And I have traveled Emirates several times, its a pleasure. Regarding Dubai debt issues, it is nothing worse or better than most metropolitan cities. So don’t listen to media. Life still continues here and there are new developments being inaugurated as well.

An Expat in Dubai – happy and loving it.

Other airlines would also slag off Emirates as having an unfair advantage when it came to profitability and airfare prices, as being government-owned in an oil-producing country, they were able to get cheaper fuel. That may or may not have been the case – who knows for sure, except for the owners and top men in the company, and they’re not going to tell!

Etihad has always suffered as the smaller, lesser-known sister of Emirates, but has a great emerging brand, and stellar service too. Although established in 2003, it wasn’t until 2006 that Abu Dhabi began to focus on it, when it became apparent that Gulf Air (which at that time was owned by Bahrain, Oman and Abu Dhabi), as a company, wasn’t going in the direction that Abu Dhabi wanted it to go in. So they started building up Etihad.

I still love Dubai and the U.A.E. and would move back there in a heartbeat, if the opportunity arose for us to do so!

Thanks, nzm!

Edited to add: I’m not sure the leased planes are a problem, per se, unless they really were including the planes as fully-owned assets on their books.

News just out of Dubai from a friend indicates that the local whisper around town is that Emirates is in talks with Etihad Air (the national airline of the U.A.E. and based in Abu Dhabi which is the capital city) for a buy-out.

Apparently all is not as well as it seems with the Dubai-based airline. Non-ownership of most of their planes (i.e. leased) means that the balance sheets have looked better than they should. No assets = no liabilities.

However, if Etihad do buy out Emirates, all flights will go ahead as planned, as Etihad would dearly love to have Emirates’ routes.

Will post more as I hear more!

Economy on Emirates has better service than Business Class on United or American.

It’s about the only thing about Dubai that is profitable at the moment, so there are no worries about flying with them or keeping the tickets.

Flying Emirates is a joy. I’ve flown in all 3 classes. Economy can be hit-and-miss depending on aircraft and crew (if the aircraft isn’t fitted with their superior ICE entertainment system, then it can be a long trip, and if you get recent trainees, the cabin service can be a bit lax), Business Class is wonderful, and First Class is fantastic. The airline is also one of the few remaining in the world which gives out very decent on-board cosmetic bags filled with great goodies. The bags are very usable after the flight too!