JEDDAH: Emirates Airline will conclude another year of growth underscored by standout milestones across its fleet, network, and customer experience initiatives.

Its growing business footprint also delivered increasing positive impact on the economies and communities it serves.

Since Jan. 2015, the airline has carried over 51.3 million passengers, which represented 9 percent more passengers during the same period in the previous calendar year.

Emirates operated around 3,600 flights on average per week, or over 186,000 flights in 2015, traveling more than 824 million km around the globe, which is the distance equivalent of more than 1,000 trips to the moon and back. 

The airline served over 57 million meals on its flights departing Dubai, and handled over 35 million pieces of baggage in Dubai alone.

Emirates added 26 new aircraft to its fleet in 2015, comprising 15 A380s, 10 Boeing 777-300ERs and 1 Boeing 777 Freighter, rounding off the year with 246 aircraft in service.

With the addition of new aircraft in 2015 and 26 more aircraft slated to retire in 2016, Emirates is committed to flying a younger, modern and environmentally friendly fleet that provides customers with a superior level of comfort and safety.

The airline marked its 150th Emirates 777 delivery milestone, as part of a triple delivery of two Boeing 777-300ERs and one Boeing 777 Freighter in one day in September. An Airbus A380 was also part of that bumper delivery, strengthening Emirates’ position as the world’s largest operator of both the A380 and Boeing 777. 

At the Dubai Airshow in November, Emirates introduced the world’s first two class configured A380 with the capacity to carry 615 passengers. 

The aircraft drew in over 18,000 visitors in five days, and currently serves passengers flying to Copenhagen and Bangkok.

Remarking on this year’s accomplishments, Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said: “2015 has been one of considerable growth for Emirates as we continued to steer our course despite the headwinds of regional conflict, unfavorable currency impact, and shaky business and consumer confidence in many global markets. Emirates has come out strong, as our mindset, combined with our fleet and network strategy has enabled us to absorb shocks and maximize opportunities.”

The airline expanded its network to 150 destinations in 2015, with the addition of six new passenger destinations: Bali, Multan, Orlando, Mashhad, Bologna and Sabiha Gokcen in Istanbul; and three cargo-only destinations in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Columbus (US) and Ciudad del Este, (Paraguay).

In addition, Emirates uplifted frequencies and upgraded capacity to numerous points across its network.

In August, Emirates announced plans to launch services to Panama City, beginning Feb. 1 2016.

The new service will be the longest non-stop flight in the world (17 hours 35 minutes) and will be Emirates’ first gateway destination in Central America.