On 25th October 1985, Emirates® flew its first routes out of Dubai with just two aircraft - a leased Boeing 737 and Airbus 300 B4. Then, as now, our goal was quality, not quantity, and in the years since taking those first small steps onto the regional travel scene, Emirates® has evolved into a globally influential travel and tourism conglomerate known the world over for our commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of our business. Though wholly owned by the Government of Dubai, Emirates® has grown in scale and stature not through protectionism but through competition-competition with the ever-growing number of international carriers that take advantage of Dubai’s open-skies policy. Not only do we support that policy, but we see it as vital to maintaining our identity and our competitiveness. After making its initial start-up investment, the Government of Dubai saw fit to treat Emirates® as a wholly independent business entity, and today we are thriving because of it. Our growth has never been lower than 20 per cent annually, and the airline has recorded an annual profit in every year since its third in operation. Continuing our explosive growth while continually striving to provide the best service in the industry is the secret of Emirates’® success. The Emirates Group announced record net profits of Dhs 3.5 billion (US$ 942 million) for the financial year ended 31st March 2007. The 28.8 per cent increase in profits versus the previous year speaks of a promising future of an airline we feel is greater than the sum of its many parts, which now include: •An award-winning international cargo division •A full-fledged destination management and leisure division •An international ground-handler •An airline IT developer.