Emirates supported more than 104,000 American jobs and contributed $21.3 billion in revenue to the US economy, including $10.5 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and $6.4 billion of labour income in 2015, according to a study.

 Released on the 25th anniversary of the first Open Skies agreement signed by the US, the objective of the study was to quantify the annual economic impact Emirates has on the US economy.  The study was conducted by Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, a well-established economic consulting firm to airlines, airports and the aviation industry, with clients including U.S. and foreign airlines, more than 30 airports, financial institutions and government agencies.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said: “Campbell-Hill’s data reaffirms the significant stimulative effect of Emirates’ operations on the US economy. It shows we’ve brought hundreds of thousands of new travellers to the United States, helped increase competitive air transport options for over a million American and international travelers who flew with us, and contributed to increased demand for US exports in aerospace and many other sectors.

"Over more than a decade, Emirates has progressively grown cargo and passenger operations in the US on the back of customer demand, and we will continue working with our partners across the travel, tourism, aviation, aerospace and other industries, to expand and improve the products and services that we offer to our customers.”

Sir Tim added: “Emirates has always embraced the goals of Open Skies which are to promote increased travel and trade, enhance productivity, and stimulate high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and their proxies continually pour money in to lobby and make unfounded accusations against Emirates, but they have never filed a formal US Department of Transportation complaint against Emirates, even though this is the statutory process long relied on by US airlines to address allegations of unfair competition. That itself is telling.

"Sitting on record profits and with employment in US aviation at an all-time high, the three carriers know they don’t have a leg to stand on. Evidence repeatedly points to the benefits that Emirates bring to US consumers and the economy, and the total absence of alleged competitive harm,” he added.

The catalytic impact of Emirates’ US operations brought over 580,000 new travellers to the US who otherwise would not have travelled there, and generated $3.2 billion of new trade-based revenue. Indirect spending within the US by newly stimulated passengers combined with new merchandise and service trade created approximately 30,000 jobs, and $4.6 billion of new revenues for US businesses, including $1.7 billion of labour income and $2.5 billion of GDP, the study said.

“To produce this report we have spent many months analysing data and running it through an IMPLAN analysis model which is specifically designed for economic impact analysis at the national level,” said Dr Brian Campbell, principal at Campbell-Hill Aviation Group.

“Our research shows how Emirates’ presence in the US and the air connectivity it provides generates significant economic growth by increasing the free flow of international travel and trade. It is also important to note that the more than 100,000 jobs Emirates supports in the US produce widespread benefits across diverse sectors of our economy from professional services, to manufacturing, to education, and to hospitality.”

Emirates expands connectivity
Emirates’ US economic impact has steadily and significantly increased in recent years. Since launching its initial service to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport in 2004, the airline today provides over 350 connections between the US and the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Asia, and offers travellers from the US more choices of global travel destinations. Emirates flies more than 135 weekly passenger and cargo flights serving 14 US gateways, including recently launched services to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, as well as to Newark via Athens.

The UAE has been the largest export market for US goods and services in the Middle East Africa South Asia (MEASA) region for eight consecutive years. In 2016, the US enjoyed a $19 billion trade surplus with the UAE, the USA’s third-largest globally. Emirates’ expanding network has not only improved trade lanes to the UAE, but it has created new connections worldwide, stimulating new export and import merchandise and service trade for the US. In addition to improved access to the UAE and other Middle Eastern markets, Emirates’ passenger flights provide efficient connections via Dubai to other markets in the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Asia.

Emirates purchases more Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft than any other company in the world. In 2015 alone, Emirates received delivery of 11 brand new Boeing 777-300ERs and one Boeing 777-200LRF. Based on US export data for civil aviation aircraft and related commodities, these purchases in 2015 generated approximately $1.5 billion of direct revenue to the US aircraft manufacturing sector, supported approximately 1,700 direct jobs, $230 million in labour income and contributed $445 million to US GDP.

In total, Emirates has 163 Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet and another 171 on order, in addition to parts and other commodities and services purchased for fleet maintenance. These aircraft are largely powered by GE engines and serviced by GE Aviation, which also counts Emirates as a leading customer. Emirates’ Airbus A380 fleet, the largest in the world, is also primarily equipped with US-manufactured Engine Alliance engines and associated components. -TradeArabia News Service