Dubai Airports dismisses claims Emirates receives unfair advantage

UAE's Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths reacted (13-Oct-2010) to "recent comments and media coverage emanating from France and Canada that inaccurately imply government subsidisation and preferential treatment of local carrier Emirates Airline". The comments accused Emirates of receiving unfair competitive advantages, including government subsidisation and preferential treatment at the airport, with Mr Griffiths adding his voice to the growing debate over access to flight routes and export credit funding/subsidies for aircraft (Reuters/Arabian Business/Emirates 24/7/Trade Arabia, 14-Oct-2010). Emirates President Tim Clark stated it was natural for Emirates to take advantage of export credits if they were provided but added that only 20% of its aircraft purchases were financed through export credit. [more]

Dubai Airports: "The only thing Dubai is guilty of is providing an environment that actually supports aviation. Most governments around the world treat aviation as a pariah, choking its growth with costly, misdirected regulation, instead of adopting policies that recognise its considerable socio-economic benefits and support its sustainable growth. They then compound the problem with parasitic forms of taxation that usually flow straight out of the sector. In Dubai aviation is embraced as a strategic imperative. Another key to its success has been equal treatment of airlines. Dubai Airports and Dubai Air Navigation Services offer the same competitive rates and charges to all airlines. That, combined with the UAE's open skies policy and the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and leisure destination, is why we have 130 airlines operating into one of the fastest growing airports in the world," Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: Company Statement, 13-Oct-2010.