Emirates President, Tim Clark attacks protectionism, defends Emirates' model

Emirates President, Tim Clark, addressed (12-Nov-2009) the European Aviation Club regarding Emirates' view on aviation and the EU consumer. He stressed the role of Emirates in the European economy and attacked protectionism, maintaining that the Emirates model is fully commercially based. [more - full speech]

Emirates: "Emirates' billion dollar Airbus A380 order, along with our 70 A350 deliveries, are at the heart of our relationship with the EU…"

"...Emirates has actually grown its business this year; our passenger numbers are up 19%. The resilience of the travelling public on our network is quite extraordinary and there is clearly still a lot of cash in the global economy."

"A few months ago the German Federal Office for Goods Transport wrote to Emirates; and it wasn't to wish us a pleasant summer holiday. Instead they raised the peculiar issue of 'price leadership' for our business class fares on three of our international routes from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, Hamburg to Singapore and Berlin to Singapore. We were told that we must raise our fares immediately so that these, excuse the pun, aligned with certain other carriers - specifically two Star Alliance members."; Tim Clark President, Emirates Airline. Source: Emirates, European Aviation Club, 12-Nov-2009