Company Watch - Emirates Airlines.

Nov 13, 2006

Emirates wants in-flight cellphone use by January. Emirates Airline's plan to allow in-flight cellphone use is pending approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency, and the airline wants to have the system, which operates at minimum power levels, installed in the first of its Boeing 777 fleet in January. An estimated 80% of air passengers carry mobile phones. The system allows only five calls to be made from an aircraft at any one time, so some predict most travelers will use text messaging over calling. Nov 10, 2006

Emirates half-year profit soars to $323 million on 30% rise in revenues. Emirates reported a $323 million net profit for the first half of its fiscal year, widened from $251 million in the year-ago period, on a 30% jump in revenues to $3.67 billion, marking the highest first-half profit in its history. Nov 7, 2006

Emirates Profit Rises, Offsets Fuel Costs. Emirates said first-half profit rose 29 percent after the Dubai government-owned company offset higher fuel costs by carrying more passengers and cargo. Net income in the six months to September 30 climbed to USD$323 million, compared with USD$251 million in the year-earlier period, Emirates said in a statement. Operating revenue rose 30 percent to USD$3.67 billion, it said. Nov 6, 2006

Emirates fuel costs climbed above USD$1 billion, equivalent to 30.7 percent of total operating costs, without giving a comparison. Revenue from cargo operations rose 29 percent to 2.7 billion dirhams (USD$735.1 million). Nov 6, 2006

Emirates is banking on long-range, high-capacity aircraft to tap passenger and cargo traffic from as far away as east Asia and North America through its hub in Dubai to compete with global carriers including Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Nov 6, 2006

Emirates hopes to offer in-flight mobile phone use. Emirates next year hopes to become the first airline to offer voice and text phone service. The airline has signed an agreement with AeroMobile, but it still needs regulatory approval. Onboard technology would allow a traveler to make up to five calls. Nov 9, 2006

Emirates weighs up fleet options, possibly rolling over Airbus A330s to fill A380 delay void. Emirates is undertaking a major evaluation of fleet upgrade options following the two-year delay to its Airbus A380 order, in a move that could see it roll over its A330 fleet with new aircraft. Nov 10, 2006

Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Oct 30, 2006