Snippets

Jet Airways to get Brussels hub for Europe, US flights

Jet Airways is to launch a European hub at Brussels airport for flights into and out of Europe. The airline plans to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata to Brussels and onwards.

At present, Air India is the only Indian carrier to operate flights to Europe from where it connects to the US. This move will allow Jet Airways to spread its wings across Europe, where currently it only flies to London's Heathrow, and also into the US and Canada.

This new arrangement is facilitated through a new code-sharing agreement between the Mumbai-registered company and Belgium's Brussels Airlines. The deal will be signed by Jet Airways president Naresh Goyal and Brussels Airline chief Philippe Vander Putten in the Belgian capital on May 2 at a ceremony to be attended by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

With this in mind, the airlines believes that the hub will allow them to offer a more efficient, high-quality service linking India with Europe, the United States and Canada.

Emirates' profits hit new high on sustained double digit growth

The Emirates reported its 19 th consecutive year of profit with a new record performance backed by continued double-digit growth. Group net profits increased 23.5 per cent to a new high of UAE dirhams 3.5 billion (US$ 942 million) for the financial year ended 31st March 31, 2007, while group revenue increased by an impressive 28.4 per cent to dhs 31.1 billion (US$ 8.5 billion), compared to dhs 24.2 billion (US$ 6.6 billion) last year. The group also maintained a robust cash balance of dhs 12.9 billion (US$ 3.5 billion) at the end of March, an improvement of 17.8 per cent against a year earlier.

With the addition of 12 new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft during the financial year, Emirates' fleet reached 102 at the end of March, including nine freighters. The current fleet of all wide-bodied aircraft has an average age of 63 months - one of the youngest commercial fleet in the skies.

Amongst the highlights of the year was Emirates' order for 10 Boeing 747-8 freighters worth dhs 12.1 billion (US$ 3.3 billion) at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show. The airline also ordered five additional Boeing 777-300ERs from GECAS on operating leases to meet its capacity requirements due to the delayed delivery of the A380s.

This will bring its 777-300ER fleet size to 59 which, coupled with its existing 777 fleet and freighters, will place Emirates as the largest operator of the 777 by 2010. Emirates' current order book for 107 new aircraft is worth approximately dhs 111 billion ($30 billion) in list prices. Over the next eight years, the airline will continue to receive delivery of one new aircraft per month on average.

During 2006-07, Emirates launched passenger services to four new cities - Bangalore, Beijing, Nagoya, and Tunis - bringing the network total to 89 destinations. In addition, it increased the frequency of passenger services to existing destinations, notably a second daily service to Zurich and Dusseldorf, along with a third daily flight to New York via Hamburg.

Air Arabia launches flights from Ahmedabad to the Middle East

Air Arabia LLC, the first international low-fare airline flying to India, has launched direct daily services connecting Ahmedabad to the Middle East. This is the seven destination launched by the airline, within two years of successful operations in India.

Commenting on the occasion, A K Nizar, head of sales, Air Arabia said, "This is a significant moment for Air Arabia and our thanks to the Indian government and Civil Aviation Authorities for their role in facilitating the commencement of operations to Ahmedabad. The launch of this new route is part of our plan to expand the network of destinations. Ahmedabad is our seventh air station in India and we hope to continue to provide more opportunities to our customers whether they choose to travel for business or pleasure."

Air Arabia will fly daily to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad has now taken Air Arabia's destinations portfolio internationally to 35 destinations in three years of operations.

Air Canada launches new flight pass for business

Air Canada has launched a better way for business travellers to fly with the Flight Pass for Business. The new pass is ideal for any-sized company looking to better manage travel and make flying more convenient for employees.

"The Flight Pass for Business is designed for companies of any size, from small to large. Whether a firm has a few people flying a lot, many people flying occasionally, or any mix of flying in between, the Flight Pass for Business simplifies a company's travel management process while making it easy for employees to fly," said Marc Rosenberg, vice president, sales and product distribution at Air Canada. "Travellers have already flown more than one million trips using Air Canada's flight passes, taking advantage of the flexibility, simplicity and convenience that our passes offer."

The Flight Pass for Business allows up to 25 people to fly 100 trips over a 12-month period. The new pass is designed to give a business cost certainty and maximum flexibility, coming in either the Latitude or Tango Plus fare category and offering the ability to track usage in real time online.

Boeing delivers First 737-900ER to launch customer Lion Air

Indonesia's Lion Air has taken delivery of the first next-generation 737-900ER (extended range) airplane. The airplane was delivered in a special dual paint scheme that combines the Lion Air lion on the vertical stabiliser and the Boeing livery colours on the fuselage. Boeing launched the 737-900ER program in July 2005 when Jakarta-based Lion Air announced the initial order for 30 of the newest 737 model. To date, Lion Air has ordered 60 737-900ERs.

"This is a proud day for me and the Lion Air family as we take delivery of the world's first 737-900ER," said Rusdi Kirana, president director of Lion Air. "The unprecedented economic advantages, passenger comfort and superior reliability of this airplane are key to our growth as we expand our routes and add new destinations." Lion Air is one of the largest low-cost airlines in Asia with traffic approaching one million passengers per month since the airline's inception in June 2000.

Airports' economic regulator proposal in offing

In a bid to maintain quality standards and ensure a level-playing field for all airport operators in the country, government's long-awaited proposal to establish an economic regulator for airports is likely to be taken up by the Union Cabinet shortly.

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), to be set up through a legislation approved by the Cabinet, would also fix the tariff structure for aeronautical services for five years.

The comments of all the major ministries have already been received and a final decision of the Cabinet is likely very soon, official sources said. The need for a regulator is being increasingly felt now as several major airports have gone into private hands, with the privatised Kochi having started functioning already.

The airports in Delhi and Mumbai along with the greenfield ones coming up in Bangalore and Hyderabad through public-private partnership are expected to become operational by 2008.

Besides fixing and approving the tariff structure for aeronautical services, the AERA is also expected to monitor pre-set performance standards at all airports in the country. An Appellate Tribunal is likely to be set up by law to deal with complaints by airport users.