Aviation

Qatar Airways unveils expansion plans

Qatar Airways will launch scheduled flights to Australia and further expand its operations in India and Europe with new routes from the start of the Northern Winter 2009 schedules.

Flights to the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne, together with new services to Goa and Amritsar in India, and two new European services are being earmarked over the next nine months.

In addition, the Doha-based carrier will increase frequency to selected destinations across its global network from the beginning of the Northern Summer 2009 schedules on March 29. This was made known at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel and tourism show in the German capital last week.

Subject to regulatory approval, the long-awaited Australian services will become a reality as more Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft join the fleet. There are eight Boeing 777s in Qatar Airways’ fleet of 68 aircraft - of which two are the Boeing 777 Long Range version capable of flying from Doha to Australia non-stop.

Amritsar, in the rich northwestern Indian agricultural heartland of Punjab State, is home to the Golden Temple - the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion. Together with the popular idyllic beach holiday state of Goa, the two new routes will boost Qatar Airways’ Indian capacity from nine to 11 destinations.

Qatar Airways will also step up its European presence with two new routes, which are currently being finalised. The airline’s first new route launch of 2009 will be daily flights between Doha and Houston which, at under 17 hours, will be one of the longest non-stop flights in the world.

Beginning March 30, the Houston route will feature Qatar Airways’ new fully flat Business Class seats deployed on its two Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft, which the airline took delivery of over the past six weeks.

The expansion is part of the airline’s ongoing growth strategy - a long-term commitment to develop its route infrastructure as new aircraft join the fleet at an average delivery rate of one a month. The award-winning Doha-based airline currently has on order more than 200 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth over US$40 billion.

“Qatar Airways’ robust expansion is continuing undeterred by the current economic climate,” Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told a media briefing on the opening day of ITB Berlin.

“Sydney and Melbourne have been on our radar screen for many years. We can finally look forward to entering the Australian market with vigour as we will have the aircraft to serve this highly popular market non-stop from Doha.

“India has been, and remains, one of our most important destinations and we are pleased to strengthen economic and cultural ties with one of the world’s fastest growing economies. With the growth of the Indian economy into a potential global powerhouse and Qatar’s drive to spread its economic wings globally, increasing air links between the two countries is of paramount importance,” he said.

Cathay Pacific Group turnover up in 2008

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*Group turnover rose by 14.9%

*Business in the first six months was strong

*Passenger revenue up by HK$8,526 m

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The Cathay Pacific Group recorded an attributable loss of HK$8,558 million in 2008, compared to a profit of HK$7,023 million the previous year. The 2008 result is a record annual loss for the airline.

Group turnover rose by 14.9% to HK$86,578 million in 2008. Business in the first six months of the year was generally strong, but extremely high fuel prices in the first half of the year and a plunge in both passenger and cargo demand in the second half as a result of the global financial crisis adversely impacted the financial results.

The price of aviation fuel reached new heights in July 2008 though prices fell significantly towards the end of the year.

Fuel surcharges on cargo and passenger tickets only partially offset the additional cost incurred over the course of the year.

The fall in fuel prices, though welcome, caused unrealised mark-to-market losses of HK$7.6 billion on fuel hedging contracts for the period 2009-2011 which were entered into, give a degree of certainty as to future fuel prices and protection against price increases. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair between them carried 25.0 million passengers in 2008 - a rise of 7.3% on the previous year.

Passenger revenue increased by HK$8,526 million largely as a result of strong demand in the first half.

At the same time capacity increased by 12.7% due to the arrival of new aircraft and an increase in services to destinations in Australia, India and the Middle East.

Emirates provides access to full content through Amadeus

Amadeus has signed a five-year worldwide agreement with Emirates to ensure travel agents have access to the airline’s full range of content.

“We are delighted to offer Amadeus travel agents efficient access to our full range of content using Amadeus’ extensive global network,” said Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide at Emirates Keith Longstaff, “We remain fully committed to working with the travel agency channel as we continue to expand our reach, providing a high-quality service with the latest routes between Asia, Europe and the Americas.”

The full range of Emirates’ fares, schedules and inventory made available through the Amadeus system will be the same, and under the same conditions, as that offered through any indirect or direct channel, distribution provider or website.

“We believe that Emirates’ choice to offer agents unhindered access to their content will help agents immeasurably as they continue to service travellers in key growth areas such as Australia, Europe and the Middle East,” said Executive Vice President, Commercial, Amadeus Philippe Chereque.

“Offering efficient access to content will help airlines make more sales,” he said.

Amadeus has 131 agreements with airlines enabling travel agents to access airline inventory.

This represents over 255 million bookings a year, or 70 per cent of all airline bookings sold by Amadeus travel agencies worldwide.

STARS of Singapore Airlines

STARS or Singapore Airlines Travel Agents Reward Scheme rewards the frontline staff of travel agencies for selling Singapore Airlines tickets.

The competition was held over a period of four months last year. The scheme was welcomed by many enthusiastic agents, taking up the challenge of chocking the highest number of points.

The grand prize and a mystery bonus prize will see two couples going off to Singapore for a 3-day, 2-night mini-familiarization trip, expense-free.