubai International Airport in 2007, enabling it to report year-on-year growth of 18 per cent, according to the Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) department.

Results from the first nine months show that the airport is well on track for such growth.

Passenger throughput reached 25.4 million between January and September compared with 21.3 million for the same period in 2006, according to DCA. The number of freight tonnage carried through Dubai Cargo Village also rose by 11 per cent, to 1.13 tonnes as compared with 1.02 tons with the corresponding period.

Dubai airport, which is currently undergoing a Dh15 billion ($4.1 billion) expansion, is the largest aviation hub in the Middle East and North Africa. Aircraft movements grew by 10 per cent, from 174,700 flights for the first nine months of 2006 to 192,000 flights so far this year.

"Any airport operator would be satisfied with this kind of growth approaching 20 per cent," said David Kaminski-Morrow, an editor at London-based Air Transport International. He attributed the success to its status as an open skies airport, its position as a connecting hub, especially for fast-growing Asian routes, and the expansion of Emirates and Dubai itself as a business destination.

Since 2000, passenger numbers at the airport have risen by at least 15 per cent each year, leading to capacity constraints that should be alleviated with new facilities opening in May 2008.

Dubai airport was designed to handle 25 million passengers, a level of traffic reached in 2005 when it carried 24.8 million travellers. In 2006, the airport handled 28.8 million passengers. The robust growth propelled the airport up the rankings to become the 10th largest airport by international traffic, according Airports Council International. Today Dubai International is used by 118 international airlines flying to more than 200 destinations.

So has Dubai airport become a victim of its own success?

"Absolutely," said a DCA spokesperson. "That's why the expansion arriving in May 2008 is so important."

That's when the first facilities of Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 open to the public, adding substantial capacity. By 2010, Dubai airport will be able to accommodate up to 75 million passengers.

Emirates airline, which accounts for up to 60 per cent of the traffic, will begin moving to the new concourse facilities, freeing up space for other airlines.

Kaminski-Morrow said Dubai aviation authorities have managed the growth well, and that the rise in passenger numbers hasn't led to problems that often arise when airports become crowded.

"This doesn't appear to be the case at Dubai - it has a new terminal building, and the city is already well on its way towards opening World Central Airport which ought to be able to cope easily with future demand," he said.

Dubai is building a second international airport at a 140-square kilometre site in Jebel Ali, which, once completed, will have six parallel runways, six concourses, two terminals and serve 120 million passengers by 2015.

Together, both airports will have the capacity to serve 190 million passenger annually.
 
The first ever non-stop flight between the Middle East and South America

DUBAI, U.A.E., 1st October 2007 - Emirates, the international Dubai-based airline, made history on Monday when EK261 took off from Dubai International Airport en-route to Sao Paulo, Brazil; representing the first ever non-stop flight between the Middle East and South America.

Emirates is using its technically advanced Boeing 777-200LR on the route, with Brazil becoming the 60th country and Sao Paulo the 94th destination on the airline’s rapidly expanding network.

Passengers from over 12 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Australia, joined the first flight to Sao Paulo after connecting through Dubai from other Emirates flights.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Today marks an important milestone for Emirates; not only is it our first gateway in South America, but it means we now fly non-stop to six continents from Dubai.

“Our services provide a perfect match for business people and leisure travellers from the whole Middle East region, Africa, Far East and Australia seeking a convenient route to South America. The service will also offer Dubai as a new tourist and business destination to the relatively untapped market of South America.

“We look forward to developing closer ties with Brazil and we thank the Brazilian Government and airport officials for making this route possible.”
On board the first flight from Dubai to Sao Paulo was His Excellency Flavio Moreira Sapha, the Brazilian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Passengers travelling on the Dubai – Sao Paulo route will enjoy unrivalled in-flight service, including eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy.

The aircraft is fitted with the ice Digital Widescreen - Emirates' next generation inflight entertainment system, offering over 1,000 channels of movies, TV and game entertainment on demand - more than any other airline offers, by far.

Captain Stefan Prugner, Emirates’ Deputy Chief Pilot, Boeing, was at the controls of the historic flight, assisted on the flight deck by Captain Murilo Mariozi, First Officer Ali Al Jallaf and First Officer Hassan Asad Hassan Abdulla Abdulwahed.

Departing Dubai at 10:00 hrs, the flight time was 15 hours and 30 minutes with an arrival time at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport of 18:30 hrs on the same day. The return flight, EK262, departs Sao Paulo at 01:25 hrs and arrives in Dubai at 23:05 hrs on the same day.

Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of Emirates Airline, will offer its customers a blend of samba, carnival, natural settings and beach culture. The highlights will be Sao Paulo, the Brazilian vanguard and cultural centre, and Rio de Janeiro, famous for its carnival celebrations, the beat of samba and its vibrant beaches.

Emirates Holidays packages the best of Brazil, taking the discerning traveller on a country tour to discover the most magnificent natural scenarios such as Rio’s Corcovado Mountain, the waterfalls of Iguaçu and the tropical rainforest of the Amazon.

