Emirates A380 order raises capacity stakes.(Upfront)

Emirates' international network aspirations and desire to place Dubai at the centre of global air travel were underlined with the airline's latest $i 1.5bn order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380 aircraft.

The deal, coming on top of the 58 double-deckers already on order, was signed at the Berlin Airshow.

Emirates' A380 fleet has jumped from one to 10 in just under two years--the 10th was received on June 7--and it remains to be seen whether airport capacity locally and globally can keep pace with its expansion. Dubai International's A380-dedicated Concourse 3, due to have 20 gates and six gates for remote stands, won't be operational until …