Dubai: Dubai’s major emirates are confident they will bounce back quickly from the disruption caused by the Iran conflictwith President Tim Clark saying strong demand will help the airline recovers lost ground and fends off competition.
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Speaking at the CAPA Airline Leaders Summit in Berlin, Clark said the airline is operating at 65 percent of its capacity, with about 13 percent of its network still inaccessible due to ongoing airspace disruptions, Bloomberg reported.
“I don’t think things will change the way we operate the airline or this model,” Clark said. “We can turn that around – the brand is particularly strong.”
Capacity hit
Clark said a full recovery would depend on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz – a critical air and shipping corridor – after which the airline expects one to two months of disruption before operations can return to normal.
The conflict, which began in late February, has forced airlines across the region to significantly scale back operations, including canceling thousands of flights and temporarily grounding large parts of their fleets.
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The request stands
Despite the operational challenges, Clark said demand remains resilient, with passengers continuing to travel even as roads are repaired and journey times extended.
He added that Emirates is not worried about fuel supply constraints, even as global oil prices rise, and believes demand will be strong enough to absorb higher operating costs.
This comes at a time when airlines globally are grappling with rising fuel prices – now above $100 a barrel – which are putting pressure on margins and fares.
During my visit to Dubai International Airport, which has maintained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the twelfth consecutive year, I reviewed operations and passenger services. I also visited the operations center of the Dubai Police, where… pic.twitter.com/D5o45DTzrN
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) April 21, 2026
Long term perspective
Clark, who has overseen Emirates’ rise to one of the world’s largest long-haul carriers, said the airline remains focused on long-term growth and profitability.
He added that Emirates will continue with its aircraft renewal programme, upgrading older aircraft as part of its strategy to maintain product quality. Emirates has a fleet of over 250 wide-body aircraft and has an order book of another 375 aircraft.
Looking ahead, Clark said he expects the airline to emerge from the current crisis in a strong financial position.
“By the end of the year, we will have improved our financial metrics and will still be the most profitable airline,” he said.
Clark’s comments underline Emirates’ and Dubai’s confidence in its hub-and-spoke model, even as the aviation industry faces one of its most challenging times in recent years due to geopolitical tensions, airspace restrictions and rising costs.
Recently, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, visited the Emirates and praised the efforts of trams working in Dubai’s aviation ecosystem.
“I am proud of the teams at Dubai Airports, Emirates and flydubai. Our world-class aviation ecosystem continues to maintain smooth and efficient operations amid evolving conditions while ensuring safety, reflecting the resilience and readiness of Dubai’s systems,” he shared on social media. Emirates now serves 123 destinations in 65 countries.
