Emirates

From Freepedia

Emirates are Islamic territories ruled by Emirs (q.v.).

Emirates
Image:Emirates logo.png
IATA EK	ICAO UAE	Callsign Emirates
Founded		May 1985
Hubs		Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Fleet size		74
Destinations
Headquarters		Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Key people
Website		www.emirates.com

Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات al-Imārāt) is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It operates services to the Middle East, Far East, Europe, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Asia-Pacific and North America. Its main base is Dubai International Airport.

Emirates is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

1 History
2 Services
3 Fleet
4 Other facts of interest
5 External links

History

The airline was established in May 1985 by the Dubai government and started operations on 25 October 1985 with flights to Bombay, Delhi and Karachi. European destinations were added in July 1987 and Far Eastern services in June 1990. Emirates acquired a financial stake of 40% and management contract on 1 April 1998 in Air Lanka, now known as Sri Lankan Airlines. Emirates SkyCargo is the cargo subsidiary of Emirates.

For 2004-05, Emirates paid an increased dividend of Dh368 million to the Government of Dubai, compared to Dh329 million last year. In total, the ownership received Dh1.1 billion from Emirates since dividends started being paid six years ago. The Dubai government is the sole owner of the company, but does not put any money into it, apart from the initial investment.

Image:Emirates timetable.JPG

In fiscal year 2005, Emirates achieved a record result of Dh2.6 billion ($708 million) net profit from Dh19.1 billion ($5.2 billion) operating revenue in what was another difficult year for the global aviation industry, marred by high fuel prices and the natural disaster in South East Asia. Emirates carried 12.52 million passengers, 2.1 million more than the previous year. It employs 16,119 staff.

Image:EmiratesA345.PNG

Services

See full article: Emirates destinations.

Fleet

The Emirates fleet consists of the following aircraft (at October 2005):

2 Airbus A310-300
29 Airbus A330-200
8 Airbus A340-300
9 Airbus A340-500 (further 1 on order)
4 Boeing 747-400 SkyCargo
9 Boeing 777-200
17 Boeing 777-300 (further 14 on order)

Image:A380.emirates.736pix.jpg

Emirates has ordered 45 Airbus A380 aircraft. It will be the third airline to receive the aircraft, after launch airline Singapore Airlines and then Qantas. 41 passenger A380s are to be purchased and 2 are to be leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). 2 freighter A380s have been ordered for Emirates SkyCargo. The first A380 will be delivered to Emirates in October 2006 (ref: Airliner World, March 2005). As of 2005, Emirates has an orderbook of Dh110 billion, involving 97 firm orders, including 45 Airbus A380s, by far the largest of any carrier.

Emirates also has orders for 18 Airbus A340-600 aircraft and 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Orders have also been made for A310-300 freighters, and 1 more A340-500.

The airline once operated Boeing 727's and Airbus A300's.

Other facts of interest

Emirates is the title sponsor of the Dubai World Cup thoroughbred horse race and was a major sponsor of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.
United States astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were passengers on the airline's first flight from Dubai to New York City.
Emirates is the main sponsor behind the America's Cup challenge team Emirates Team New Zealand, made from the remnants of Team New Zealand who won the cup in 1996, and defended in 2000 before losing it in 2003.
Emirates is currently main sponsor of Collingwood Football Club and will become main sponsor of Arsenal F.C. from the 2005/2006 English football season. See also Emirates Stadium.
Emirates also holds the sponsorship rights for cricket umpires and association football referees.
Emirates is a major sponsor of the Melbourne Cup