NABIL SULTAN, vice president of passenger sales and national management at Emirates, was in the US Open, which was sponsored by Emirates for the past 14 years at the US Open in New York last month. During the tournament, news editor, Johanna Jainchill, talked about the fleet of the Sultan and Emirate Airlines and the US travel trend.
Nabill Sultan
cue: In 2022, Emirates launched a $ 2 billion fleet renovation program for more than 120 aircraft. It’s doubled now.
no way: We started a major program that converted about 220 wide body aircraft, and we invested almost $ 5 billion in the aircraft. We have excellent products and have a little older aircraft. If so, how do you guarantee how the renovation gets a whole aircraft and new things new? That is the goal. It looks new to enter the aircraft. It is absolutely important from the brand perspective. This is the largest project in all industries and the largest project in the industry. After COVID remodeled $ 5 billion, no airlines saw it.
cue: How far are you?
no way: By the end of this year, we will complete almost 40%and the rest will happen next year. Ten of the 12 destinations we operate in the United States have been renovated with a premium economy cabin with extra legums such as 40 -inch pitch, upgrade and high entertainment. It is as good as other (airline) business class. From a network perspective, we operate close to the premium economy in about 78%of seat elements. There is a real demand. We also upgraded the business class to 1-2-1 to 2-3-2, so you can imagine the space by reducing the number of seats. It provides much more comfortable to passengers and improves the overall experience.
cue: How did the United Partners disappear?
no way: We work together well and have been much closer in terms of cooperation and code share. We try to supply many domestic sectors to the United States and Latin America. They take passengers to Dubai and we take them beyond Dubai. It is a great cooperation, and I think there is a synergy between us from the perspective of complementing and operating each other through the other herbs of the United States and Dubai.
cue: What kind of trends are you looking at in the US market?
no way: It continues to be powerful in terms of demand. After Kobid, demand was actually picked up and continued. There are many factors. The entire industry is operated at a limited capacity. If you think about it, Boeing still hasn’t delivered the aircraft. New York continues to be our star. We have the most flights to JFK and NEWARK, both in terms of capacity and very powerful demand for its flights. The west coast is also doing well. The fact that we have a vast network is a great complement to Americans who want to travel regardless of Africa or Southeast Asia. And people are satisfied with the service.
cue: Is there a trip to the United States on Inbound Travel?
no way: The only destination we have a slight influence is the visa restrictions for students and uncertainty for advanced workers for various reasons between the United States and India. There are nearly 350,000 students every year between the United States and India. We saw a slowdown in them, but we are doing well from many other destinations to the United States. Africa is doing well. In particular, South Africa has seen a good demand pickup. We continue to develop alternative markets to replace some dependence on other routes.
