Emirates & Dubai General Thread

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

FlyDubai takes on the sky today, 1 June 2009.

 

 

Some facts:

 

Hub - DXB Terminal 2

 

Destination - Beirut (1 June 2009), Amman (2 June 2009), Damascus (8 June 2009) and Alexandria (9 June 2009)

 

Fleet - 2 Boeing 737-800s (Boeing Enhanced Interior - the same that MH will be getting). FlyDubai received their first aircraft on 18 May 2009

 

Class/Seat - 1 class, 189Y seats

 

 

It is interesting to note that FlyDubai was set up by Emirates (EK) and yet 3 out of 4 of their initial destinations are also served by the latter, something that other legacy-LCC combos like SQ-MI-TR or MH-FY have yet to try.

[Fairul 0]

looking forward to see the impact of FlyDubai on Air Arabia....hopefully price will be slash..slash..slash...

[Mohd Yohan 0]

I just think that a penguin nor a dolphin don't connect at all with Qatar, do they?

 

 

i guess you're right. i got a little mixed up. just did some googling and they have been in the industry for over 7 years now. my bad

they should come out with camel airways or desert scorpion airlines or something

 

Flydubai has nice livery

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Maybe 'worried' about D7 using AUH as their hub, the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is now setting up a new LCC scheduled to take off to the skies in mid 2010. This LCC will be the 3rd in the whole of the UAE, after Air Arabia (based in Sharjah) and FlyDubai (based in Dubai).

 

Abu Dhabi investors plan budget carrier by middle of 2010

By Shweta Jain on Monday, December 28, 2009

http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/12/Pages/27122009/12282009_74719f5ff15a4b498358c148ccfc2f03.aspx

 

Six months after Dubai launched its first budget carrier (flydubai), Abu Dhabi is mulling a foothold into the segment. An undisclosed investment firm in Abu Dhabi plans to a launch a low-cost airline in 2010, according to a report published yesterday by Arabic daily Al Khaleej, without naming the sources.

 

The prospective budget airline, to be based in Abu Dhabi, is expected to start operations in mid-2010 as per the report that did not divulge the name of the investment company in question.

 

The airline, when launched, will be the UAE's third low-cost carrier and compete with the existing Sharjah's Air Arabia and Dubai's flydubai, besides other budget carriers operating in the Middle East.

 

The low-cost carriers (LCCs) are set to fly into strong growth in 2010 given their robust performance in 2009. The region saw eight LCCs being established within the past six years, which have generally held close to their expansion plans despite difficult economic conditions in 2008.

 

This indicates a "strong sign of future growth", according to the recent report on budget carriers by Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (Capa), which covered more than 130 LCCs from around the world. The report revealed that the Middle East carriers maintained solid growth late into the decade, despite the global recession.

 

Budget carriers will increase their regional market share to 12 per cent by 2015 from seven per cent in 2008 on the back of "robust" passenger demand, Japanese investment bank Nomura said earlier this year.

 

The growth path

 

Kuwait's low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways said recently it is eyeing acquisitions among Middle East carriers in the first half of 2010 as against launching a second hub as it seeks to expand its network to 82 routes in the next five years. Sharjah-based Air Arabia saw its net profit soar to Dh193 million in first half of 2009, up 21 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

 

The airline's regional growth aspirations are evident in the recent establishment of joint ventures such as Air Arabia Maroc this year, and the launch of its third hub, Air Arabia Egypt, due to take off in March 2010.

 

Air Arabia's Chief Executive Adel Ali, however, recently said the airline does not see yields improving until the beginning of the first quarter of 2010.

 

On the other hand, in a short span, Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed Jazeera Airways has managed to replace Kuwait Airways as the largest operator from Kuwait Airport, as per the Capa report, which further said that despite high fuel prices, Jazeera Airways was profitable in 2008, having reduced costs per passenger and increased yield.

 

Dubai's flydubai, meanwhile, which started operations in June this year with two Boeing 737-800 aircraft (and orders for another 48), launched its 10th destination to Kathmandu, Nepal, with effect from December 15, 2009. The carrier also launched flights to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, the in November, indicating that the airline has been on a rapid expansion plan.

 

Flydubai had previously stated plans to concentrate on 12 undisclosed "popular, high demand destinations" in the six GCC nations, before expanding to other markets, according to the Capa report, with an aim to capitalise on more than two billion people living within five hours flight time from Dubai, serving 70 destinations by 2014.

