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Reducing Emirates flights to US is temporary - CEO

Reducing Emirates flights to US is temporary - CEO
Photo Credit: Arabianeye-Reuters

By: Amr Adel

Dubai - Mubasher: The CEO and chairman of Fly Emirates, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said that decreasing the number of flights to the United States is temporary and based on supply and demand.

He also added in a press conference held in Dubai on Tuesday that the company will cut the number of flights from 12 to five, beginning 1 May.

The decision is mainly concerned with destinations with more than one flight a day, he noted.

When asked about the electronic devices ban, Ahmed bin Saeed said that when the decision is only applied to some companies and not all of them it is definitely reducing equal opportunities for airlines.

He indicated that Fly Emirates adheres to the rules set by the American authorities.

The CEO also said that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing aims at attracting 18 million visitors this year, noting that Dubai has received 14.9 million visitors last years despite the challenging circumstances seen in many of the tourism-exporting countries.

The strength of the US dollar has significantly affected the Russian market and the number of Russian tourists, however, an improvement was achieved during the first quarter of this year, especially after modifying the entry visa rules, said Ahmed bin Saeed, he also pointed to positive results recorded for the Chinese market.

Our dealings with the market come within the frame of supply and demand, as we have launched seven new destinations last year, most of which were in China and East Asia, he added.

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is also the president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, revealed that work is undergoing to expand Al Maktoum International Airport, raising its capacity to more than 25 million travelers, it is expected to be completed before the end of 2017.

Flights of flydubai will increase after the expansion but the airlines company will also be launching flights from the Dubai Airport as well, he explained.