Emirates targets 70m passengers in 2020

Emirates recently announced its intent to fly 70 million passengers in 2020. The airline together with its partners in Dubai is already progressing on plans to ensure right infrastructure is in place to support and capitalise on this growth. These plans were unveiled by Emirates Airline president Tim Clark during a presentation to Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), who were visiting UAE to make their final decision on the host city for the World Expo 2020. Dubai is a candidate city. “By 2020, we will have more than 250 aircraft serving some 70 million passengers across six continents. It will make us the largest airline on the planet by international passenger traffic. However, being the biggest airline in the world is not really the end goal. Our aim has always been to connect travellers from around the world to Dubai. Our location is a key advantage,” said Clark. At present, Emirates operates nearly 3,200 flights globally per week to 135 destinations in 76 countries. “We plan for the long-term and these plans include working closely with our stakeholders in Dubai. It is a partnership, guided by a clear and steady leadership that recognises aviation as a key economic driver, espouses open competition, and fosters a consensus-based approach to investment,” explained Clark. Visitor and traffic growth at Dubai International airport has grown with international passenger numbers doubling from 24.8 million in 2005 to 47.2 million in 2010. Last year, the airport handled 57 million passengers from 225 destinations, travelling in on more than 140 airlines including Emirates. In 2020, Dubai expects to welcome over 20 million visitors and airport infrastructure has been gearing up to meet this demand. Source: Travel Daily