We’re getting close to our annual Arabian Business Awards at the end of November. One of the perks of the job is you get to see a lot of huge success stories. For all the doom and gloom blowing from the West, I can assure everyone that there has been no shortage again of outstanding business performances across all sectors.
All will of course be revealed on the big night on Sunday, Nov 20, though I couldn’t help but notice two companies in the same sector that seem to defy all logic. Two companies, in the most challenging of conditions, that keep delivering.
I’m talking about Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways. Political instability, natural disasters and a host of other problems have made aviation one of the worst industries to be in. Yet in March, Emirates announced its net profit race up 52 percent to $1.5bn (for the year to 31 March), while passenger numbers rocketed 14.5 percent to 31.4 million. Revenues, up 25 percent, are now close to a staggering $15bn a year. No wonder the experts are suggesting Emirates could place orders for more than 30 new A380s and Boeing 777s at next month’s Dubai Airshow.
Can anyone hope to compete with that kind of performance? Well, apparently so. Etihad has just released its Q3 figures for 2011 and they show revenues rising 39 percent to $1.1 bn. Seat factors are now an incredible 80.7 percent. Etihad has only been around for eight years, but CEO James Hogan is confident that this will be the year of break even, with next year one of profit. And while Emirates now has 111 destinations, Etihad is not far behind with 86 destinations now on the books.
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