As Emirates reevaluates its long-term growth goals, it is examining new Fifth Freedom routes to the USA and life without the A380 superjumbo jet.
Speaking at the 2019 Arabian Travel Market, Emirates’ President Sir Tim Clark said his carrier has had a lot of time for introspection in recent months.
We haven’t been growing at the pace we used to because of geopolitical issues in the region and elsewhere. But that’s given us time to take stock of what the network is going to look like in five to ten years, and what the fleet fit in that network and the type of aircraft is going to be.
In February, Emirates announced plans to buy 70 A330neo and A350 aircraft while slashing its outstanding A380 order from 53 planes to 14. That’s no problem for Dubai’s spacious new Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International Airport – DWC), but it does create a problem at slot-controlled airports like London where Emirates will be unable to increase frequencies to compensate for the smaller jets.
New Fifth Freedom Flights?
Clark is not oblivious to the fact that Fifth Freedom routes on Gulf Carriers are currently a fraught political issue in the USA. Nevertheless, the gentlemen’s agreement between the U.S. and Gulf Carriers last year does not technically prohibit carriers like Emirates from starting new flights between, for example, the USA and Europe that will continue on to Dubai.
While any new route would be “under the microscope” of regulators and U.S. interest groups, Clark added “the temptation is to do more” is there. He added that Emirates’ flights between New York JFK and Milan and between Newark and Athens have performed very well.
CONCLUSION
Adjusting to a world without A380s is a particular challenge for Emirates, which has built its longhaul strategy around the superjumbo jet. Nevertheless, Emirates is wise to start thinking now about its post-A380 roadmap. Furthermore, its hints at new Fifth Freedom service to the USA may simply be a test to gauge reaction from U.S. regulators.
If Emirates/ME3 was making such a huge impact to the US3 on 5th freedom routes, how come NYC-MXP still has the US3 plus Emirates, Alitalia, and Air Italy? That should be the response when the US3 complain to regulators.
Just a thought, but maybe if they bought the 747-8, that may give them (a limited amount of) cover from accusations they’re harming the US.
Brian
The 747-8I production has ended
It never surprises me that Emirates do well on their fifth freedom routes from Europe to the US, the competition from both sides of the Atlantic is dire unless you are in first on AF or LH.
I wish EK had nore LHR slots and would open up fifth freedom from there but it’s never going to happen. London airports have eight services daily on the A380 at the moment and more on 77Ws. How that capacity is matched is a question that needs an answer but I guess LHR will keep the A380 until the end.
They should absolutely do a fifth freedom route from Atlanta to a major European city — London, Paris, Barcelona, or Milan. Not only does Atlanta desperately need more affordable international service, but this would let Emirates show they’re not intimidated by the US3’s cynical rhetoric.