Airlines & Aviation

Syndicated deal to finance purchase of 10 aircraft


Sharjah, UAE; May 20, 2013: Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier (LCC) in the MENA region, signed a US$ 350 million finance deal from a syndicate of two GCC banks to support the acquisition of 10 new Airbus A320 aircraft. Air Arabia signed the deal with senior representatives of Qatar National Bank S.A.Q. (QNB Group), the world’s strongest bank, and Commercial Bank International (CBI), a UAE growing commercial bank.

The financing facility is to support the purchase of 10 new aircraft, which is part of a larger order for 44 A320s placed with Airbus in 2007.

One week after the new departure area opened, improved services on the ground and in the air are just the ticket


Kuwait 2013: Passengers travelling on flydubai are enjoying an improved departure at Dubai International Airport following the opening of the new extension at Terminal 2.

The bigger, brighter terminal not only has more check-in desks and self-service kiosks but customers can also enjoy the comfort of a Marhaba Lounge and a range of services at the new business centre – a first for this terminal.

flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “We look at every aspect of our passengers’ journey, not just the flight and the newly refurbished departures hall at Terminal 2  provides a convenient start to their journey and a better customer experience. The transition has been smooth and we hope our passengers enjoy the range of new facilities available to them.”

The departure and immigration area is the first stage of an AED 600 million two-year redevelopment of Dubai Terminal 2, which will see it able to handle more than 10 million passengers every year and is due for completion in 2014.

Richard Talian, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development at Dubai Airports said: “As the second largest airline operating out of Dubai International as well as being the main carrier at Terminal 2, we want to provide flydubai’s passengers with an enjoyable experience. We have worked closely with flydubai to ensure the terminal meets their needs as they continue on their rapid growth trajectory.”

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has finalised the agreement to acquire three airport services companies which will accelerate and consolidate the development of in-flight catering services, ground handling and cargo operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Formerly part of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the three companies, Abu Dhabi Airport Services (ADAS), Abu Dhabi In-Flight Catering (ADIFC), and Abu Dhabi Cargo Company (ADCC), are being incorporated, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, into Etihad Airport Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Etihad Airways.

The companies, which employ more than 4,000 people, are being integrated into the airline’s existing organisational structure to maximise synergies and operational scale. The re-engineered business units will continue to provide the full range of ground handling, catering and cargo services to Etihad Airways and other airlines at Abu Dhabi International Airport, dedicated to customer excellence and commercial viability.

The inaugural flight of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has taken off for the Netherlands’ capital, Amsterdam.

Flight EY77, carrying the KL code of Dutch national carrier, KLM, departed Abu Dhabi airport on schedule at 9.30am local time today, Wednesday 15 May.

The launch of the service is another important development in the strategic partnership between Etihad Airways and KLM. First announced in October 2012, the partnership involves the two airlines codesharing on multiple routes across each other’s networks.

The new daily service between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam complements KLM’s flights on that route, which carries Etihad Airways’ EY code, ensuring the two airlines will offer a combined double daily service from the summer.

The Etihad Airways A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 262 passengers, 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class, will be greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute by Dutch fire engines as it taxis to the gate at Schiphol.

Disembarking passengers will also be presented with wooden tulips as a gift from Schiphol Airport to mark the historic flight.

· Turnover reaches AED 722 million, up 22 per cent

· Passenger traffic increases 18 per cent

Sharjah, UAE; May 13, 2013: Air Arabia (PJSC), the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today its financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2013, demonstrating the airline’s strong financial position and outstanding performance.

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 59 million for the three months ending March 31, 2013, exceeding analysts’ forecast and registering an increase of 20 per cent compared to AED 49 million in the corresponding quarter in 2012. The airline attributes the impressive growth to its appealing product offering and strong operational performance.

In the first quarter of this year, Air Arabia posted a turnover of AED 722 million, an increase of 22 per cent compared to AED 594 million in the same period of 2012.

Between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013, Air Arabia launched non-stop services from its primary hub in Sharjah to four new destinations. In addition, the low-cost pioneer increased frequency of flights from Sharjah to Beirut in Lebanon, Salalah in Oman, and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Last month, Air Arabia reported that it carried a record 1.4 million passengers in first quarter of this year, the highest number of passengers that the airline handled in a quarter since inception in 2003. The passenger number represents 18 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. The average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – stood at an impressive 82 per cent.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, wrapped up its program of activities at the Arabian Travel Market conference and exhibition hosted in Dubai from May 6-9, 2013.

The airline’s bustling stand brought together VIPs and visitors across various industries keen to meet the Etihad Airways’ team and understand the airline’s group offer, its latest destinations and holidays packages and subsidiary companies such as Hala Abu Dhabi and Etihad Holidays.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer and Abdul Qader Hussein Ahmed, Etihad Airways’ Vice President, Government & International Affairs, welcomed prominent guests including His Highness, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the Emirates Group, HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Chairman Abu Dhabi Tourism, and Development Investment Company, HE Ambassador Michael Corbin, US Ambassador to the UAE and  flydubai's CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith.

Codeshare partners Alitalia and Etihad Airways have announced an increase in direct Rome-Abu Dhabi services from four flights per week to five, in addition to an expansion of codeshare destinations for customers of each airline.

Effective June 13, Alitalia will operate the increased frequency Rome-Abu Dhabi return flights using a new 230-seat Airbus A330 aircraft.   The flights will operate on an enhanced split schedule, ensuring maximum connectivity over each airline’s hub.

The news follows the success of last December’s launch of non-stop services between Rome and Abu Dhabi, driven by healthy load factors, strong feeder and onward connections traffic, and burgeoning trade and tourism ties.

The updated schedule is timed to coincide with seamless connections in Abu Dhabi and Rome to and from cities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

In preparation for the extra Rome-Abu Dhabi services, Alitalia customers already have greater onward codeshare connectivity options via Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub.  This includes flights to Bahrain, Bangkok, Colombo, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, the Maldives, Melbourne, Muscat, Nairobi, the Seychelles, Singapore and Sydney.

Etihad Guest, Etihad Airways’ award-winning loyalty program, today announced that it had hit the two million membership mark, a significant milestone for the seven year old program.

Ms. Mariam Mohamed Al Hammadi, the two millionth member, is 18 years old and lives in Al Ain, within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

To mark the milestone, Etihad Airways welcomed Ms. Al Hammadi to the program with an Etihad Guest Gold card and a bonus starting balance of 200,000 Etihad Guest Miles.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ms. Al Hammadi to the program and trust that she will reap many rewards with her coveted Etihad Guest Gold membership.

“We are committed to offering an innovating and rewarding program for our loyal guests and we have welcomed more than 500,000 members in the last 12 months alone. Our members reside in more than 200 countries worldwide, with approximately a quarter living in our UAE home market.