 

Saudi Arabia's two budget carriers, Nas Air and Sama Airlines – both established in 2007 – also seem to be flying high. Nas Air, formed by National Aviation Services, currently operates to 11 domestic and five international destinations but is in the middle of an expansion programme intended to lift destination network to 20 and weekly services to more than 350 by the end of this year.

 

Sama Airlines, the second LCC established in the kingdom, is a short-haul carrier serving nine domestic destinations and seven elsewhere in the Middle East.

 

Furthermore, Bahrain Air, a joint venture between Saudi and Bahraini investors, is aiming to launch an initial public offering in 2010.

 

Clearly, budget carriers are increasing frequencies and adding routes besides boosting capacity with huge aircraft orders, in the hope of growth rebounding in passenger traffic.

 

The Middle East, which has established itself as a significant aviation hub, is set to extend this role, the Capa report pointed out, adding that LCCs may complement full service carriers (FSC) in the future and can be expected to be better placed to weather any resulting downturns than their FSC counterparts.

 

Room for caution

 

But while budget carriers in the Middle East may be showing signs of resilience in difficult times, there are also harsh steps being taken by some of these airlines.

 

For instance, Jazeera Airways said last week it was cutting services on certain routes to weather difficult times with no improvement in sight next year.

 

European plane manufacturer Airbus recently warned against launching additional budget airlines in the Middle East, fearing the overkill in the segment.

 

"I think a pause would probably be appropriate at this point of time. We are not encouraging anybody to start a new low-cost carrier right now," John Leahy, Airbus's Chief Operating Officer for customers, said at Dubai Airshow last month.

 

He further cautioned airlines of a danger of "too much capacity" flooding into the market in the frantic grab for market share.

 

"What we would like to see is stability in this new low-cost phenomenon in the Middle East. One has to be careful when all jump into the market at the same time that you don't put too much capacity and too much competition," said Leahy.

 

Even though a young sector in the Middle East, the low-cost carriers, pioneered into growth by the launch of Air Arabia back in 2003, has picked up steam at a significant pace in the last few years.

 

Leahy further said that the demand and capacity match is not in a bad shape now but if airlines keep adding new competitors in the market they will end up with overcapacity.

 

"You had a very similar situation a couple of years ago in India when everybody moved into the market very quickly and had over capacity in the market," he said.

 

 

LOW-COST CARRIERS

 

Flydubai though launched commercial operations in June 2009, it was founded in March 2008 by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Airline and Group. The airline launched services to Beirut, Lebanon on June 1, 2009, and Amman, Jordan the following day, with additional destinations added since the launch.

 

Air Arabia started operations in October 2003 with the first flight from Sharjah to Bahrain International Airport. It was, however, established in February 2003, becoming the first low-cost airline in the region. It issued a successful initial public offering for 55 per cent of its stock early in 2007.

 

Jazeera Airways started operations on October 2005 with a fleet of brand new Airbus A320 aircraft. The Kuwaiti carrier raised its capital of KD10 million (Dh127.97m) through an initial public offering in Kuwait that was oversubscribed 12 times. The airline is the first privately-owned airline in Kuwait and the Middle East.

 

Nas Air is a subsidiary of the Saudi National Air Services (NAS) that is based in Riyadh. It is the first low-cost carrier to fly in Saudi Arabia and started its domestic flights in February 2007. The Nas Air fleet consists of 40 aircraft as of October 8, 2009.

 

Sama Airlines commenced commercial operations in March 2007. During 2008, the airline shifted focus from domestic intra-Saudi Arabian destinations to international flying. It currently serves destinations within Saudi Arabia as well as across the Middle East. The airline, founded by Investment Enterprises, is chaired by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal.

 

Bahrain Air started operations in February 2008. It is the second flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and its main base is Bahrain International Airport. The low-cost airline currently flies to 16 destinations in the Middle East, Africa and India. It plans to increase its destinations to 23 cities.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

After grabbing headlines by becoming the very first airline in the entire world to feature the new Boeing Sky interior for their B738 jets, flyDubai once again created a big buzz with their new fiber-to-the-screen (FTTS) in-flight entertainment system by Lumexis. India's SpiceJet will be Lumexis' next customer and US Airways is reported to reconsider this IFE. I wonder if this new development would encourage AK to rethink about their no IFE policy?

