EMIRATES GROUP has declared a 74% increase in net profits to US$285.7m for the financial year 2002/3, ended on 31 March 2003, driven by the growing confidence of its customers in the airline and travel-related group of companies. Emirates Airline's operations alone achieved a staggering 94% increase in profits, from $127.6m to $247.1m. The average passenger seat factor rose to 76.6%, breaking all previous records, and cargo represented 19.6% of the airline's revenue. http://www.emirates.com