Emirates has added 15 new destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Lusaka, Harare, Ho Chi Minh City, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Adelaide to its network since January 2012.

 

In May 2012, the Emirates Group, announced its annual results, which included profits of AED 2.3 billion (US$ 629 million) for the financial year ending 31st March 2012. Emirates airline posted its 24th consecutive year of profits.

 

Emirates continued its fleet expansion during 2012, receiving delivery of 33 aircraft, which included a record 11 A380s and 22 Boeing 777s.

 

According to the airline, the launch of Emirates’ Facebook in late March attracted 300,000 fans in just three weeks. Within seven months of launching the page Emirates now has one million fans.

 

ONAIR SYSTEM

In addition, Emirates’ OnAir system now allows passengers on board any A380 to use their own mobile phones to make and receive phone calls and text messages inflight. The service is in addition to the OnAir WiFi service already available on Emirates A380 aircraft.

 

For families, Emirates’ on-board children’s product was improved with the launch of new monster-themed selection of toys for pre-school children, with quirky names. The new characters, which each have their own personality traits and hobbies, join four existing characters in the collection. For older children, Emirates launched a collection of travel-inspired products co-designed with Quiksilver.

 

This year, Emirates has continued to invest in the addition and upgrade of lounge facilities. In February, the airline opened its first airport lounge on the USA’s West Coast – at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) representing a $4 million investment in the Bay Area. In May, a new lounge was opened at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport (IST) and on 15th June formally opened at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayaka.

 

In November, Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, inked a deal with easyJet, Europe’s fourth largest airline, which allows for redemption of Skywards Miles for flights on easyJet.