 

Why you'll want to see Lumexis IFE on your next flight

Posted by Rupa Haria at 12/13/2010 4:15 AM CST

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/commercial_aviation/ThingsWithWings/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbb&plckPostId=Blog:7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbbPost:bda279bc-b5f1-427a-a5b1-27c5c0651bb9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

I was invited on board Flydubai’s newest Boeing 737-800 this weekend (you can read what I thought about the sky interior here). Flydubai is the launch customer of the Lumexis fiber-to-the-screen (FTTS) in-flight entertainment system, and I, along with some 60 others, was one of the first to road test it.

 

The Lumexis FTTS is an operators dream. The back of the seat entertainment system is a widescreen, nine inch high definition screen.

 

 

What’s unique about this IFE system is the weight. Historically, comparable IFE units have weighed in at around 6.4kg per seat. That’s a lot of weight (and fuel) per passenger, which is exactly the reason why IFE is rarely seen on low cost flights.

 

Lumexis has reduced the weight of its system by two thirds, weighing in at just 2.3kg per seat. Doug Cline, CEO of Lumexis, tells me that they were actually aiming to reduce the weight by half, so he’s pretty happy that his IFE now weighs in at a third of the average system. The lighter weight makes it affordable for operators, particularly low cost ones.

 

Flydubai earns revenue on its IFE, charging upward of 25 AED for a movie. In addition to the new cabin interior on the 737, the IFE has given Flydubai a massive edge over its competitors on the short to medium haul market in the Middle East.

 

A head-end server is connected to each seat-back screen through a fibre optic cable, offering 1gigabit of bandwidth per second. It’s normally around 2.5mb per second through copper cabling which is why the Lumexis system can offer so much capacity, and why Flydubai can offer high definition movies and fast, fun games.

 

Unlike conventional IFE systems, which often have a clunky power unit under each seat, seriously affecting passenger comfort in economy class, the Lumexis power unit system is fitted into the side wall with 15 seats connecting to every box. On this 189 seat 737-800, there were 11 boxes fitted. I tried looking for them but they’re completely hidden. The only downside to this set up is that if one of the power units fails, 15 passengers lose their IFE.

 

Lumexis has done away with those annoying remote controls that are attached to the seat or seat back. It’s all operated by touch-screen with simple commands, making the whole experience more user-friendly.

 

On board Flydubai’s flight from Dubai to Beirut, the system offered 20 movies from Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic cinema, a good selection of TV programs, lots of free music (everything from Katie Perry to the Bee Gees), a destination guide (which offered a list of destinations but the guides haven’t yet been loaded) and free games including Sudoku and Solitaire. I fiddled with the games for a few minutes. The quality of the images is sharp and the game response was fast. Animations were also excellent.

 

 

 

Passengers can browse duty free on screen, select their items and pay by credit card. The items are then delivered to their seat in the old-fashioned way. Food and beverages can also be ordered on screen, meaning passengers no longer have to say a word to cabin crew, other than ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

 

 

The system can be loaded in 51 different languages, although Flydubai, on this Dubai to Beirut route, has opted for just four: English, French, Russian and Turkish with the option of English or Arabic subtitles. If a passenger starts watching a movie in English, they can switch languages midway through the movie without interruption or jumps. I tried it - the transition is smooth and it literally continued the sentence in the second language without any breaks.

 

Another nice touch is the ‘Under 16’ option. On start up, the system asks the passenger if they’re under or over 16 years of age and the movie offerings are adjusted accordingly.

 

At 40,000 feet, I watched ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ in high definition. The screen images were extremely sharp and the only distraction was some glare from the window. The sound is crystal clear and I could turn up the volume high enough to completely drown out all background noise. I tried watching the same movie the day before on an ICE system on the way from London to Dubai but gave up. For one, I couldn’t hear what Julia Roberts was saying as the sound was crackly. Secondly, I couldn’t see much as the visual quality of the movie was badly distorted and the poor cabin lighting didn’t help.

 

This experience alone has me completely sold on Lumexis’s IFE.

 

 

For quality of IFE, the Lumexis system is far superior. Doug Cline is onto a winner here. Now that the system is fitted and available for potential new customers to experience, don’t be surprised if we see Lumexis being taken up by a lot more operators.

