Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, saw an unprecedented surge in passenger numbers this summer. Between June and August, the airline transported more than 14 million passengers with a remarkable average seat occupancy of over 80% across its expansive global network.
Dubai Continues to Attract Global Tourists
Demand for international travel is predicted to remain robust according to Emirates‘ upcoming booking patterns. The allure of Dubai as a premier holiday spot intensifies during the summer, pulling in two million tourists to the airline’s hub every year. The leading markets travelling to Dubai on Emirates this summer included nations such as the UK, India, Germany, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt, and Kuwait. Families, which account for over 35% of the passengers, typically spend more than a fortnight in the city, exploring its myriad attractions.
In anticipation of the winter season, an uptick in the travel demand to Dubai is on the cards. The city, which hosted more than 8.5 million international guests in the first half of 2023 — a growth of nearly one million from last year — boasts a rich itinerary of global conferences, top-tier sporting events, and much more.
Expansive Operations and Partnerships
During the summer months, Emirates orchestrated close to 50,000 flights, connecting 140 cities and serving over 14 million passengers. With collaborations spanning 157 airlines and rail firms, Emirates grants access to over 800 cities in a whopping 100 countries, thus expanding the horizons of travel beyond its primary network.
“Demand for travel across our network has been strong and resilient despite increasing cost of living pressures in many markets. This demonstrates the value people place on travel, whether for work, leisure, study or to visit loved ones; and how essential international air connectivity is to communities,” commented Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer.
Summer 2023: A Peek into Emirates’ Operations
- Initiation of a direct service to Montreal via Boeing 777-300ERs.
- Ramped-up flights to 12 cities including Athens, Brisbane, and Bangkok to cater to the summer demand.
- Reintroduction of daily A380 flights to destinations like Birmingham and Nice.
- Pioneering an A380 service to Bali, marking the first of its kind in Indonesia.
- Deployment of a 4-class A380 service, inclusive of Premium Economy seats, to cities like Singapore and Los Angeles.
- Fresh interline and codeshare pacts inked with global carriers like Kenya Airways and Air Canada.
Related: Emirates and Air Canada Add Montreal to Their Codeshare Agreement
