His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressed his confidence that the Emirates and Dnata companies will emerge from this difficult period as strong and ready to regain their position, global leaders in shaping the future of the airline, travel and tourism industry , And continue to provide outstanding services to people and the world.
His Highness said in an opening speech to the annual report of the «Emirates Group», that «(Emirates Group) will continue to play a major role, by connecting Dubai with the world, and gathering the world through Dubai».
Unprecedented challenges
In detail, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in a speech in which he opened the annual report of the «Emirates Group»: «As I write this message, the world faces unprecedented challenges, imposed by the epidemic (Coffid- 19), which affected industries and societies around the world quickly and severely, and on a scale that no one could have expected. ” His Highness added: "As scientists race to decode the virus and develop a vaccine for it, governments and companies are working hard to find the best approach to protecting lives, while providing livelihoods protection."
His Highness stressed that "travel and aviation at the global level are among the most affected industries, as countries close borders, stop flights, and impose strict travel restrictions, as part of measures to contain the epidemic."
Emirati support
His Highness continued: «Crises often highlight the best of people, as they act as catalysts for giving without thinking about oneself and cooperating across borders. In this regard, the UAE continues to make every effort to support the international community in its war against the epidemic (Covid-19). He pointed out that the UAE donated, until April 2020, more than 450 tons of aid to 27 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Country cooperation
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “As long as we see ourselves in the Emirates as part of a global community. We are a country that welcomes everyone to visit, live, work, study or collaborate on projects that contribute to the advancement of humanity. And we firmly believe that when nations and like-minded institutions come together, we can achieve exceptional results. ”
After «Covid-19»
His Highness continued: «Our life will be different after the pandemic (Covid-19), and we do not yet know the full extent of the change, but it is clear that the world has been reshaped to varying degrees. Collectively, this is an opportunity for us to lay the groundwork for a better future. Partnerships between government and citizens, and between the public and private sectors will be essential to achieving economic and social resilience and ensuring sustainable development. ”
A prosperous city
His Highness emphasized that “Dubai’s goal is to create a prosperous city for future generations, where everyone can realize their dreams and aspirations, contribute to their talents and innovations, access economic opportunities, and enjoy a good quality of life .. We have presented this vision in the (Fifty Document), and every year we define major initiatives To achieve our goals. ”
Emirates Group
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “By connecting Dubai to the world and bringing the world together through Dubai, (Emirates Group) will continue to play a major role, at a time when we seek to achieve our vision.”
His Highness added: “I am confident that (Emirates Airlines) and (dnata) will leave this difficult period strong and ready to regain their position, as global leaders in shaping the future of the aviation, travel and tourism industry, and to continue to provide excellent services to people and the world.”
Further enhancing liquidity
Emirates Airlines has taken several measures to maintain its cash flow, through measures to control costs, reduce non-urgent financial expenditures, and work in cooperation with partners to develop the work environment. It also partially discontinued some existing credit lines before March 31. It is currently securing additional lines to further enhance liquidity.
In the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 fiscal year, Emirates Airlines succeeded in raising additional liquidity through short-term loans, credits and commercial facilities at about 4.4 billion dirhams ($ 1.2 billion). It will continue to use banks to raise additional liquidity in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2020-2021, to provide a safety umbrella against the effects of Coved-19 on its financial flows in the short term.
93 million meals
Dnata Aircraft Catering carried more than 93 million meals to airline dealers, with a growth of 32%, largely due to the full year of Qantas Catering in Australia, which Dnata acquired last year. During FY 2019-2020, dnata launched its first catering operation in Canada at Vancouver Airport, and also opened catering operations in Houston, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, further enhancing its presence and capabilities in North America.
Dnata has become the sole owner of Alfa LSG, the UK's largest aircraft supplier, aircraft retail and logistics sales.
"Dnata" .. handling services for 188 thousand aircraft in the Emirates
The number of aircraft for which dnata provided handling services in the UAE decreased by 11% to reach 188,000 as a result of the closure of the Dubai International Airport maintenance runway during April and May 2019, and the suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, The result of the "Covid-19" pandemic in March 2020. The shipping quantities that Dnata dealt with decreased by 4% to 698 thousand tons, due to the slowdown in demand in the global air freight market and the closure of the Dubai International Airport runway for 45 days in the first quarter.
During the fiscal year, dnata completed the first fully environmental handling operation in the UAE, and one of the flydubai planes was in Dubai International Airport, thanks to its pre-investment in equipment that does not emit harmful emissions. Dnata Airport Services has also opened a new terminal at Dubai International Airport, and expanded its global network by opening two terminals at Singapore's Changi International Airport.
And dnata has strengthened its position in the freight logistics industry in the UAE and the region, through its cooperation with Woolenborn Transport, which is the largest company in Europe for trucking and providing the air freight industry. This partnership will contribute to developing new products and services, as well as entering new markets.
INTERLINE Destinations and Agreements
During the fiscal year, Emirates Airlines launched passenger services to three new destinations: Porto (Portugal), Mexico City (Mexico), and Bangkok-Phnom Penh. It also strengthened its network growth by signing a code sharing agreement with SpiceJet, providing customers with additional options to travel from more Indian cities.
And «Emirates Airlines» expanded its capabilities to achieve more connectivity and communication to customers across the world, through interline agreements with the European carrier «Vueling», which added connecting flights to more than 100 destinations in the continent through Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, And Milan. And with the Turkish carrier, Pegasus Airlines, to provide its customers with the possibility to continue their travel to selected destinations within the network of Pegasus Airlines. Likewise, with the Interjet Airlines, it opens new routes for travelers between Mexico and the Gulf region and the Middle East and beyond.
Future financing and savings
Emirates Airlines succeeded in securing financing backed by the French export finance agency Bpifrance, in addition to a commercial loan from Korean investors to finance the six planes that the carrier received during the fiscal year 2019-2020.
As part of its initiatives to reduce expenditures and benefit from low global interest rates, Emirates Airlines re-financed and priced more than 5.5 billion dirhams (1.5 billion dollars) during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which led to future savings estimated at more than 110 million dirhams. ($ 30 million).