ع
Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters that the airline is flying at 90 percent capacity with its premium cabins full. Clark made the remarks on the sidelines of the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2026. “As long as the situation, as bad as it is at the moment, is manageable, we can still continue what we’re doing,” he said, according to the news agency.
Clark advised the industry to maintain optimism about prospects in the Middle East. The president said the sector has to “think positive, act positive, be positive” when it comes to projecting the region’s recovery. Traffic has steadily recovered in recent weeks for many of the region’s core carriers, he reported.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Reuters that operations feel more normal when viewed from the centre of Gulf activity. “I think the closer you are to the centre of the Gulf operation, the more normal you realise things are,” Griffiths said. Both executives confirmed that the new Dubai airport is still set for its targeted opening in 2032.
Clark added that the carrier has no plans to defer orders. Marc Nichols, partner and global aviation sector co-chair at DLA Piper, said the presence of regional carriers at the airshow reflects strategic priorities and the maturity of their fleet planning. Nichols noted that many of the major regional carriers have already secured substantial aircraft orders over recent years.
Aviation executives representing regional businesses stressed at the event that the Middle Eastern aviation sector is going strong. They sought to ease worries about spiralling conflict in the area. Regional leaders highlighted that the aviation business remains open despite current challenges.
The Reuters report placed the new airport within Emirates’ ongoing expansion ambitions for the United Arab Emirates. Griffiths confirmed the timeline has not shifted. Clark’s update on capacity and orders underscored continued demand for the carrier’s services.