 

Which operators could take it up? You’ll remember that the system was tested on-board a US Airways A320 last year. The tests were really successful and user feedback was excellent. Unfortunately for Lumexis, the cost of oil went up from $65 to $140 per barrel and US Airways simply couldn’t afford the cost of installing the hardware.

 

Doug says that US Airways might now be revisiting that contract. The system is best suited to carriers with large fleets. Doug says that he needs major market penetration to continue to provide the hardware at such a low cost, which is why he’s specifically targeting fleets of at least 50 aircraft.

 

In India, Spicejet, having recently ordered 30 Boeing 737-800s, would make the ideal next big customer for Lumexis. It would certainly raise the stakes for low cost carriers in the region.

 

I suggested that Emirates would probably be watching with interest, particularly as it has its own large order of 30 Boeing 777-300ERs. Doug would only say “they might” with a smile.

[suadrif 0]

Is it possible for MH convert their current IFE to this one? Super cool, wide screen and high def...

[alberttky 0]

As the project to build the world’s largest airside facility dedicated to the Airbus A380 continues on track at Dubai International, Dubai Airports is reaching out to world class food and beverage operators and service providers to submit expressions of interest for providing services at the upcoming Concourse 3.

 

“Dubai Airports’ commercial direction has changed in recent times. As we continue to emerge as a leading global hub the available brand concepts and calibre of services at our airports have to match, and even exceed, the rising expectations of an increasingly international clientele,” said Eugene Barry, vice president – commercial, Dubai Airports.

 

“Our experience and success at Concourse 1 and 2 are the result of a similar customer-centric approach, but Concourse 3 gives us a blank canvas that will help us set a new and higher standard.”

 

A part of the Terminal 3 complex dedicated for use by Emirates Airline, Concourse 3 will increase Dubai International’s total passenger capacity from the current 60 million per annum to 75 million passengers. It represents an important part of the airport’s infrastructure expansion plan that is driven by rising passenger numbers, which are expected to reach 51 million in 2011.

 

Expected to be complete by the end of 2012, Concourse 3 will be the only facility of its kind with all its 20 aircraft contact gates dedicated to the A380, in addition to 13 remote stands.

 

The 528,000m2 Concourse 3 offers numerous opportunities for food and beverage operators, service providers and innovative brands. The final submission date for Expression of Interest is Sunday 16 October 2011.

 

http://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/viewnews.php?NewsID=33346

[alberttky 0]

DUBAI – Emirates 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.” Seattle sits at the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a 400 mile corridor which encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada. The city is home to some of the world’s most recognisable global companies, including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Expedia, Nintendo and Nordstrom. The Pacific Northwest region also boasts a wealth of world class tourist attractions, including mountains, ski slopes, beaches and fresh water lakes. Seattle is a gateway to leading ski resort Whistler and Yellowstone, America’s first national park, which is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. 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 $4 trillion by 2030. Already the largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft in the world, Emirates last year ordered an additional 30 777-300ERs, bringing its total 777 passenger fleet commitments to 132 aircraft. “Emirates is not only the world's largest international carrier - it serves as a gateway from the United States to an important part of the world,” said Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission President. “ This direct service connects Seattle to a new region, creating jobs and tourism opportunities for our state.” The Gross Domestic Product of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was estimated at USD 382 billion in 2008, equal to the national GDP of Norway and Saudi Arabia, and larger than that of Austria and Denmark. The metroplex is home to 24 Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobil, Texas Instruments, Kimberly-Clark, J.C. Penney and Southwest Airlines. The Seattle metropolitan area produced US$ 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.” Starting 2nd February 2012, EK 221 will leave Dubai daily at 0245hrs, arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth at 0905hrs. The return sector, EK 222, leaves Dallas at 1150hrs, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 1220hrs the following day. From 1st March 2012, EK 229 will leave Dubai daily at 0950hrs and arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 1310hrs. EK 230 will depart Seattle at 1710hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1940hrs the following day. Both services will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft offering the highest standards of passenger comfort, with luxurious private suites in First Class, lie-flat beds in Business Class and generously-sized Economy Class seats. Passengers in all classes can lose themselves in the much-enjoyed ICE entertainment system. There are more than 1,200 channels of on-demand entertainment to choose from, including 200 movies from around the world, 100 TV channels, more than 500 audio channels, 100 video games and news, sports and business headlines. Customers can also look forward to gourmet food in all cabins and seamless transfers to a global network of over 110 destinations through Emirates’ state-of-the-art Terminal 3 hub in Dubai. With a fleet of 157 aircraft and already the largest A380 operator in the world, Emirates currently flies to 114 destinations in 67 countries. Services to Basra, Geneva and Copenhagen have already started this year. Flights to St Petersburg begin on 1st November, with Baghdad following suit as of 13th November. Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires become new links into South America from 3rd January 2012. On February 1st 2012, Emirates will launch its 20th and 21st destinations in Africa, with a five times weekly linked service to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

