Emirates expects coronavirus to impact financial performance: internal notice

Emirates airline expects its financial performance to be impacted by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to a global drop in air travel, according to an internal notice. The carrier, whose financial year ends this month, has suspended flights to Iran and most of mainland China. The United Arab Emirates has urged citizens and residents against travelling abroad. “At this stage, there is very little doubt that our financial performance for the year will be impacted,” according to a March 4 internal staff notice that also said passenger numbers were increasingly impacted. Emirates did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Emirates is a very strong and financially solid airline. The type of aircraft we operate, the length of our routes and our general cost base do mean however that the impacts of adversity can be felt quickly,” the notice said. “The business has moved to review routes, downgrade to smaller capacity, where appropriate, and take out unprofitable flying almost on a daily basis,” it added.<br/>