Emirates promotes Dubai
Emirates is promoting the "Dubai Stopover Package" to Thai and international markets until next October as the spearhead of its network expansion globally over five years when it receives 180 aircraft.
The package, introduced worldwide last month, offers passengers travelling with Emirates into Dubai a hotel room starting at US$39 (Bt1,200) per person per night for a two-night stay based on two people to a room.
Transit passengers on Emirates will also be granted a one-day visa, 24-hour check-in at 60 hotels and transfer services.
Khalid Bardan, area manager for Thailand and Indochina, said yesterday that the new campaign would draw more Thais to visit Dubai despite instability issues and the recent inundation.
The average load factor on the Bangkok-Dubai route is expected to drop to about 85 per cent this year from more than 90 per cent last year.
“The flooding in Thailand and other issues disturbed our business this year, but so far our performance is in the black,” he said.
The airline expects its load factor to bounce back and soar higher than 90 per cent in the coming year thanks to attractive promotions.
“The Thai market still holds potential for Emirates. We are promoting ourselves as a stopover between Asia and Europe and other regions and opening new destinations,” he said.
The airline operates 28 flights per week between Bangkok and Dubai while only one rival, Thai Airways International, is in the same market.
The airline’s fleet of 164 aircraft serves 116 destinations in 68 countries. It has placed an order for 240 planes, and full delivery is scheduled by 2016.
Starting on January 3, the carrier will operate a daily non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro with an extension to Buenos Aires in South America, utilising the Boeing 777-300ER.
It will add new destinations in the United States such as Seattle and Dallas as well as Lusaka and Harare in Africa.
The airline keeps expanding to more places even while facing many problems.
“Having new services and destinations will help Thais explore their horizons and also experience our new services,” Bardan said.
One of the highlights at Emirates is the superjumbo Airbus A380, of which the airline has 19, with 11 already equipped with Wi-Fi and on-board telephone connections. The rest will be fitted with similar features by next year.
