Tuesday 12 January

Emirates increase yield in 2009

From a report online from Travel Today, Emirates Airlines said yields had started to show signs of improvement.  Emirates vice president Australia, Stephen Pearse, said the carrier had started to see yields climb following a difficult 2009. “We are seeing the premium business come back. It hasn’t necessarily come soaring back but it is coming back. Economy class yields are also starting to firm a little,” Pearse said.

Emirates was one of the first carriers to raise its fares amid the discount frenzy last year, as it looked to improve yields.   Pearse said he was pleased with the performance in the last quarter of 2009, including solid sales of earlybird fares. “The idea that earlybirds wouldn’t happen was pure
nonsense,” Pearse said. “It is natural that people will look to firm up their travel plans at that time of the year. The business hasn’t been as peaky as in past years but it has been pretty consistent.”

He added that 2010 will be a year of consolidation after Emirates increased its Australian services from 48 flights per week to 70 last year. “There is the opportunity to increase to 84 per week, but looking at 2009 and the plans we put in place, it’s more about consolidation,” Pearse said.