Middle Eastern operator Emirates Group maintained an upward trend over the first half of the year, generating a 17% rise in pre-tax profit to Dhs12.2 billion ($3.3 billion).
Its airline operation, Emirates, contributed a pre-tax profit of Dhs11.4 billion, also up 17%, on a 6% improvement in revenues to Dhs65.6 billion. Operating costs were up by 4%.
Net profit for the carrier reached Dhs9.9 billion.
Emirates says its performance reflects “strong and sustained travel demand across regions”, as well as customer preference for premium cabins.
The carrier introduced five Airbus A350s to its fleet over the first six months of the year, and refurbished cabin interiors on 23 other aircraft – six A380s and 17 Boeing 777-300ERs.
“Global demand for air transport and travel services has been buoyant, despite geopolitical events and economic concerns in some markets,” says group chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.
He says the company expects this resilience to continue for the remainder of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Emirates’ freight division, SkyCargo, added capacity through three Boeing 777Fs during the first half.
The company has not detailed SkyCargo’s performance, other than to state that cargo yields declined by 6% while volumes were up 4%.
It attributes the fall in yields to “softening demand” in some market segments amid “tariff concerns”.
Emirates and SkyCargo covered a network of 153 airports at the end of September.
