Emirates looking at Saudi Arabia to make up for drop in US demand

Emirates is looking to the region's biggest economy, Saudi Arabia, to help make up for a drop in demand that has forced it to keep 5 aircraft grounded. Emirates has redeployed 8 aircraft elsewhere after grounding 13 jets as a result of cutting back on services to the US since May, president Tim Clark said Wednesday. He said the airline was looking at Saudi Arabia's demand for charter flights for the aircraft that remain grounded. Earlier Wednesday, Saudi Arabia elevated deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the architect of its economic reforms, to crown prince. "It appears to us that the Saudi's are being a little bit more expansive, inclusive, call it what you like," Clark said. "I am optimistic that we will get more access to Saudi and that’s quite important to us because that’s a very powerful market." <br/>