Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines, said he expects a 10 percent passenger increase in 2016. He made the remarks at a media briefing of the ongoing, four-day tourism fair Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in April, Xinhua news agency reported. "We are still growing and we expect a 10 percent passenger increase year-on-year in 2016 which translates into over 55 million passengers," he said, adding that he is confident that the airlines will reach a seat load factor of over 80 percent in 2016, considered high in civil aviation.

Unlike Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Albaker, said at a tourism fair that there was "definitely a negative impact on business travel due to declining oil prices," Sheikh Ahmed said Emirates Airlines will continue to grow as it constantly increases its destinations worldwide and offers a "unique service" inflight.