We’re getting close to our annual Arabian Business Awards at the end of November. One of the perks of the job is you get to see a lot of huge success stories. For all the doom and gloom blowing from the West, I can assure everyone that there has been no shortage again of outstanding business performances across all sectors.
All will of course be revealed on the big night on Sunday, Nov 20, though I couldn’t help but notice two companies in the same sector that seem to defy all logic. Two companies, in the most challenging of conditions, that keep delivering.
I’m talking about Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways. Political instability, natural disasters and a host of other problems have made aviation one of the worst industries to be in. Yet in March, Emirates announced its net profit race up 52 percent to $1.5bn (for the year to 31 March), while passenger numbers rocketed 14.5 percent to 31.4 million. Revenues, up 25 percent, are now close to a staggering $15bn a year. No wonder the experts are suggesting Emirates could place orders for more than 30 new A380s and Boeing 777s at next month’s Dubai Airshow.
Can anyone hope to compete with that kind of performance? Well, apparently so. Etihad has just released its Q3 figures for 2011 and they show revenues rising 39 percent to $1.1 bn. Seat factors are now an incredible 80.7 percent. Etihad has only been around for eight years, but CEO James Hogan is confident that this will be the year of break even, with next year one of profit. And while Emirates now has 111 destinations, Etihad is not far behind with 86 destinations now on the books.
Dubai's Emirates airline and other Middle East carriers should be forced to freeze their expansion plans to routes in India and the country's Ministry of Civil Aviation should look at options for rollback of existing routes granted to foreign airlines, ...
Emirates, the largest international airlineoperating to/from India, holds around a 40% capacity share on India-UAEservices, 23% of capacity on Middle East-India services and an approximate 10% capacity (seats) share of total international air traffic...
We now end up with the two airlines bringing in $1.7bn of profit. Or rather, based on IATA projections, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways will in 2012 account for 35 percent of all the profits made by every airline on the planet....
An Emirates AirlinesAirbus A330 passenger jet taxis on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport. Scott Deveau, Financial Post · Sept. 29, 2011 | Last Updated: Sept. 29, 2011 9:01 AM ET After years of having its expansion plans shunned by Ottawa, ...
Nearly one-third of the 32 million international passengers travelling to/from India in 2009/10 travelled on international carriers, leveraging sixth freedom rights, with only a third of current weekly seats and ASKs deployed international from India being operated by Indian carriers. Carriers such as Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines have successfully expanded in the Indian market, often at the expense of local carriers, and offering onward connections via their respective hubs to destinations in US and Europe, currently underserved by the local airlines.
In the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's (CAG) report on Air India released in Sep-2011, it was noted the percentage of sixth freedom carriage in 2009/10 of total passengers carried was as high as 59% for Emirates, 78% for Qatar Airlines, 87% for Lufthansa, 49% for Singapore Airlines and 61% for British Airways. These five carriers together hold a 23.4% capacity (ASKs) share of international services to/from India. [2905 words]
Emirates, the largest international airlineoperating to/from India, holds around a 40% capacity share on India-UAEservices, 23% of capacity on Middle East-India services and an approximate 10% capacity (seats) share of total international air traffic...
We now end up with the two airlines bringing in $1.7bn of profit. Or rather, based on IATA projections, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways will in 2012 account for 35 percent of all the profits made by every airline on the planet....
... stanch supporters and organisers of well over 30 local and international sporting events, including their own WTA and ATP sanctioned Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to the highly popular IRB recognised Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby 7's tournament.
An Emirates AirlinesAirbus A330 passenger jet taxis on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport. Scott Deveau, Financial Post · Sept. 29, 2011 | Last Updated: Sept. 29, 2011 9:01 AM ET After years of having its expansion plans shunned by Ottawa, ...
Following just two years of commercial flights, Flydubai topped the poll of more than 500 UAEresidents who were asked to choose 'The best value for moneyairline for travel in the region'. In second place was Dubai-based full serviceairline Emirates, ...
An Emirates AirlinesAirbus A330 passenger jet taxis on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport. Scott Deveau, Financial Post · Sept. 29, 2011 | Last Updated: Sept. 29, 2011 9:01 AM ET After years of having its expansion plans shunned by Ottawa, ...
David Germain was in Dubai last week and had meetings with Arabian Adventures, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airlines, discussing joint marketing initiatives for the American Market. Last year, the Seychelles Tourism Board engaged the Argentinian market ..
Nigeria's Arik Air said on Monday it will launch services from Abu Dhabi International Airport next month.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and Nigeria's largest international carrier said operations would start on Tuesday November 29.
