HSBC finances Airbus A380 for Emirates

Notes and media contacts

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited (HSBC)
HSBC is the largest and most widely represented international bank in the Middle East. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has 46 branches throughout the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and the Palestinian Autonomous Area. In addition to the branch network the Bank maintains representative offices in Tehran, Iran and Tripoli, Libya. This extensive regional coverage is strengthened by another member of the HSBC Group, HSBC Bank Egypt SAE; and by its associated companies;The Saudi British Bank; British Arab Commercial Bank Limited; HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited; SABB Securities Limited; SABB Takaful Co.; and Dar Es Saalam Investment Bank.


Emirates Airline:
Emirates Airline has experienced rapid and consistent growth, above 20 per cent a year on average and has been profitable for the last 20 consecutive years. Financially self-sustained and unprotected, Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers in the 2007-08 financial year - almost four million more than the year before - and declared a record net profit of Dhs5.3bn ($1.4bn). Total group revenue was Dhs41.2bn ($11.2bn).

Emirates is the world's third most profitable and among the 20 largest international airlines and one of the fastest-growing. Its 127 all wide-bodied fleet includes 8 freighters and is among the youngest in the skies, with an average age of 67 months. The airline plans to more than double its size by 2012.

For more information, please contact:
Tim HARRISON
Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Middle East
Global Banking and Markets
PO Box 506553, Dubai, UAE
Tel:+97145093389
Fax:+97145093570