UAE Aviation News and Discussion Thread (Part 2)

[zerozol]

The official Skytrax-awards were given in these days.

Last year, Emirates was the 5th, Etihad the 7th.

Now, Emirates falled back to the 8th, and Etihad went to the 6th position.

The World's Top 10 airlines in the 2010 Awards :

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

Emirates won 1 prize, for the "Best Inflight Entertainment"

Etihad Airways got 3, "World's Best First Class", "Best Onboard Catering - First Class" and "Best Airline Seat - First Class"

For the prize "Best Airline: Middle East" (regional prize) Qatar Airways was choosen. They got 4 more other prizes for example Best Business Class etc.

http://www.worldairlineawards.com/main/2010Awards.htm

[noir-dresses]

I flew on five of those ten airlines.

I can honestly say Qatar suck's compared to Emirates, not to mention there airport is third world country.

Cathy, and Singapore are great.

[noir-dresses]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/spa...ex.html?hpt=C2

Why do I for some reason think one of these Space Shuttle's might end up in Dubai.

[EmiratesAirline380]

I've flown on most of those airlines, but the best are certainly Singapore, Thai, and Cathay.
The best in the Middle East personally, is Etihad. Staff were nice, food was excellent, and the empty plane is really comfortable.

[killerk]

Originally Posted by EmiratesAirline380

I've flown on most of those airlines, but the best are certainly Singapore, Thai, and Cathay.
The best in the Middle East personally, is Etihad. Staff were nice, food was excellent, and the empty plane is really comfortable.

Yes, I agree, the emptiness makes it totally worth the experience !!!! (and better than Emirates)

[zerozol]

Emirates' president Tim Clark was at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg last week, fresh from the Middle East carrier revealing a five-fold increase in profits for its financial year just ended. During a panel discussion to open the conference, Clark had some pretty interesting things to say about yield development when I asked him how the airline had performed through the economic crisis.

"Like most of the long-haul network carriers we faced decline in the premium business but then, so what? Volumes came from different segments of our market. They paid a little bit less, but then we took out 17% of our cost base so we were able to absorb the decline in the yield," Clark said. "But we got it back in the course of 09. We pushed the fares up 35% last year between April and December in the light of everyone else going south, air networks being shrunk and aircraft being put on the ground. The view was if we spent 25 years building our brand and investing so heavily in it, let's test and see if the market was going to be as loyal to us as we thought it was,, and it truly was. In fact we got a lot more coming out from different segments who had hithertoo not been able to travel on us because the price we were charging for the premium offering in the old days was far too high. For example baby boomers in the UK. As soon as the premium fares fell to levels they could afford....that business came to us in large amounts. Our business cabins remained full, albeit we were getting less money, but this is what you have to do in business. You can't expect it will be a bed of roses all the time. And in the last year we have actually managed to get our yield back to where they were prior to the 145 dollar for oil price in May 2008. We now have pricing about the same as first quarter 08, which is already a good yield. Take the cost out as we have done, and bingo, profits come along as they have done."

For more on this plus, Clark's veiws on why the real challenge on interiors lies in getting the product right within the tougher space constraints of the economy cabin, watch our video interview with Clark here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/...id=86334583001


Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ai...-the-busi.html

[Dubaiiscool:)]

by Shane McGinley

Thursday, 03 June 2010

Dubai International Airport has reduced the number of public announcements by 65 percent and plans to phase out older aircraft that do not confirm to noise standards, Dubai Airports has announced.

Described as the region’s first ‘silent airport’ project, Dubai Airports is aiming to reduce the number of public announcements made across all three terminals at Dubai International Airport, the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger traffic.

“Over the past ten months we have worked closely with our customer airlines to limit announcements to a maximum of two per flight,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

“As a result we have cut the number of daily announcements from over 2000 across all three terminals to less than 700 with no impact on departure performance,” he added.

The initiative is one of several being implemented in airports around the world, but is the first to be introduced in the Middle East.

Dubai Airports also announced that, in conjunction with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, it is planning a phased withdrawal of older generation aircraft that do not conform to international noise and emission standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It said that ICAO classified Chapter 1 and 2 aircraft will be banned from operating cargo flights at Dubai International from October 31 this year and passenger flights effective March 27 next year.

However, it was confirmed that Chapter 1 and 2 aircraft will be allowed to continue operations at Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International until April 1, 2012.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com%2F589...ncements-by-65

[Dubaiiscool:)]

Emirates plans to hire more than 700 pilots over the next 18 months to support new routes, new aircraft and increased frequencies.

Tomorrow, the airline's recruitment team will be seeking First Officers in Madrid, one of six new destinations to be announced by the airline this year.