Source: Emirates

Posted by: just4airlines.com at 1320h UTC Sep 28, 2011

[alberttky 0]

Emirates to suspend Houston flight in favour of new Dallas route

 

Emirates will suspend one of its two daily flights to Houston from February, to enable it to launch a new US route to Dallas.

 

The carrier recently announced plans for flights between Dubai and Dallas commencing on February 1, 2012, using B777-200LR aircraft.

 

This aircraft will be made available by suspending flight EK213 between Dubai and Houston (departing at 0245 and arriving at 1000), and return leg EK214 (departing at 1230 and landing back in Dubai at 1220 the following day).

 

A spokesperson for Emirates said:

 

"Dallas offers us new and different opportunities. In order to start the Dallas route, we have had to use the aircraft from our second Houston service because of capacity constraints. However, it is our intention to restore the second daily Houston service as and when additional capacity becomes available."

 

The carrier will continue to fly daily between Dubai and Houston on morning departure EK211 from Dubai (leaving at 0905 and arriving at 1625), and early evening departure EK212 from Houston (leaving at 1850 and arriving back into Dubai at 1845 the following day).

 

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/emirates-to-cut-houston-flight-in-favour-of-new

[alberttky 0]

One-third of the world's population, so the explanation justifying Gulf network carriers goes, lives within four hours of the big three Gulf hubs: the UAE's Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and Qatar's Doha. Two-thirds lives within eight hours, but that last third lives more than 12 hours away in a range difficult for fully-loaded aircraft to serve. But Emirates, as exemplified by its announcement last month to serve Dallas-Ft Worth and Seattle, is trying its best to enter the lucrative United States market despite still needing to build a profile for itself.

 

The Dallas and Seattle routes will be some of the longest in Emirates network, and will see Emirates serve two more of the top 15 metropolitan areas in the US after New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as two more of the twenty largest international airports in the US. A look at what other destinations rank in this list indicates where Emirates may plant itself next in the US.

 

Emirates CEO Tim Clark remarked to Bloomberg at the time of the Dallas and Seattle route announcements, “We’ve always had fairly ambitious plans for the US and this is part of that. It’s an immense market. There will be more to come, including increased frequencies and bigger planes. We have ideas for the East Coast, the north-south axis in the centre and for the west.”

 

Mr Clark explained some plans were put on hold after the downturn following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but equally important during that period was Emirates' lack of long-range aircraft, with only a handful of fuel-guzzling A340-500s and the B777-300ER not yet pushed to its limits the way it is today. A decade later with more long-range aircraft and better performance out of them, longer-range points open up to Emirates. But the carrier still does not have infinite capacity. Emirates vice-president for UK and Ireland Laurie Berryman told Routes that it would like to upgrade some A330 routes, but "a lot depends on when we have a Boeing B777 available to operate on the route".

 

The route expansion continues to place Dubai as the preeminent Gulf Middle East destination, with 41% of all US-Middle East seats ending in Dubai from Mar-2012 (including the Dallas and Seattle flights). Excluding O&D flights to Israel, Dubai's share increases to 56%. That figure includes service to Dubai from Delta and United, but it is still clear Emirates is the preeminent Gulf network carrier serving America.

Seattle home to multinational companies, and their corporate contracts

 

The Dubai-Seattle route is to commence 1-Mar-2012 with a daily B777-300ER service, adding approximately 5,000 weekly one-way seats, taps into the large multinational corporate market around Seattle, including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, Amazon.com and much of the tech industry. Emirates was quick in a statement to highlight the Boeing connection, saying "Emirates’ Seattle route will help to further strengthen the airline’s links with Boeing." Emirates could also expect a significant freight contract with Boeing to carry lucrative and urgent spare parts destined for other airlines.

