Emirates Group reports profits amid surge in passengers

The Emirates Group has seen a 68 per cent rise in profits for the first half of the year, amid a surge in passenger traffic on flights to Dubai.

Net income climbed to $575 million (£362 million) for the six months to the end of September when compared to $343 million the previous year.

The load factor increased to 80 per cent, while revenue and other operating income increased 17 per cent to $10.4 billion.

Emirates Group encompasses the Emirates airline and ground-handling unit Dnata.

These figures come after the group added 15 new routes since September last year.

Last month, it also struck a deal with Qantas on routes between European nations and Australia via its Dubai airport, replacing Singapore as the stopover point.

Chairman and chief executive officer Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said in a statement: “Emirates remained focused on its growth and global expansion despite on-going fluctuating exchange rates and ever lingering high fuel prices which accounted for 39 percent of our expenditures.”

Written by Nicholas Scott