Emirates says it expects a relatively swift recovery from the disruption caused by the Middle East conflict, insisting that demand fundamentals remain strong despite months of operational pressure.
Speaking remotely at an industry summit in Berlin, Emirates President Tim Clark said the airline is currently operating at around 65 percent of normal capacity.
He added that only about 13 percent of the carrier’s airport network remains inaccessible.
According to Clark, once the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, it should take one to two months for operations to return to more normal patterns.
Since hostilities began, Emirates has cancelled thousands of flights, reshaped schedules and in some cases operated lightly loaded aircraft back into Dubai as travel demand shifted away from the Gulf.
Clark rejected suggestions that rivals could use the disruption to permanently gain market share.
He said the Emirates brand remains strong and argued competitors lack the fleet scale needed to replicate its global model.
The executive also dismissed concerns over fuel supply, saying demand levels are strong enough to absorb higher costs.
European airlines including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have benefited on some Asia-bound routes as travellers sought alternatives that avoid Middle Eastern airspace.
Clark, however, said Emirates remains focused on restoring profitability and continuing its aircraft retrofit programme.
He added that the airline has no intention of slowing its long-term growth trajectory despite the crisis.
