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PARIS / Reuters
Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, and budget carrier flydubai will start to deepen their relationship over the next 18 months as their owner, the Dubai government, seeks to improve returns.
Emirates President Tim Clark told reporters on Wednesday that changes could include more closely coordinated connecting – or feeder – flights, and a joint decision on schedules to soften head-to-head competition in some markets.
The comments at the Paris Airshow come two months after the chairman of both airlines, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said they had “to work with a better synergy.†The carriers currently have an interline agreement allowing their passengers to connect between each other’s flights.
“We are minded to accelerate a greater joining of the hip, of what we do, there’s a lot of work going on there to extract value for the shareholder,†Clark said.
The push by their state owner comes amid pressure on profits at both airlines. Emirates’ annual profit fell in the year ended March 31 for the first time in five years.