Not to invest in any domestic airline: Emirates

Dubai-based Emirates Airline Wednesday said that it will not invest in any of the Indian domestic passenger carriers and that it will grow its operational organically in India.

"We at Emirates believe in growing our business organically," Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, vice president, India and Nepal for Emirates said adding that there are no plans to invest in any of the Indian passenger carriers by the Dubai-based airline.

Currently, the Dubai-based airline flies to 10 Indian destinations with a frequency of 185 flights per week.

Emirates decision not to invest in any of the Indian passenger carriers assumes significance as last year, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways invested in Jet Airways by buying out a 24 percent stake for Rs.2,069 crore ($380 million).

After the transaction Etihad has been expanding its operations in India and giving tough competition to other airlines with its partner Jet Airways. Both the airlines are doling out offers to attract flyers.

Apart from Jet Airways, Air India too has joined global interline network of Star Allinace to provide more destinations and seamless travel connectivity to its passengers.

Interestingly, according to Airport Authority of India (AAI) data Emirates market share stands at the third position as the largest outbound airline at 10.8 percent. It is preceded by Jet at second place and Air India as the largest carrier of Indians abroad.

In terms of bring the jumbo A380 in to Delhi, Ahmad said that there are no plans as such.
In July the Dubai-based airlines started daily flights between Mumbai and Dubai with the Airbus A380.

The airline become the only second international passenger carrier to operate into India with Airbus A380.

The super jumbo can accommodate up to 853 passengers in a single-class configuration and a capacity of 525 passengers in a three-class configuration.

A unique feature on the Emirates A380 is the on-board shower spas for the first class passengers.