Emirates expects to fly 70 million passengers in 2020, and the airline, together with its partners in Dubai, are already progressing on plans to ensure the right infrastructure are in place to support and capitalise on this growth.

These plans were unveiled by Emirates Airline president Tim Clark at a presentation to delegates of Bureau International des Expositions, who were visiting the UAE to make their final decision on the host city for the World Expo 2020. Dubai is a candidate city.

“By 2020, we will have more than 250 aircraft serving some 70 million passengers across six continents. It will make us the largest airline on the planet by international passenger traffic,” said Mr Clark.

“However, being the biggest airline in the world is not really the end goal. Our aim has always been to connect travellers from around the world to Dubai, and other destinations with just a single stop via our hub. The strategic location of Dubai makes it possible for us to serve almost 90 per cent of the world’s population with non-stop flights. Our location is a key advantage. The leaders of Dubai recognised this from the onset, and that is why Emirates is investing in the most advanced, long-haul aircraft, and why Dubai has invested over the years to develop its infrastructure for international commerce and tourism.”

Over a third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight from Dubai, and two-thirds are within an eight-hour flight.

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