Boeing 777 propels Emirates Airlines' growth

The long-haul aircraft requirement of Dubai for positioning itself as a major global hub in the Middle East (ME) Region has been mostly fulfilled by Boeing. Dubai-based Emirates Airlines is banking on Boeing 777 as its top priority and followed by Airbus A380. Emirates Airlines has emerged as the largest airline in the world operating both aircrafts. Emirates Airline has been working on its business strategy to transform Dubai into a global hub in the Region. It aims at becoming an unavoidable destination for passengers from Asia to Europe and the US. This makes the requirement of long-haul aircraft for the Emirates Airlines.

Some airlines rely on specific types of aircraft for making low-cost operations viable. But, it's a different ballgame for the world's biggest international airline by revenues per passenger kilometers. Emirates Airlines has strategized on leveraging the geographical location advantage as two-third of world's population lives within four hours by air and three-fourth population within eight hours by air.

Emirates Airlines targets long-haul with more passenger-carrying capacity. Emirates Airlines has been implementing its vision as per the time frame with changing business dynamics. The vision of the Emirates is very clear in connecting people, places and economies.

Emirates Airlines has taken possession of three Boeing 777 aircraft taking the total number to 150 including 13 freight carriers. The cargo fleet of Emirates Airlines includes two Boeing 747s as well. The extended seating capacity of Boeing 777 is in the range of 354 to 427 passengers. It's estimated that Emirates operated 859,053 flights of Boeing 777 as on 3 September.

Emirates Airlines is operating one of the youngest fleet in the world. It took delivery of 24 new aircraft during the last one year and deploying 26 new aircraft this year. The average age of aircraft in the fleet of Emirates Airlines is less than 75 months.

Emirates Airlines aims at providing better onboard services in addition to reducing environmental impact. Emirates Airlines is operating 234 wide-body aircraft in six types of aircraft. The Dubai airline prefers to invest in wide-body aircraft that's playing a key role in its global success.

Emirates has emerged as the airline with the world's largest wide-body passenger fleet of 218 aircraft and 14 freight carriers. Emirates added 27 aircraft in 2014 including 13 Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and two Boeing 777 freighters. The total aircraft fleet of Emirates includes 50 Airbus A380s and 100 Boeing 777 aircraft.

However, the natural calamities and other disturbances are impacting Emirates. The outbreak of Ebola, volatility in foreign exchange rates and oil price, and ongoing economic uncertainty in several nations are impacting the airlines operations globally.

Emirates Airlines operates flights to 79 countries and is operating Boeing 777 for 98 destinations. Boeing 777 enables Emirates to operate non-stop services to any city in flying range of 16hours. The rapid expansion of Emirates is also becoming a target of criticism. The competition from other Middle East airlines Etihad and Qatar Airlines is giving Emirates a tough time.

The US carriers American airlines, United and Delta are taking advantage of government subsidies. Aviation analysts observe that there's violation of open sky policy in the global aviation sector. However, Gulf airlines deny that they receive government subsidies.