Emirates dethrones United as the world’s third largest carrier

Dubai: Emirates has become the world's third-largest carrier by capacity for two consecutive months this year, moving ahead of United Airlines, according to a report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), a leading aviation consultancy and producer of airline, airport and aviation analysis.

The Dubai carrier came in third among the world's top 25 airlines in monthly capacity (ASK-available seat kilometres) in March and April trailing Delta Air Lines in first place and American Airlines in second.

Emirates is set to fly 3.85 billion seat kilometres this month, up 9.4 per cent year-on-year, while United's capacity is moving into the negative (-2.8 per cent) to 3.66 billion ASKs, according to the latest data sourced from schedules provider Innovata.

Delta's capacity, meanwhile, is likely to hit 6.24 billion ASKs in April, a 5.3 per cent change over the same period last year, followed by American Airlines' 4.90 billion ASKs, a 2.3 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the report.

Commenting on this development, an Emirates spokesperson said on-going aircraft deliveries are helping to increase the capacity levels for the carrier.

"In line with ongoing aircraft deliveries our overall capacity continues to grow, making us one of the world's largest airlines by available seat kilometres.