Emirates has not put its fleet expansion on hold and may announce more aircraft orders later this year, its Chairman said. "I'm sure you'll be hearing more announcements during this year on may be more aircraft to come to Emirates, or signing new aircraft to be bought by Emirates," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said in an interview with Dubai 1 television.
Sheikh Ahmed also said the Dubai-owned carrier was ready to launch an initial public offering whenever the Dubai government gives it the green light.  

Emirates, the largest customer for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, expects to take delivery of 11 aircraft in 2010. Sheikh Ahmed reiterated that funding the carrier's aircraft purchases was not an issue.

Emirates has grown to be the world's 10th-largest airline by scheduled passenger-kilometres flown, according to IATAA. Excluding domestic flights, it is the world's fourth-largest airline.

The carrier, which started in 1985 with two planes, has grown to rival airlines such as Qantas Airways and Singapore Airlines  for passenger traffic between Europe and East Asia.