Emirates enters winter season with stronger bookings, expanded capacity

Dhaka: Emirates is heading into the winter travel season with rising demand and plans to expand capacity across several key markets, following a stronger-than-expected summer performance.

The Dubai-based airline carried more than 8.6 million passengers during July and August, with seat load factors remaining healthy across its network. It is currently operating at about 93 percent of its pre-disruption capacity.

Winter bookings are running ahead of last year in markets including South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Demand for premium travel is also increasing, while Nepal has benefited from Emirates’ partnership with flydubai.

Dubai remained a major destination during the summer. More than 500,000 Emirates passengers arrived in the city in late August alone, a 7 percent increase from the same period last year.

Emirates has also accelerated fleet and cabin upgrades. Since January, it has added 18 aircraft, including 11 Airbus A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters. Six more A350s are expected by year-end. Its retrofit program has now covered 104 aircraft.

The airline will add Helsinki to its network on October 1 with A350 service and increase flights to Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Delhi will also receive an upgraded A380 service.

Emirates said its expanded partnership network gives customers access to more than 1,750 additional cities.