Emirates Airline in countrywide expansion of flights from India
05 Jul 2007
Emirates has said that it will progressively increase the number of its flights out of Chennai from the current nine flights per week, to 14 flights, by October 28. The date marks the start of the winter season in the aviation industry.
With the introduction of the additional flights, the seat capacity will increase by 1,400 a week.
According to Emirates officials, the number of flights from Chennai will go up to 11 from August 1. They also said that the nine flights from the city to Dubai have an average occupancy of 85 per cent.
With these additions Chennai will have the most traffic from Emirates, with two flights a day, after Mumbai, which is scheduled to have three flights a day by the beginning of winter.
Emirates officials said that India generally had a good load factor, which is the reason why the airline was going in for an expansion. They also pointed out that with the signing of the free trade agreement between India and the Gulf Co-operation Council the traffic in this sector was poised to increase further.
They also said that in recent years, the profile of passengers had expanded from job seekers to businessmen and leisure travelers.
Emirates currently operate a fleet of 105 Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft, flying to 90 destinations worldwide.
