Emirates president Tim Clark may have to become the world’s best juggler.
The latest order for another 32 A380s by Emirates – bringing the carrier’s total orders to 90 – will increase the pressure on Emirates to find new routes – open skies permitting – to utilise the new aircraft and find new source markets for travellers to fill Dubai’s growing number of hotel beds.
It’s a juggling act for Clark and Dubai Inc. The airline needs to find the travellers to satisfy Dubai’s voracious appetite for tourism dollars, while destination Dubai needs to keep growing its attractions and tourism-related services to ensure that it remains a tourism hotspot.
Dubai can be thankful that it has not suffered major health scares terrorist incidents or the political unrest that have shredded the tourism prospects of other destinations.
If Dubai happened to drop any of the balls – represented by hotels, airline, airports and other tourist-related services – those huge A380s could become white elephants.
But for now, Clark and Co seem to be keeping all the balls in the air – and rivals can only look on in awe.
-by Ian Jarrett