 

At 7,425 miles the Dubai-Seattle route will be one of Emirates' longest, although under the 8,339 mile Dubai-Los Angeles route, interchangeably operated with B777-300ER equipment as well.

 

An end-run on Canada?

 

While Seattle’s selection surprised some at the time, in addition to its corporate lure, Seattle's easy access from Vancouver makes it an alternative given the Canadian government’s restrictions placed not only on Emirates, but also its peers in the Gulf and Turkish Airlines from further expansion. When an Emirates A380 got struck by a catering truck last year and a second A380 was brought it, the running joke was that was the maximum number of Emirates A380s the Canadian government would allow at any one time. Even adding the 2.5 hour drive from Vancouver, total elapsed travel time, as well as a hugely increased onwards network, will likely draw a constituency from the Vancouver region.

 

Borrowing second Houston flight for new service to Dallas, with incentives

The new Dubai-Dallas Ft Worth flight comes at the expense of Emirates' second daily Dubai-Houston route, which it will drop in early February to begin the Dallas service on 2-Feb-2012. The Dallas flight even has the same Dubai arrival (12:20 pm) and departure time (2:45 am) as the second Houston flight.

 

While Emirates saw Dallas in its future, it reportedly accelerated expansion after wooing from the airport, which its 2011 fiscal year added nine destinations. The deal was sweetened by Dallas offering a USD5 million incentive package comprising free landing fees and terminal rent for two years as well as USD250,000 in marketing for the first year.

 

Emirates may have easily dropped the second Houston flight due to a slower uptake in a depressed market as the second daily service competed with Qatar's Houston-Doha service and further network traffic competition from Singapore Airlines, who operated from Houston to Singapore via Moscow.

 

B777-200LR equipment will operate the Dallas service, which at 8,040 miles nears the length of the ultra-long-haul Los Angeles and San Francisco services. Emirates' deployment of the -200LR and -300ER can be as much about range as it can be of capacity: the capacity difference between a -200LR and -300ER is about 65 economy seats; the first class and business class densities are the same, suggesting Emirates is understandably less bullish on the leisure sector (or cargo) out of the smaller Dallas than Los Angeles or New York.

 

More A380s from 2013

The batch of A380s with increased take-off weights, which Emirates will start taking delivery of in early 2013, will enable the carrier to replace its existing routes with the larger capacity aircraft. Mr Clark told Dallas News that Los Angeles and Dallas, and increased New York frequency, are all potential future A380 points. That in turns frees up capacity for new points, and Mr Clark has set his eyes on the east coast as well as the mid-west.

 

Where to next?

 

Emirates is progressively servicing America's top metropolitan areas and airports, with only Seattle falling out of the pattern, largely due to its high proportion of multinational company bases.

 

Chicago

 

Mr Clark's statement regarding a “north-south axis in the center” clearly implies that a service to Chicago, America's third largest metropolitan area. The city is linked to the Middle East with an Etihad service to Abu Dhabi and, for less network competition, Royal Jordanian to Amman.

 

Philadelphia

 

Mr Clark has mooted an eventual Philadelphia service, and with the region being the fifth largest metropolitan area – as well as short on international flights – is very likely.

 

Washington DC and Atlanta

 

Currently, the only US carrier service to Dubai is offered from two major hubs: United from Washington and Delta from Atlanta. While both have huge networks feeding US interior points, neither has the ability to distribute traffic via a partner once in Dubai.

 

Should Emirates choose to challenge either carrier at their hub airport, it will have the advantage of a comprehensive distribution system across Africa, the Middle East and Australasia. The airline is already a major player in the Indian market with 10 destinations and thousands of seats per day to the sub-continent.

 

Miami

 

There is much discussion around Miami, as well as Boston, being a potential destination given all of the traffic there (it is the second largest airport in the US based on international seats). But the majority of that traffic, and business interest in the region, is for connections to Latin and South America, perhaps distorting some people's views on the market's capability.

 

And with more destinations, stirrings from US carriers?

