Etihad Airways Outlines Initial B787-9 Network Plans
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is to become the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 787-9 after placing a follow-up order for ten additional aircraft, the larger capacity variant of the Dreamliner. The airline is now committed to receive 41 787s between late 2014 and 2019 with options and purchase rights on 25 more aircraft. According to an Etihad statement, its 787-9s will be configured to carry “up to 300 passengers, and with a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,800km) it says they will be used initially on routes to destinations including Dublin, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Nagoya, Delhi and Istanbul. “Our decision to expand our Dreamliner fleet is testimony to Etihad’s commitment to operating one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the skies,” said James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways. “It also reflects our confidence in the 787’s ability to have a significant impact on our operating efficiencies and the passenger experience we can offer onboard this revolutionary aircraft.” Etihad has also placed an order for two additional Boeing 777 Freighters for its fast growing Etihad Crystal Cargo operation. The cargo fleet also includes two A300-600Fs, two A330-200Fs and two MD-11Fs. “Both the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 Freighter offer highly attractive operating economics and will facilitate our global expansion plans by allowing us to transport passengers and cargo into new markets from our hub in Abu Dhabi,” added James Hogan.
International Growth Helps Boost Air Moldova Traffic
Air Moldova has reported a 13 per cent rise in passengers during the month of November, thanks to an increase in international traffic. The airline handled around 35,000 passengers during the month with notable rises in traffic between its Chisinau base and London (up 99 per cent), Paris (up 82 per cent), Vienna (up 44 per cent), Madrid (up 39 per cent) and Kiev (up 23 per cent). The airline says the improved performance is partly responsible to a revised business strategy which has developed its Chisinau International Airport as a regional hub. In the first nine months it says that almost 9,000 passengers have used the facility to transfer between Air Moldova’s flights to Western Europe and its regional connections to Moscow, Sochi, Kiev and Bucharest.
Qatar Airways Looks At Additional Chinese Markets
As Qatar Airways increases its presence in the Chinese market with a new link to Chongqing and additional frequencies to Beijing and Hong Kong, the airline’s management has revealed they are studying more destinations in the country for future growth. Over the past two weeks the Middle East operator has inaugurated a three times weekly service to Chongqing – the carrier’s fifth Chinese gateway –three new flights to Beijing and four extra rotations to Hong Kong, increasing its overall frequency across China from 25 to 35 flights each week. Speaking at a press conference in Chongqing to celebrate the airline’s new flight, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said China’s economic growth was clearly a catalyst for the carrier to do more business in the country, already a strong economic partner with the State of Qatar. “We have been closely looking at the opportunities that exist in this vast market to provide greater passenger choice and to give both business and leisure travellers more travel options to and from China, where many cities are largely underserved by international airlines,” he said. “Chongqing is a prime example of a city, with its large industrial base and population of almost 30 million people, not having sufficient international air access that it so well deserves. By entering this market, we have become the only international airline flying westwards from Chongqing, giving easy one-stop access via our Doha hub to destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America and South America,” he added. With additional services into both Beijing and Hong Kong, Al Baker said that Qatar Airways was stepping up travel options to and from the popular cities, further cementing its position as an airline of choice. Qatar Airways also serves Guangzhou and Shanghai and additional Chinese cities could be added to the airline’s route map in the future. “We look forward to developing our network further in China, which we believe has plenty more opportunities, particularly inland Chinese cities where demand for air travel is just as high as the traditional coastal gateways,” said Akbar Al Baker. The State of Qatar shares a strong relationship with China, based on established trade links. Qatar is China’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) while exports from China to Qatar centre on mechanical and electrical goods. Qatar is home to more than 6,000 Chinese nationals, of which over five per cent work at Qatar Airways – 330 employed at head office in Doha and almost 80 in China.
EgyptAir Boss Becomes Government Minister
After just over two years as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EgyptAir Holding, the parent company of EgyptAir, Eng Hussein Massoud was this week officially sworn in as the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, part of Prime Minister Dr Kamal El Ganzoury’s new Government. Eng Massoud has held a number of key positions in the aviation sector and alongside his position at EgyptAir Holding he has been a member in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Strategy and Policy Committee, a member in the Nomination Council and a member in the board of governors in the same association. He also has held the Chairman title for the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO). “The priorities in the next period will be directed towards organising the internal structure of the ministry and creating a homogeneous teamwork system,” Eng Hussein Massoud said after his appointment. “All the Ministry of Civil Aviation employees have full awareness, high knowledge and optimum loyalty to the aviation sector, the matter which certainly shall take part in overcoming this critical period.”
Abu Dhabi Airports Reports Strong October
Passenger throughput at Abu Dhabi International Airport continues to grow at double digit rates of growth, with October experiencing a 17.2 per cent increase compared to the same month last year, according to the latest statistics from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC). The total number of passengers passing through Abu Dhabi International Airport during the month reached 1,058,979, thanks to new air services and a strong impact from Hajj pilgrimage traffic. For the year to date (January 1, 2011 – October 31, 2011) passenger numbers are up 13 per cent to 10.1 million. “What remains a positive factor for us is the October growth came from both O&D and transfer traffic, with O&D increasing at 18.8 per cent and transfer at 16.4 per cent,” said Amir Abu Ganaya, Senior Traffic Analyst, ADAC. “This clearly highlights the continued attraction of Abu Dhabi as both a business and leisure destination as well as a connecting hub.” London remains Abu Dhabi’s single largest destination from the airport ahead of Doha, Bangkok, Manila and Frankfurt. All top five destinations showed a positive growth in October, ranging from 35 per cent to/from Doha to the six per cent recorded by Bangkok, a figure that was almost certainly impacted marginally by the flooding in the Thai capital. According to ADAC, the total traffic for the top five destinations grew by 13 per cent and now represents 20 per cent of the airport’s total passengers. Total aircraft movements at Abu Dhabi International actually remained static, growing by just 1.2 per cent versus the same month last year, although, scheduled flight movements did increase by seven per cent as a result of new airlines and additional frequencies. “It was very pleasing to see the strong load factor growth for our airlines on top of the good scheduled capacity growth in what is a typically low seasonal month for Abu Dhabi,” added Abu Ganaya.
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