Emirates, Etihad ‘can work together’ to meet post-Covid air travel demand

Emirates, Etihad ‘can work together’ to meet post-Covid air travel demand

Emirates is likely to benefit in the markets that Etihad Airways withdraws from in the wake of its move to restructure its business model to become a leaner airline after the coronavirus pandemic, according to the airline's president Sir Tim Clark.

In an interview with Aviation Business, a sister publication of Arabian Business, Clark also said he is bullish about the future use of the A380 superjumbo, in spite of gloomy forecasts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Dubai airline received, validated and processed nearly 1.7 million refund requests since April

Clark said that the two UAE airlines will be able to work together to solve demand issues in the country following Etihad's restructure.

“With their announcement to concentrate on making them a leaner airline it is likely that Emirates will benefit from where they have withdrawn. I'm not saying we're predatory in all that; I'm quite sure that Emirates and Etihad can work together to resolve quite a few of the demand issues that come out of the UAE with regard to them contracting their work and reinstatement of ours.”

Clark said he was optimistic "that there will be some kind of meeting of the minds with regards to how we go about