Dubai-based Emirates has strongly refuted reports published in an Australian publication on Sunday morning questioning its safety standards, and stated that it had a system for monitoring pilot alertness that met industry norms.

Australia's Sunday Herald Sun said in an editorial comment that Emirates' pilots had expressed concern to Australian aviation authorities over pilot fatigue. The paper has reported several times this year on the issue.

Quoting documents from a crew member, The Sunday Herald Sun, said, 'Crews cannot get proper in-flight rest and suffer from fatigue and micro-sleep during the approach and landing phases on the Airbus A380 and on the A340-300.'

'Emirates strongly refutes press reports published in an Australian publication this morning regarding the airline's management of fatigue risk,' Richard Vaughan, Emirates' divisional senior vice president for commercial operations worldwide, said in a statement.

'Emirates is a world leader in the management of pilot fatigue and alertness. Our Fatigue Risk Management System continuously monitors pilot alertness across a broad spectrum of international destinations, varying crew configurations and regulatory requirements.'

The Sunday Herald said: 'In an email to Emirates executives, one senior pilot issues this blunt warning: 'I am very concerned that the commercial versus safety balance in this airline is tipping in the wrong direction.''

The Dubai government-owned airline is one of several airlines charged by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with fixing fuel surcharge prices.

The ACCC has alleged that between 2002 and 2006 Emirates made agreements or understandings with rival freight carriers to fix cargo rates and fuel and security surcharges. Emirates has denied the accusations.-Reuters