AIRLINE Emirates is defying the widespread downturn in the aviation sector to see significant year-on-year growth in passenger and cargo levels on its flights from the North- East.

The Dubai-based carrier, which launched its daily service from Newcastle International Airport to the Middle East in September 2007, has recently carried its 250,000th passenger between the two destinations, as well as its three millionth ton of cargo.

Last week saw the biggest cargo shipment ever carried from the North-East aboard a passenger aircraft, with 13,800kg shipped to Dubai, including a massive shipment of chemicals from Teesside destined for the emirate.

And Emirates told The Northern Echo the levels of growth seen during the past few months – despite the economic downturn crippling other airlines – will continue, with growth of at least ten per cent in year-on-year booking levels between July and September.

However, Laurie Berryman, Emirates Northern UK manager, said that although the route is one of the strongest in the airline’s portfolio, plans to upgrade the aircraft from an Airbus 330-200 model to a Boeing 777 have been put on hold until the economy stabilises.

Mr Berryman said the route is proving popular for both tourism and trade, and that onward travel from Dubai to destinations including Australia, Thailand and Malaysia is soaring beyond expectations.

“We are very pleased with how things are going.

“We’ve had a very strong April, May and June, and things are looking very promising for July to September,” he said.

“The route is proving very popular for both tourism and trade. Not only are people staying in Dubai, they’re going on to other places from there – Australia and Bangkok for example, but places like Mauritius and Kuala Lumpur are also proving popular destinations for North-East tourists.

“Trading links are doing very well, with all kinds of cargo being carried – in one shipment just last week, we had a significant amount of chemicals being carried from Teesside to Dubai, and also on board the same flight were fresh North-East lobsters destined for Hong Kong. It really does show the wide variety of trading and business links which are being strengthened as a result of this route.”

Mr Berryman said that although plans to upgrade the aircraft used on the route are still in place – in a move that would increase passenger numbers per flight from 278 to 330 – it has been put on hold for the minute.

“Although the airline continues to perform well despite what is happening in the economy, I think it is wise to put expansion plans on hold.

“Once we come out of the other side of the recession, it will be something we will most certainly look at again,” he said.