Emirates dominates UAE air transport

Dubai-based Emirates remained the dominant national carrier in the UAE as it controlled a fleet of 168 aircraft at the end of 2011, nearly 58 per cent of the total 286 planes owned by the country’s five national carriers. Official data showed Emirates, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, Air Arabia in Sharjah, RAK Airways and Flydubai boosted their combined fleet by 37 aircraft at the end of 2011 compared with their number at the end of 2010. Emirates expanded its fleet by 15 jets from 153 planes at the end of 2010 while Etihad had 64 aircraft at the end of 2011 compared with 57 at the end of 2010, showed the figures by the National Civil Aviation Authority. The figures published in the semi official daily Alittihad showed Air Arabia boosted its fleet to 29 from 23 jets while Flydubai’s fleet increased to 21 from 14 jets and that of RAK to four from two aircraft. The report said it expected the national fleet to increase further by the end of this year as most local carriers have ordered more aircraft to meet a steady rise in operations. It said airports are also undergoing expansions to face growing demand, adding that investment in the UAE aviation sector could exceed Dh100 billion in the next five years.