ADAC added that it was looking to West Africa for further route launches in the future.
Three non-stop weekly flights will connect the UAE capital to the city of Lagos, the companies said in a statement.
The new service, which will departing Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, which will offer passengers Lagos, with other travel connections to Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana.
James E Bennett, CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said: "Abu Dhabi Airports Company is delighted to welcome Arik Air as the first West African carrier to operate to Abu Dhabi International.
"The capital's airport operator is working closely with various airlines to support their development initiatives that will ultimately benefit Abu Dhabi International Airport passengers with more choices."
Arik Air currently offers flights to 25 destinations in Nigeria, around Africa and across the rest of the world.
From Lagos it serves 19 cities with 229 weekly departures and from Abuja it flies 133 weekly services to 15 airports.
Three non-stop weekly flights will connect the UAEcapital to the city of Lagos, the companies said in a statement. The new service, which will departing Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, which will offer passengers Lagos, with other travel ...
“These new services emphasise Emirates' confidence in, and long-term commitment to, the United States,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive,Emirates Airline & Group. “With six gateways offering convenient ...
Emirates airline has signed a pact with WestJet Airlines Ltd. WJA-T , making it simpler for passengers to connect to the Dubai-based carrier's flights. On Thursday, Emirates said its new “interline” agreement paves the way for consumers departing on a ...
I want to encourage both UAE and Canada they need to talk also on royalty fees if Air Canada and West Jet, will not use their flight rights to Canada. That can be solved more diplomatically and peacefully very soon. See if Emirates Airlines can deal ...
Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, unveiled major new expansion plans for the United States today, with the launch of daily services to Seattle and Dallas.
Dallas-Fort Worth and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports will both be served by non-stop flights from 2nd February and 1st March 2012 respectively.
“These new services emphasise Emirates’ confidence in, and long-term commitment to, the United States,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group. “With six gateways offering convenient connectivity from points across the country, customers travelling to and from the US will find it easier than ever to access our vast global network.”
“Our latest expansion also serves as a powerful indicator of how Emirates continues to invest in products and services even during difficult economic climates,” continued His Highness. “This is because we have always been ahead of the curve in anticipating what is now becoming an accepted truth – that demand for air travel will continue to grow over the long term in spite of the many challenges the industry faces. In making this investment now, Emirates is providing a timely economic boost to the United States whilst ensuring that we are soundly placed to serve our customers’ future air travel needs.”
Emirates’ Seattle route will help to further strengthen the airline’s links with Boeing. Only this month, Boeing predicted a robust outlook for aircraft manufacturing over the next few decades, estimating that there would be demand for approximately 31,000 planes worth $4 trillion by 2030.
Already the largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft in the world, Emirates last year ordered an additional 30 777-300ERs, bringing its total 777 passenger fleet commitments to 132 aircraft.
The Seattle metropolitan area produced US$ 24.2 billion in total exports in 2008, according to a Brookings Institution study, with exports to the United Arab Emirates totalling $2.76 billion USD in 2009. During the same year, Texan exports to the U.A.E. reached over $1.7 billion – representing export growth of more than 192 per cent since 2002.
Emirates’ Seattle service will help support key exports from Washington State, including software, sound and television equipment, aircraft parts, medical and surgical supplies, video games and foodstuffs; headed for markets including the United Arab Emirates, China, Japan, India and Hong Kong.
Commodities piped between Dallas and the UAE include oil and gas industry related machinery, spares and high-tech equipment. A bellyhold capacity of 15 tonnes on each Emirates flight will help support this trade.
“This announcement from Emirates brings a new and highly valued international airline partner to Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. “Emirates’ daily non-stop service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai connects two global super-hubs for U.S. travellers to the Far and Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Africa on a trendsetting airline.”
“These new services emphasise Emirates' confidence in, and long-term commitment to, the United States,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive,Emirates Airline & Group. “With six gateways offering convenient ...
I want to encourage both UAE and Canada they need to talk also on royalty fees if Air Canada and West Jet, will not use their flight rights to Canada. That can be solved more diplomatically and peacefully very soon. See if Emirates Airlines can deal ...
Emirates airline has signed a pact with WestJet Airlines Ltd. WJA-T , making it simpler for passengers to connect to the Dubai-based carrier's flights. On Thursday, Emirates said its new “interline” agreement paves the way for consumers departing on a ...
The new airline will start operations on Tuesday 29th November this year with 3 non-stop weekly flights connecting the UAEcapital to the city of Lagos. The new route will be departing from Abu Dhabi every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 am, ...
