Emirates targets new record in 25th year
MIDDLE East airline Emirates has hailed the phenomenal growth of its Manchester operations over the last 25 years.
Since launching its first flights in 1990 – a twice weekly service to Dubai via Frankfurt – the airline has carried 7.5 million passengers, four million in the last four years as demand from the region grew.
Last year 795,000 people used its three daily flights, and bosses expect further growth in 2015 thanks to a 13% increase in capacity this month after a second A380 was brought on to the route.
Laurie Berryman, Emirates Vice President, UK, said: “Manchester is the third busiest airport in the UK and demand for flights to Dubai, and beyond, has increased significantly during our 25 years of operating out of the airport.
This is due, in part, to the continued economic growth of Manchester and the wider North West region – now seen as a key international hub for business people.”
He welcomed the arrival of Cathay Pacific to Manchester as a positive sign that Manchester is being seen as a key northern hub.
“People said when Etihad and Qatar came to Manchester it would hurt us. It hasn’t, we’ve all grown together. Competition is a good thing.”
He said Manchester and Birmingham airports were both in for a “very good” 10 years as a result of the capacity constraints in the South East.
As well as operating the three flights, Emirates sponsors Lancashire Cricket Club’s Old Trafford ground and also Warrington Wolves rugby league club. Significantly too it employs almost 400 staff in Manchester at the airport and at a multilingual customer contact centre at Manchester Business Park.
Popular routes from the North West via Dubai include Australia, India, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong, while the Maldives and Mauritius are particularly popular with holidaymakers.
The airline operates a three class service, first, business and economy. First class on the A380 – which includes private compartments and on-board showers – is popular with Premier League footballers and their familes, he said, along with leisure customers treating themselves for a special birthday or anniversary.
Berryman said: “Our catchment is right across to places like Harrogate in the east and to the Scottish borders. We of course offer our first and business customers a chauffeur drive service from home, which is attractive.”