 

US carriers have so far been mum on any effect Emirates has had on their traffic profiles, largely a result of Emirates serving America's large cities. But the carrier's entry next year into American Airlines' fortress hub at Dallas, and stealing of network traffic otherwise carried by predominantly British Airways and Iberia, further decreasing the importance of European hubs, may start wars of words. Even if no public response is issued, airlines in the US will certainly have to think how they can increase their proposition in a market served by Emirates, or soon to be served by Emirates.

 

http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/aircraft-availability-and-capability-continues-to-determine-emirates-expansion-plans-59656

[KK Lee 5]

While Emirates saw Dallas in its future, it reportedly accelerated expansion after wooing from the airport, which its 2011 fiscal year added nine destinations. The deal was sweetened by Dallas offering a USD5 million incentive package comprising free landing fees and terminal rent for two years as well as USD250,000 in marketing for the first year.

 

Wow!

[alberttky 0]

Wow!

 

MAHB got such budget??

[KK Lee 5]

MAHB got such budget??

 

USD5.25 million is change in pocket for MAHB. If needed, the gomen can compensate MAHB or contra with lease payment.

Edited October 25, 2011 by KK Lee

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

MAHB got such budget??

 

They gave AK a hell of a deal, so sure they got the budget.

[flee 5]

I think MAHB has learnt from its experience with AK. That is why they built a new shopping complex for KLIA2. What they lost from direct fees, they gain from the retail ops.

[Cheng Long 0]

I think MAHB has learnt from its experience with AK. That is why they built a new shopping complex for KLIA2. What they lost from direct fees, they gain from the retail ops.

 

Think they should do the same with the main terminal.. Lower the fee and get more from rentals..

[alberttky 0]

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is nearing the milestone of its 1,000th B777, with Emirates set to take delivery of the aircraft in March next year.

 

Boeing says assembly of the B777-300ER aircraft has commenced at Boeing’s factory in Everett, with a ceremony held to mark the start of production.

 

Emirates currently has 95 B777 aircraft in its fleet, the most of any carrier, and the milestone aircraft will be the airline’s 102nd 777 when it is delivered next year.

 

United Airlines was the launch customer for the twin-engine B777 back in 1995, and Boeing has taken a total of 1,295 orders for the aircraft from 64 carriers.

 

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/emirates-to-take-delivery-of-boeinga-s-1,000th-777

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Nearly 10% of B777 flying in the world is with EK

[alberttky 0]

From January Dubai-based carrier Emirates will operate three of its five daily flights to London with the A380 superjumbo.

 

The latest A380 service will launch on January 24, 2012, replacing the B777 aircraft currently operating on flight EK030 from London to Dubai, and EK029 in the opposite direction.

 

This adds to existing daily A380 services EK001/002 and EK003/004 between the two cities, and daily flight EK017/018 between Manchester and Dubai which launched last year (see online news September 1, 2010). The timings for all of Emirates’ A380 services to and from the UK can be seen below.

 

The carrier is also set to launch superjumbo services to Munich later this month.

 

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/emirates-to-add-third-daily-a380-london-service

[flee 5]

DUBAI is currently in the limelight thanks to the high-profile movie, Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol. In one scene, Tom Cruise swings by a rope and practically flies across the surface of the Burj Khalifa tower – the world’s tallest building.

 

Equally high-flying – but in a different capacity – is Captain Kwong Yung Ling, an Emirates A380 captain.

 

He has cruised around the world many times over in his 20 years as a pilot.

 

StarMetro sits down for a chat with Kwong to find out more about the profession, flying the mega A380 and the world-famous city in UAE.

 

Why did you choose to become a pilot?

 

With my late father being a ship’s captain, I became hooked on travelling from when I first joined him on a trip which was at the age of nine. However, you don’t get anywhere fast aboard a ship so I decided to turn my attention to air travel.

 

What’s your favourite place to fly to:

 

As a pilot, I would choose any of Emirates’ East Asia destinations. Emirates currently flies the A380 to 14 countries, covering cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and from Jan 1, 2011 we will be coming to Kuala Lumpur.

 

For vacations, I prefer destinations that offer natural scenic countryside, for example New Zealand.

 

When did you join Emirates?

 

I joined Emirates in October 1998.

 

What was the experience like the first time you piloted the plane to Dubai?

 

That was when I was still working for another airline in 1996. I was taken aback by how busy Dubai airport was already in those days as a transit hub. There were many airlines flying into Dubai, obviously it was already a popular destination. The airport has never stopped growing. So, yes I was impressed with Dubai airport’s rapid expansion to meet the growing passenger demand.

