Emirates' USA growth anchored around JetBlue and Alaska Air hubs. Panama City for LatAm Growth

In the 2015 winter schedule, Emirates will have 35% more capacity to the United States than in winter 2014. Its growth is not random but targeted around partnerships: 90% of additional capacity will be put into four airports - New York JFK, Boston, Seattle and Orlando - that are hubs for its local partners, JetBlue and Alaska Air. The remaining 10% increase is largely a full season realisation of previous growth.

Another partner hub - Fort Lauderdale - could be attractive to Emirates because of JetBlue's growing Latin American presence from the south Florida city. JetBlue has a larger Latin American presence from Fort Lauderdale than Orlando, which Emirates starts service to in Sep-2015. But first Emirates will expand its Latin American reach with a service to Panama City, making the non-stop route from Dubai the longest in the world.

An eventual partnership with highly successful local hub airline Copa will give Emirates significant access to Latin America. Panama City and Copa have been seeking an Asian airline partner, and Emirates will partially fulfill this wish.