Kamal Ghorui
The ongoing Middle East war has drained Dubai of much of its travel appeal. Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is operating some flights to Dubai almost empty, as travellers avoid the Persian Gulf. Flights from the US and continental Europe have been hit hardest, with occupancy on several routes dropping sharply, as thecarrier faces challenges in restoring its network amid the escalating conflict.Data compiled by Emirates and reviewed by Bloomberg shows planes returning from Prague or Budapest carrying only 5% to 10% of passengers. Several aircraft from New York flew with just a fifth of tickets sold, and at least one Airbus A380 departed last week with fewer than 35 passengers on a jet that normally seats nearly 500. Departures from Chicago ran with half-empty cabins.Emirates faces several thousand no-shows daily on outbound flights, according to a memo, highlighting the complexity of running an operation that normally includes hundreds of daily flights that are nearly full. The airline is offering refunds and flexible rescheduling for flights until the end of the month.“Given the circumstances, current inbound occupancy is unsurprisingly light,” an Emirates official told Bloomberg. Emirates said it will continue to restore its network at pace, provided it can do so safely.Passenger demand remains weak, but the airline is also carrying cargo, including perishable goods, generating revenue. Boeing 777s are prioritised because they have more optimal cargo capacity than the Airbus A380. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, Emirates flights are among the few ways to import supplies.Meanwhile, flights leaving Dubai show a different picture, as passengers continue to depart the city despite fewer planes being available. Operations have been disrupted by Iranian missile threats and several drone incidents near Dubai International Airport, which caused minor injuries and some damage since the war began. On Monday, Emirates suspended operations for more than seven hours after a fuel-tank fire, triggered by a drone, before resuming flights later the same day.Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, the other major Gulf carriers, have resumed a thinned-out service, primarily focused on evacuating stranded passengers. Emirates, however, continues to operate at a faster pace than competitors, offering at least six times as many flights as Qatar Airways. Some Emirates aircraft remain out of position in Europe and China.On one Paris-Dubai flight, an Airbus A380 with a high-density layout seating about 600 carried only around 25 passengers, almost the same number as the crew needed to operate it. London Heathrow departures have fared slightly better, with about 20% of tickets sold, still far below Emirates’ usual near-full occupancy on its dozen daily UK services. Forward bookings for inbound flights are around a third of capacity, unusually low given the approaching busy Easter season.