After Madrid - served by Emirates from 1st August - recruitment specialists move to Barcelona and then across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Capt. Alan Stealey, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Flight Operations, said: "We have embarked on a major drive to recruit cockpit crew to support the airline's growth at a time when much of the industry is cutting back. With our 9th A380 just arrived and a 10th A380 being handed over next week, that's two giant aircraft to staff in the space of a fortnight alone. By the end of this year, we will have recruited more than 250 pilots. Next year, we're looking to double that figure and recruit 500.”

The international airline of the UAE now has a 147-strong fleet with a further six aircraft due to arrive this calendar year. A total of 144 planes worth around AED 176 billion (US$ 48 billion) are on order.

New routes this year include Tokyo, which launched 28th March and Amsterdam, which started 1st May. Services to Prague and Baghdad roll out on 1st July, Madrid begins 1st August and flights to Dakar operate from 1st September. A twice weekly summer service has also been announced for Al Medinah al Munawarrah - running from 2nd July to 24th September.

Compared to June 2009, the airline's weekly flight departures from Dubai have jumped from 1004 to 1118 - supporting new routes and a raft of extra frequencies in Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent, Asia and Australasia.

Rick Helliwell, Emirates' Vice President, Recruitment, said: “A career as an Emirates' pilot offers an opportunity to fly aircraft in one of the world's most modern fleets throughout an ever broadening route network. Due to the massive expansion plans for the airline, pilots at Emirates have the opportunity to progress from First Officer to the Captain's seat quickly, based on industry norms.”

The airline currently employs more than 2,300 flight deck crew, spanning 85 nationalities.

Spanish First Officer, Santiago Andres, said: “Working as a First Officer with Emirates has been extremely rewarding. The airline has an extensive route network which has enabled me to fly all over the world. I'm so pleased that my home country of Spain will become an Emirates' passenger route from 1st August. I also really like living in Dubai - the lifestyle is something very special.”

For the 2009/10 financial year, the Emirates Group announced total net profits of AED 4.2 billion (US$ 1.1 billion), a record increase of 248 percent. The airline's contribution to that profit was AED 3.5 billion (US$ 964 million).

Last week, Emirates announced that it was looking to recruit around 3,000 cabin crew during the current financial year.

The Madrid pilot recruitment sessions take place on 4th and 5th June at 1000hrs at the Hotel Wellington, C/Velazquez, 28001. On 6th and 7th June, the Barcelona sessions will run from 1000hrs at the Acevi Villarroel Hotel, C/ Villarroel, 28011.

Full details of these and other pilot recruitment sessions across the world can be found via www.emiratesgroupcareers.com

Meanwhile, to mark the start of passenger services from 1st August, Emirates is holding a high profile gala event on 10th June at Madrid’s Palacio de los Deportes – serving as an introduction to the airline and its home of Dubai.

http://www.emirates.com/english/abou...75100&offset=0

[Dubaiiscool:)]

Flydubai reveals positive first-year performance numbers as sector experiences sustained growth momentum

By Nadia Saleem, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 June 3, 2010

The UAE's aviation industry will soon see a third low-cost carrier after approvals are granted, Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, told Gulf News Wednesday.

A group of UAE investors is seeking an airline licence from the authority and the study is in the final stages, he said.

Al Suwaidi declined to name either the investors or provide specifics on the airline size and launch schedule. More details would be provided within a month, he said.

The third carrier would enter a market that is seeing steady growth.

The city's first low-cost carrier, flydubai, said yesterday it flew more than 750,000 passengers in its first year of operations.

Air Arabia, the region's first budget airline, has carried over 10 million passengers in its seven years.

Currently operating eight Boeing 737-800s, flydubai launched services to 16 destinations within 12 months, and plans to have 40 destinations by 2011, chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith told Gulf News. After recently launching flights to Baku, Nepal and Sri Lanka, flydubai will soon launch services to Lucknow.

"In the next year, we will grow as fast or faster," Al Ghaith said. Waiting for delivery of 42 more 737s, he said flydubai will have 13 aircraft by the end of next year. With ongoing financing of new aircraft and rapid growth in passengers, flydubai is targeting to break even within two years

http://gulfnews.com/business/aviatio...e-off-1.636137

[killerk]

June 02, 2010, 1:25 AM EDT
By Inal Ersan
June 2 (Bloomberg) -- The United Arab Emirates is looking into licensing a third low-cost airline in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, al-Khaleej newspaper reported today citing the head of the General Civil Aviation Authority Saif al-Suwaidi.
The study is in its final stages, it reported, without giving further details. A third airline would compete with Air Arabia, the Middle East’s largest no-frills carrier, and Emirates unit Flydubai.
To contact the reporter on this story: Inal Ersan in Dubai at iersan@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Riad Hamade at rhamade@bloomberg.net

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...j-reports.html

[noir-dresses]

Just found this, Emirates will recruit 700 new pilot's in the next 18 month's.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...18-months.html

[AltinD]

Already posted

[zerozol]

Etihad signs codeshare deal With Malev
(WAM)

3 June 2010

ABU DHABI - Etihad Airways customers around the world will soon be able to fly to Budapest following the signing of a new codeshare agreement with Hungarian carrier, Malev Airlines.