The largest wholesale tour operator in the Middle East is offering great value vacations to Brazil. From AED 6,186 per person, Emirates Holidays provides a three-night stay at the four-star Crowne Plaza in Sao Paulo. The offer, valid until end-December, includes return economy class airfare on Emirates, hotel accommodation in superior room, arrival meet-and-assist in Sao Paulo, transfers between the airport and hotel, and daily breakfasts.

For those who choose to upgrade their package, Emirates Holidays is offering three nights at the five-star Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi from AED 26,775 per person, including return business class airfare, hotel accommodation in a deluxe room, assistance on arrival, transfers, and daily breakfast.
 
^^ Krazy used to be the first to do it ... but then he become a mod. :runaway:
 
$20bn EMIRATES TO FLOAT

Investors will have another chance to buy into the Dubai story as Emirates airline prepares for a share float that will value the company at more than $20 billion, or Dh73bn.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates, said an initial public offering – or IPO – was now part of the major airline’s strategy.

The move comes nine days after international ports operator DP World announced it would list 20 per cent of its stock on the Dubai International Financial Exchange next month. This will be the largest IPO in the Middle East to date – and the first sale of shares by a Dubai Government-owned company.

“The DP World IPO is a very positive thing,” Sheikh Ahmed told British newspaper The Times. “I think for sure Emirates will also, in the future, do something like that.

I think more and more Dubai companies will see that this [an IPO] is important in the near future.” Analysts believe Emirates, the Middle East’s largest carrier, is likely to seek a primary listing in Dubai of up to a quarter of its stock.

The airline’s president, Tim Clark, told newswires the company’s valuation could be as high as $30bn, or Dh110bn.

“Based on our multiples and profitability, and our Heathrow slots, I would say we should be valued at between $20bn and $30bn,” he said, adding that “$20bn is a minimum”.

A spokesperson for Emirates confirmed Sheikh Ahmed’s comments. “As expressed by our chairman, an IPO rests with our owners, the Government of Dubai,” he said.

Emirates, with a fleet of 110 aircraft, is not just one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, it is also one of the most profitable. Over the past three years the carrier’s profit has grown at a rate higher than 10 per cent a year.

It has an additional 112 aircraft on order worth more than $30bn at list prices. And it is the largest customer for the Airbus A380 with 55 superjumbos on order.

The airline is taking delivery of an aircraft a month on average and is due to receive its first A380 in August 2008.

“The plan is to increase the fleet size to 180 aircraft by 2013,” Clark said last month.

“That would boost the network of 85 destinations to 110 by adding destinations in South and North America, Africa and East Asia,” he said.

Rumours about Emirates buying British Airways have been circulating. But Sheikh Ahmed ruled out a bid saying Emirates would focus on its own growth strategy.

Emirates is likely to float on both the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX), a source close to the two markets has told Emirates Today.

This would see the airline’s initial public offering (IPO) divided into two tranches so that local investors could trade the stock on the DFM, while international players could do the same on the DIFX.

The source claims an Emirates IPO would provide a major support for Dubai’s capital’s markets, with the DIFX by then rebranded the Nasdaq DIFX, although no timescale has been announced for the airline floatation.

Analysts believe Emirates will follow the lead of DP World, which this month announced an IPO to float 20 per cent of the company, enabling the Dubai Government, which wholly owns the airline, to retain control.

“Twenty per cent would be enough for an initial IPO, although it depends which market Emirates lists on – I suspect the DIFX,” said Sherif Abdul Khalek, Al-Futtaim HC Securities dealing room manager.

“Emirates is becoming one of the largest airlines in the world and this will boost its profile even further. Emirates will be a blur chip stock on the DIFX,” he said.

Typically, a well-established firm with no liquidity problems, such as Emirates, would not float more than a fifth of the company, according to Mohamed Alami, Naeem Shares and Bonds relationship manager.

Alami said the size of the IPO would depend on whether Emirates opts for floatation of part of the existing company or a rights issue to increase its capital.

“If it’s a rights issues then the IPO will depend on how much cash the company wants to raise,” Alami added.

The proposed IPO suggests Emirates is planning another bold expansion, perhaps using the cash generated to open new routes or acquire additional craft. It currently has a fleet of 110 aircraft, with a further 112 on order worth a combined Dh110 billion.

“Emirates is expanding fast and so investors will want to be part of the IPO,” said Sanyalaq Manibhandu, Mac Sharaf Securities head of research.

“This means we will soon see the part-privatisation of DP World and Emirates and I expect the likes of Emirates Post and Dubal [Dubai Aluminium] to follow in the coming quarters and years,” Manibhandu added. EFG Hermes yesterday announced that customers registered to trade on the DFM can now use this account to do the same on the DIFX.
 
^^ So both your legs of the journey can be in a A380? ... or there is a direct flight to Manchester?
 
^^ So both your legs of the journey can be in a A380? ... or there is a direct flight to Manchester?
IM in london.... fool.


soon to be australi..a..a..a..a


Emirates fly to London, birmingham, manchester and newcastle, which is why they are making it so hard for BA/Quantas to compete.
 
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