Emirates’ operations in India contributed over $848 mn annually to India’s GDP in 2013-14, supporting over 86,000 Indian jobs and generating almost $1.7 billion in forex earnings, a joint study by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the airline said. India aims to become the third largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030.
“We are confident that with increased capacity, we can contribute even more to India’s economic growth and development by opening new conduits for trade and investment, through our growing worldwide network,” said Adnan Kazim, Divisional Senior Vice President – Strategic Planning, Revenue Optimisation and Aeropolitical Affairs, Emirates Airline.
“The NCAER study underlines the importance of air transport and its role as an economic driver in India. Aviation facilitates trade and tourism, and creates employment in many different industries. Emirates’ annual operations alone support more than 86,000 jobs across India and contribute US$848 million to the economy. We are confident that with increased capacity, we can contribute even more to India’s economic growth and development by opening new conduits for trade and investment, through our growing worldwide network.”
In February 2014, the aeronautical authorities of India and the UAE negotiated the first expansion of seat entitlements since 2008. As a result, Dubai-based carriers were awarded an additional 11,000 seats per week. The NCAER study models the economic value of potential future bilateral increases and forecasts that, if Emirates were to operate an additional 4,500 weekly seats between India and Dubai, an additional 4,800 jobs would be created, Foreign Exchange Earnings would rise to US$1.8 billion with the arrival of almost 40,000 more tourists a year.
If the bilateral arrangements were expanded to allow an additional 13,849 seats per week, NCAER forecasts that Emirates’ operations would support 100,405 jobs a year, contribute US$987.8 million towards GDP and boost Foreign Exchange Earnings to US$2 billion per year.
Considering the breadth of Emirates’ network and how the demand for air travel is expected to double in the next 5-10 years in India, Emirates is well positioned to bring a growing number of tourists and business travellers to the country, further enabling trade and investment.
The report was launched in New Delhi today, in the presence of Saurabh Bandyopadhyay, Project Leader, NCAER; and Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Vice President – India and Nepal, Emirates Airline.
