“Dubai International is connected to some 240 destinations across six continents through more than 100 airlines,” disclosed Riley As Nives Deininger, director of sales, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, also noted, the past years’ developments have helped Dubai become an ideal stopover destination boasting easy access to different locations.
As a result, figures from long-haul markets, such as Australia and South America, have been soaring.
Likewise, the destination has also established itself as a convenient hub to travel to and from another enormous market as well, reminded Arora.
“Africa is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and Dubai has been an ideal transit hub to connect African cities where direct flights are not yet available.”
Yet, for the time being, India remains Dubai International’s most significant destination country. Likewise, the UK retained its second position, followed by Saudi Arabia, however, in terms of percentage growth, North America showed the most impressive development with figures jumping 25 percent, fuelled by Emirates’ expansion on the continent.
Riley further posited that emerging middle class populations in India and China in particular are forecast to drive the lion’s share of passenger traffic growth over the next decade.
To better serve airlines and travellers, Dubai Airports has just opened the USD1.2 billion Concourse D – the final element of the USD7.8 billion Strategic Plan 2020 – lifting annual passenger capacity to 90 million and enabling the further growth of the emirate and its flagship carrier.
With all the developments, Emirates remains the largest contributor of passenger traffic at Dubai International and speaking about the airline’s pivotal role in opening up the destination to the world, Daniel Mathew, general manager, Millennium Plaza Hotel Dubai, said, “The growth of Dubai over the years has been anchored by Emirates which has grown by leaps and bounds […].
The airline has played a big part in the increase of tourism to Dubai, and this has been backed up by the vision of the ruler, who has created a destination within the destination.
This has helped Emirates create the largest stopover destination between East and West […].”
Indeed, in the financial year 2014/2015, the airline alone carried some 49.3 million travellers, thanks to its wide array of nonstop itineraries as well as its convenient connections to practically every part of the world. Over the same timeframe for example, the carrier offered European passengers 199 routes that were unique one-stop flights via Dubai, greatly boosting traffic at the emirate’s main hub.
Today, Emirates is the world’s biggest operator of wide-bodied jets, underscoring the company’s strategy, which, besides organic growth, also relies on strategic partnerships. Such alliances, like the one with Australia’s Qantas Airways, have enabled the airline to expand its coverage through codeshare agreements and broaden its customer base by offering well-timed onward connections via its base.
As a result, in 2014/2015, east Asia and Australasia accounted for 28.4 percent of the company’s revenue, positioning the region right after Europe, while the Americas made up 12.7 percent of the total with a whopping year-on-year surge of 20.2 percent.
To encourage travellers to take advantage of a layover, Emirates presents its own stopover packages with a wide range of hotels to choose from and a myriad of perks.
