Emirates will have more than 450 aircraft in its fleet by 2020. Emirates aims to increase its fleet size from 115 to 200 by 2012 to support its widening route network and to increase frequencies. It is scheduled to take deliveries of 22 planes this year.
ââ¬Å“Emirates has been doubling its size every 3 to 4 years since it started .I think we will continue that kind of growth , ââ¬Å“ said Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum , President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority , and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group , during a session at the World Travel and Tourism Council Summit .
Dubaiââ¬â„¢s strategic location has helped the airline in its rapid expansion. Shaikh Ahmad said Dubai International Airport is expected to handle 40 million passengers this year , 16.5 per cent more than the number in 2007 .
Dubai is expanding the existing airport at a cost of Dh 15 million and the second concourse and Terminal 3 will be ready in the next 3 months .
The airlineââ¬â„¢s current aircraft order book includes 58 A380 super jumbo jets , which Emirates plans to use both on short and long haul routes . Shaikh Ahmad said the airline strongly believes in the commercial viability of the A380 , which can carry 555 passengers in a typical three-class configuration .
Source : Gulf News
