Emirates

Emirates are Islamic territories ruled by Emirs (q.v.).

Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات al-Imārāt) is one of the airlines that fly from the United Arab Emirates. It was established in 1985. Its IATA designator is EK. It hubs Dubai International Airport in Dubai.

Emirates flies to 79 different passenger destinations (80 different airports) in Europe, Africa, Asia, the USA, and Australia. The airline is considering flying to Canada and South America.

Emirates codeshares rail service to stations in France with SNCF French Rail. Emirates codeshares rail to Germany on Deutsche Bahn's AiRail service.

The current chairman of Emirates is Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The vice chairman and group president is Maurice Flanagan.

Emirates SkyCargo is the cargo subsidiary of Emirates.

In 2005, Emirates Group achieved a record result of Dh2.6 billion ($708 million) net profit from Dh19.1 billion ($5.2 billion) operating revenue in what was another difficult year for the global aviation industry, marred by high fuel prices and the natural disaster in South East Asia.

In 2005, Emirates carried 12.52 million passengers, 2.1 million more than the previous year.

For 2004–05, Emirates will pay an increased dividend of Dh368 million to the Government of Dubai, compared to Dh329 million last year. In total, the ownership will have received Dh1.1 billion from Emirates since dividends started being paid six years ago. The Dubai government is the sole owner of the company, but does not put any money into it, apart from the initial investment.

Fleet

Passenger Fleet:

• Airbus A340
  • A340–300
  • A340–500
  • A340–600
• Boeing 777
  • B777–200
  • B777–300
  • B777–300ER
• Airbus A330–200

The airline once operated Boeing 727's, Airbus A310's, and Airbus A300's.

Emirates has ordered 45 Airbus A380 aircraft. It will be the third airline to receive the aircraft, after launch airline Singapore Airlines and then Qantas. 41 passenger A380s are to be purchased and 2 are to be leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). 2 freighter A380s have been ordered for Emirates SkyCargo. The first A380 will be delivered to Emirates in October 2006 (ref: Airliner World, March 2005). As of 2005, Emirates has an orderbook of Dh110 billion, involving 97 firm orders, including 45 Airbus A380s, by far the largest of any carrier.

Passenger Destinations

• See full article: Emirates destinations

Other facts of interest

• Emirates is the title sponsor of the Dubai World Cup thoroughbred horse race and was a major sponsor of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.
• United States astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were passengers on the airline's first flight from Dubai to New York City.
• Emirates is the main sponsor behind the America's Cup challenge team Emirates Team New Zealand, made from the remnants of Team New Zealand who won the cup in 1996, and defended in 2000 before losing it in 2003.
• Emirates is currently main sponsor of Chelsea F.C., and will become main sponsor of Arsenal F.C. from the 2005/2006 English football season. See also Emirates Stadium.
• Emirates also holds the sponsorship rights for cricket umpires and association football referees.

External links

• Emirates
• The Emirates Group
• Emirates Skycargo

The picture of the Emirates A345 was taken by Dennis Lau, and taken with permission from Airliners.net.