ABSTRACT
It is fitting to conclude this book with an in-depth examination of the world’s most profitable airline in 2009/10.1 Emirates carved out $963 million in net profit in 2009/10, ahead of Air China, TAM and Cathay Pacific. Its all widebody fleet of 124 aircraft carried almost 27.5 million passengers in 2009/10, which represented a 21 per cent increase over the previous year achieved with an impressive 78 per cent load factor. It also transported 1.5 million tons of freight (Emirates Group Annual Report 2009/10). While many carriers throughout the world struggle for survival, Emirates has dazzled the aviation world by placing huge orders for widebody aircraft. By mid 2010 the carrier had placed orders for 90 A380s, together with 101 B777-300ER aircraft making the airline the world’s largest operator of such airplanes and shock waves rippled through the aviation world when it also ordered 70 new generation A350s. The Economist (2010) reported that Emirates expects to have 400 widebody aircraft in place by 2020, dwarfing the long-haul capacity of any other airline in the world and by which time it will be carrying almost 80 million passengers per year. In terms of revenues, it is now the world’s 11th largest carrier and is poised to overtake British Airways in 2010.
