DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The parent company of Dubai-based carrier Emirates said Monday that operating profit for the first half of the year surged by more than 63 percent as the Middle East’s biggest airline expanded routes and benefited from stabilizing fuel prices.

Emirates Group said operating profit rose to 2.37 billion dirhams ($645.7 million) for the first half of 2012 compared to 1.449 billion dirhams ($394.8 million) in the same period last year.