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Emirates Airline profit dives 69 percent in ‘tough’ year
DUBAI, May 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Emirates Airline reported a 69 percent drop
in net profits Thursday on high fuel prices and a strong dollar in what it
described as a “tough” year.
The Dubai carrier posted $237 million in net profits for the financial
year ending in March compared to $765 million in the previous year, it said
in a statement.
“2018-19 has been tough, and our performance was not as strong as we would
have liked,” the chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group, Sheikh Ahmed
bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said in a statement.
“Higher oil prices and the strengthened US dollar eroded our earnings,
even as competition intensified in our key markets,” he said.
The airline said that the strengthening of the US dollar against most of
the currencies of its key markets eroded $156 million from profits.
Its fuel bill increased by 25 percent to $8.4 billion, its biggest-ever.
Emirates said it transported 58.6 million passengers , almost unchanged
from the previous year.
The region’s — and one of the world’s — biggest carriers said that
despite the drop in profits, it invested $3.9 billion last year in new
aircraft and equipment, and in acquisitions.
In February, Emirates cut 39 aircraft from its order for the Airbus 380
superjumbo, reducing it 123 and leading the European manufacturer to scrap
production of the world’s largest passenger airliner.
The airline invested part of the savings in orders for 40 A330-900s and 30
A350-900s, a deal worth $21.4 billion.
During the year, Emirates received seven A380s and six Boeing 777-300s and
phased out 11 aircraft, expanding its fleet to 270 large planes.
The airline said that despite tough competition, its revenues increased by
three percent last year to $26.7 billion.
It said that its results were also affected by a drop in global air
freight demand and a weak travel market, especially in the Middle East.
BSS/AFP/HR/1458