Airline operator Emirates’ daily flights out of the King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is the only international year-long flight out of Durban and is performing consistently well, Emirates Southern Africa regional manager Fouad Caunhye tells Engineering News.

He adds that the airline operator’s service is providing significant connectivity options through the airline’s Dubai hub, in the United Arab Emirates.

“During our last seasonal peak, from December 2013 to January 2014, Emirates flew two extra flights between Durban and Dubai to satisfy the demand. The numbers continue to be encouraging and, judging by passenger growth, it is clear that our confidence in the gateway was justified.”

Caunhye adds that the average load factor has been increasing since the gateway opened in 2009. This resulted in Emirates replacing the Airbus A330-200 with the new 354-seat Boeing 777-300ER in a two-class configuration, which has increased passenger capacity on the Durban route by about 30%.

“In addition, the introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER increased the cargo capacity by more than 90% on the route. This additional capacity was easily used by Durban’s trading community and, as a result, Emirates also operates a specialised freighter on this route,” he explains.

Emirates operates six daily flights between South Africa and Dubai, and onward from Dubai to more than 140 destinations in 80 countries across six continents. “Over the last 24 months, Emirates has increased capacity from the Durban and Cape Town gateways with the introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER, placing Emirates in a unique position to meet capacity in the near term.

“Emirates would like to have more than a token presence in a particular city. We prefer a robust presence, with flights taking place on a daily basis as the minimum, eventually building up to two or three flights a day. To that end, we have invested in the right mix with the number of aircraft in a fleet or the aircraft on order, route rights and airport infrastructure,” Caunhye states.

Soaring Service
Caunhye notes that Emirates would like to be the first-choice airline for its products and services, rather than being the only airline to fly in and out of a particular gateway. “At Emirates, we aim to make the flying experience as important as the destination itself and we will continue to invest significantly in the passenger experience, adding perks and comforts that have not been seen before.”

Owing to Dubai’s central location, he believes that Dubai is an ideal transfer hub for east-to-west and north-to-south air traffic.

“Emirates benefits greatly from Dubai’s strategic location, which allows for point-to-point services almost anywhere in the world. With Emirates creating new routes at a high rate, the Airbus’s A380 is an ideal aircraft for such a strategy, offering the greatest number of seats on a route that is served once a day to connect it from Dubai to the rest of the world,” says Caunhye.

Emirates expanded its A380 services to Europe, Australia, Mauritius and the US last year and has announced forthcoming operations to India. The aircraft also services Barcelona Airport, in Spain; Gatwick Airport, in London, UK; and Zurich Airport, in Switzerland.