The new deal, which comes into effect in September 2010, will also give air travellers in Hungary greater and easier access to the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s network of 61 destinations.

Under the deal, Etihad will place its two-letter ‘EY’ code on services operated by Malev between Budapest and Athens, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan. In turn, Malev will place its ‘MA’ code on Etihad’s flights between those cities and Abu Dhabi.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “By expanding our codeshare network to include Malev Airlines, Etihad continues to offer its services to greater numbers of travellers around the world.

“Budapest is one of Europe’s famous historical and commercial capitals and attracts significant volumes of business and we look forward to working with our colleagues at Malev to provide seamless travel between our respective hubs and beyond.”

Karim Makhlouf, Mal v Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Budapest provides visiting business travellers and tourists alike multicultural traditions, a colourful and vibrant life as well as, from a business perspective, numerous investment opportunities.

“Under the terms of the agreement between the two airlines, the quality services of Etihad Airways become accessible – with a Mal v ticket – for all those who wish to travel from Budapest, or from the region, to Abu-Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.”

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticle...ction=business

[luv2bebrown]

i dont believe there is room for a third LCC - given FlyDubai's expansion plans.

[williamX]

There is place for third Low-cost airline.
There is many directions not served enough to CIS countries, many cities in Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus not covered enough.
For example in Russia in Saint-Petersburg city (population ~5mln.) no regular (only in winter available) flights to UAE, but everyday about 1000 people from SPb flying to UAE thru Moscow, Istanbul, Kiev etc., because no alternative. Prices here very high - in winter time direct flight to Dubai is ~3000AED (because of no competition), while from Moscow it cost 1000AED. (from Spb to Moscow 600 km.)
There is many other big cities (with population 1 mln.+) not served enough: Ekaterinburg, Astana, Minsk, Chelyabinsk etc.

[luv2bebrown]

there is not enough place for a low cost airline.

These cities you mentioned are not served directly, but like you said they are served through connecting flights. If a third carrier comes in and introduces direct flights to Saint Petersburg for example, the Moscow passenger loads will drop. Moscow flights will not magically stay full.

An additional carrier will stimulate demand through cheaper fares/alternate destinations ONLY to a certain extent. And FlyDubai is the carrier that has done/is doing that. Anything more and then you have too much competition. Emirates, FlyDubai, Air Arabia and Etihad are not small players... they all have MASSIVE expansion plans.

The high prices you mention enable local airlines to be profitable. A third carrier would add excess capacity and would dilute fares heavily. When that happens, you end up with a bunch of crap airlines, with bad service due to heavy cost cutting, which arent making any money (US Airline Industry for example).

In the case of Europe/US, sure you will see immediate benefits by having access to cheap fares. But when the airlines go bust and you have to bail them out with tax dollars, you eventually have to pay more. Its much better to have healthy airlines operating at a profit and you flying less because the fares are so expensive, than having loss making airlines just so that airfare becomes as cheap as a bus ticket.

[EmiratesAirline380]

I think the reason FlyDubai hasn't really affected Emirates is because most of the traffic on Emirates are transiting through Dubai, whereas FlyDubai carries passengers directly from the destination to Dubai. I think Emirates may have lost a very small amount of traffic from those destinations which are served by both airlines but nothing very significant because its quite expensive to use Emirates to fly directly to Dubai, and very few people do.

[bizzybonita]

3rd economic airlines in AD soon !

[luv2bebrown]

Originally Posted by EmiratesAirline380

I think the reason FlyDubai hasn't really affected Emirates is because most of the traffic on Emirates are transiting through Dubai, whereas FlyDubai carries passengers directly from the destination to Dubai. I think Emirates may have lost a very small amount of traffic from those destinations which are served by both airlines but nothing very significant because its quite expensive to use Emirates to fly directly to Dubai, and very few people do.

well actually FlyDubai has affected Emirates on several regional routes. Damascus is an example. I don't have the figures but Dubai EK O&D traffic is huge - so FlyDubai has certainly eaten into a Emirates. but its net effect is growth of the overall air passenger market.

FlyDubai has increased the size of the market/stimulated demand by making air travel more accessible to those who previously couldn't afford it. A syrian who may have only travelled back to Syria once every year with their annual ticket, may now choose to do an additional 500dh trip to Syria.

there is room for growth, so even though Emirates and Air Arabia may have a lost a little market share to FlyDubai, the overall industry is doing well. A small additional carrier wont hurt. But another Air Arabia sized carrier is something I dont think the market can support - given how the existing airlines plan to grow their fleets by the hundreds.

[rye787]

Originally Posted by noir-dresses

Just found this, Emirates will recruit 700 new pilot's in the next 18 month's.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...18-months.html

Is there an industy figure for how many jobs are created directly for each new plane that is commissioned?