 

What was your first impression of the city (Dubai)?

 

I was impressed with the cleanliness and security. It was in December, the weather was cool and the beach had white sand with clear water. I remember telling my wife that I would bring her there for a holiday. And that holiday actually turned into a decision to move to Dubai.

 

How much has that impression changed?

 

We are still very impressed with the growth of Dubaiand really enjoy living here. It is a dynamic city with diverse nationalities residing there. Security is very good. It is a peaceful country and very accommodating and tolerant towards the need of other cultures and religions.

 

Where in Dubai is your favourite place to shop, eat & visit?

 

We like to go to Mall of Emirates, City Centre and also Dubai Mall.

 

What are the must-see / must-do for first-time visitors?

 

Desert Safari and the beach, Burj Khalifa, Atlantis Resort and don’t forget the shopping. And if there is time, one should visit the Musandam which is about three hours drive north from Dubai.

 

Describe what it feels like piloting the A380.

 

The A380 has one of the latest and most advance technology onboard, in terms of navigation, handling and luxurious space in the cockpit. As for our passengers, it offers superb onboard entertainment system and ample space and comfort. So, it is very satisfying to be at this stage of my career to be piloting this plane

 

Why is it different from other planes?

 

It is a lot bigger airplane in terms of size and weight but the performance is impressive, for example at its maximum design capacity when compared to A330, A380 is slightly more than twice the weight, but able to take off and land using the similar runway length used by A330.

 

Your advice for nervous fliers?

 

A380 is a very comfortable airplane, able to ride rough air better than most other aircrafts. Emirates has a very impressive onboard entertainment system where you can watch movies, listen to music and play interactive games from a selection of over a thousand channels. If you are unable to sleep, then there is a socialising area on upper deck with a bar where you can relax or mingle with other passengers. You won’t realise how fast time passes and before you know it, the plane is landing at its destination.

 

Source

[alberttky 0]

Emirates is to serve four of its five daily flights to London Heathrow with the A380 superjumbo from next March.

 

Only last month the carrier announced it would move to a three times-daily A380 service to Heathrow from January, and this latest announcement will add a fourth superjumbo flight from March 25.

 

The newest flight to see the A380 will be EK006, departing Heathrow at 2215 and arriving into Dubai at 0805 the following day.

 

As things stand, from next March the only Emirates service from Heathrow not to be operated by an A380 will be EK008, which currently departs at 0910 and is served by a B777 aircraft. Emirates also flies to London Gatwick airport again using B777 aircraft.

 

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/emirates-to-increase-heathrow-a380-services-to-

[Geoff R. 0]

That's over 2,300 seats per day Emirates will have on the LHR route! Plus also the daily services to Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle, triple daily services to Gatwick and Manchester. About 6,000 seats per day from the UK to Dubai.

 

With the competition from Emirates and Etihad I wonder if MH will be able to fill a double daily A380 service to LHR and make money.

 

Geoff

[flee 5]

Why not?

 

MH will offer a direct non-stop service from KUL to LHR whereas those who use EK for the same sector will have to stop over at DXB. Those who travel on LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL will only need one stop via MH.

 

I think EK's numerous DXB-LHR flights are to ensure connectivity for their other flights at DXB. Besides, they need to send their spanking new A380s somewhere!

[alberttky 0]

MH will offer a direct non-stop service from KUL to LHR whereas those who use EK for the same sector will have to stop over at DXB. Those who travel on LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL will only need one stop via MH.

 

those who travel on LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL can also make only one stop via EK.

[JuliusWong 0]

December 16, 2011

 

Emirates, the largest customer for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, is hoping to soon place more orders for the 525-seat aircraft, the airline's chief executive told a German newspaper.

 

"I am personally very keen to get more A380s. I hope that we will soon order some," Emirates CEO Tim Clark was quoted as saying by daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

 

Any purchases on top of the 90 superjumbos already ordered would depend on how much capacity could be created at Dubai airport, he was quoted as saying in the paper's Friday edition.

 

"Almost all the flights with the A380 are full," Clark said, adding that he had never experienced an aircraft quite as popular.

 

Emirates continues to see good demand, the Clark added.

 

"At the moment planes are still pretty full."

 

(Reuters)