Emirates anticipates more travelers from Pakistan in the coming years
Emirates, the Dubai-based flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), foresees significant growth emerging from Pakistan in the coming years,
leading to plans for extensive infrastructure development. Mohammed Alnahari
Alhashmi, the Vice President of Pakistan for Emirates Airline, expressed
optimism about the airline's expansion in an interview with Business Recorder's
BR Research.
Alhashmi highlighted the strong growth observed in Pakistan,
influencing Emirates' network expansion decisions in recent years. The airline
maintains a significant presence in Pakistan, operating approximately a dozen
daily flights to Dubai from cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot,
Multan, and Peshawar.
Emirates
expects to receive new aircraft in 2024
He outlined a vision for substantial infrastructure development,
partnerships, and alliances in the future, aiming to not only facilitate Emirates'
operations but also act as a catalyst for cultural exchange, business growth,
and leisure travel.
Alnahari, previously Emirates' VP for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
noted a high demand in Pakistan for flights to the US and the UK, with Dubai
remaining one of the most popular segments for Pakistani travelers.
Dubai
conference discusses challenges to global aviation
Highlighting Pakistan's significance as a source market, he
revealed that Pakistan ranked among the top 10 contributors to the record
number of overnight visitors to Dubai, surpassing 250,000 in the first nine
months of 2023.
Despite the high demand, challenges such as excessive taxation
have hindered aviation sector growth in Pakistan. However, the caretaker
government is considering new tax incentives and concessions for the aviation
sector to attract foreign investment, as part of the revised National Aviation
Policy-2023. The proposal includes granting industry status to the aviation
sector, which would entail certain tax benefits and incentives for the
industry.
Source: Business Recorder