Emirates is strengthening its network in Asia on September 1 when it boosts its frequency to Perth, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, as well as launching a daily service to Beijing.
The Dubai-based airline also plans to increase the frequency of flight to Indonesia next year with a focus on religious tourists traveling to Middle East.

This comes as it rolls out its new generation of lie-flat Business Class between Dubai and London Gatwick. By year’s end, another six jets will have the new product.

“In the highly competitive segment for premium travellers, Emirates has a clear lead with a superior all-round product,” says Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline.

From October 29, the airline will also boost its North African network with five flights a week to Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, all flights include stopovers in Tripoli, Libya.

The Emirates Group has doubled in size approximately every four years and last month there was even a persistent rumour among city traders that the airline would make a takeover bid for British Airways.

The airline has also ramped up its marketing visibility, especially in the wake of its sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup this year.

With an estimated television audience of more than two billion viewers watching the final between Italy and France, Emirates’ worldwide recognition is expected to have grown significantly.

Recently the airline won the prestigious fifth airline strategy marketing award, organised by Airline Business magazine for their efforts in this area.

The airline is also expected to increase fares by 50 dirhams ($13.61) as of August 28 to offset the rise in fuel costs.

Eyeing Australia

Emirates is also campaigning to double flights to Australia by 2014. Formal aviation talks with the United Arab Emirates will get under way later this year.

However, already the plans have had a cool response from the country’s Transport Minister Warren Truss. He told the Age newspaper that the airline is already a major player in the domestic market and that it will struggle to win more flights than it has now.

Emirates Airlines has also announced their willingness to open a direct passenger flight between Sao Paulo and the United Arab Emirates.

Emirates Airline has also been nominated at this year’s World Travel Awards in the category of World’s Leading Airline.
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