Dubai government-owned airline Emirates said today it planned to recruit 2 000 cabin crew in 2010 as it expands its fleet and routes. The Arab world's largest airline has hired around 660 cabin crew and more than 60 pilots since March 2009, a statement said.

The airline's total cabin crew stands at 11 000.  "More aircraft and flights mean more staff," the carrier said. "It is expected that a further 2 000 cabin crew will be hired this year." The company has grown its fleet of planes from 131 to 145, since March 2009, including eight Airbus A380s superjumbos.

Middle Eastern airlines saw the highest growth rate of 11.2% in air passenger traffic globally for 2009 as carriers snapped up long-haul connecting traffic, international air traffic body IATA said on January 27.

Emirates, the largest customer for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, said in February funding its aircraft purchases was not an issue and that it would post solid results for 2009 The airline, which has $55 billion worth of orders with Airbus and Boeing, expects to take delivery of 11 aircraft in 2010 as it presses ahead with expansion into Europe.

One of Dubai's prize assets, Emirates in December raised $1.13 billion from Citibank, backed by a guarantee from the European Export Credit Agencies, and a second loan from Doric Asset to finance six aircraft. - Reuters