Emirates chief sees no financing difficulties in '09/'10

Emirates airline expects no difficulties in securing financing for planes bought and scheduled for delivery during this year and next, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum told Al Arabiya TV that the airline had good reserves and an "excellent" liquidity position. The airline plans no lay-offs but is encouraging more than 650 staff to take unpaid holidays of up to three months to cope with the impact of the global financial downturn, he said.