Emirates aims to return to 100% of pre-pandemic operations and network capacity in 2023 – The National

Emirates aims to return to 100% of pre-pandemic operations and network capacity in 2023 – The National

Emirates, the world's largest long-haul airline, expects to return to 100 per cent of operations and network capacity in 2023 as demand for travel and tourism recovers.

The airline is in "good shape" in terms of moving on to the next stage of recovery. Next year will be a “milestone” in terms of getting back to the level of operations where the airline had left it before the coronavirus pandemic, Emirates' chief operating officer Adnan Kazim told a media briefing on Tuesday.

The carrier is operating at 70 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity and that will increase to 80 per cent before the end of the summer, he said.

Emirates expects its capacity to rise to 85 per cent by the beginning of its winter schedule, which will commence in November.

“The focus remains on recovering the Emirates’ network and capacity, which will be the core,” Mr Kazim said. “For us, next year will be the year of full recovery — 100 per cent. That’s what we aim for.”

The Dubai-based airline posted a loss of Dh20.3 billion ($5.5bn) in the 2020-2021 fiscal year after the pandemic hit the global aviation industry. Most global carriers received bailout packages or capital injection to cope