STATE-OWNED Emirates is not yet seeing a downturn in business and bookings for the next few months are at high levels, even as other airlines warn stuttering economies are affecting sales.

"As yet, fingers crossed, we have not seen any diminution of demand," president Tim Clark said in a recent interview. Clark said booking levels were in the high 70 per cent range for November, which he described as strong for the time of year. Clark said fuel remained the airline's single biggest issue. "Our biggest single problem is fuel, but that's coming off now, he said. "You've got the euro and sterling going through the floor, and that gives us sleepless nights because so much of our income comes out of the euro zone and the UK but on the other hand, the non-euro zone currencies are stronger." Clark said fast-growing Emirates, which is the biggest A380 customer with 90 orders placed, was not interested in taking off any planes from Air Berlin , which is scaling back its fleet as it strives to return to profitability. "It's important that they sort themselves out because Air Berlin's a very good partner for us," he added. Clark also said the carrier was no further with trying to get slots at Berlin's new airport, due to be opened next summer. There had been reports flag carrier Lufthansa had asked the government not to award slots to Emirates.