AVIATION

Singapore Airlines joins sustainable aviation

Singapore Airlines has taken another step towards greener skies by joining the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG).

Established in 2008, SAFUG is a working group that aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of lower-carbon renewable aviation fuels, derived from environmentally and socially sustainable sources.

“We are pleased to be the newest member of SAFUG. This is in line with our longstanding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving the efficiency of our operations,” said Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice-President Human Resources and Operations Ng Chin Hwee.

“It will take time to research and develop alternative fuels that meet the stringent safety requirements of civil aviation and at the same time are commercially viable.

But through SAFUG, which brings together both airlines and aircraft manufacturers, we hope to be one step closer,” he said.

Singapore Airlines maintains a young and modern fleet of fuel-efficient aircraft.

The average age of its passenger fleet, as of September 1 is six years and four months. The airline is also an early adopter of technology, having been the first airline to operate the fuel-efficient Airbus A380, for example, and having placed orders for the latest-generation Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft.

Emirates to launch daily service to Dublin

Emirates has announced that it will begin daily flights to Dublin from January 2012, marking its first route to the Republic of Ireland.

The daily service, from January 9 next year, will leave Dubai at 0700hrs and arrive in the Irish capital at 1130hrs. The return flight leaves Dublin at 1255hrs and gets into Dubai at 0025hrs the next day. An Airbus A330-200 will be deployed between Dubai and Dublin, offering First, Business and Economy class.

“Dublin will be our 29th route in Europe and Emirates’ customers in Ireland who currently travel through some of our UK gateways will be able to fly non-stop to our industry leading hub in Dubai and conveniently connect onwards to our broadening route network,” said Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “We see strong potential in Ireland through its industry, technology, tourism and the huge number of Irish nationals living overseas,” he said.

Ireland has a population of around 4.5 million, but it’s estimated more than 15 times that live overseas, including somewhere in the region of 80,000 Irish nationals in Australia and about 5,000 in the UAE.

Other key markets are predicted to include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, South Africa, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The Republic is a popular tourist destination and last year received 6.7 million visitors, drawn by the rich ancient history, spectacular countryside, traditional Irish music, thousands of miles of scenic coastline and renowned fresh air.

Emirates SkyCargo is already active in Ireland, mostly carrying goods through Manchester, and with 14 tonnes of bellyhold capacity becoming available on each passenger flight, activity in the market will intensify. Pharmaceuticals, which make up nearly a quarter of Ireland’s exports, are expected to be amongst the commodities carried, along with electronics.

With a fleet of 157 aircraft and 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 November 1 with Baghdad following suit as of November 13. Rio and Buenos Aires become new links into South America from January 3, 2012.

India govt hits back over ‘risky’ $ 10 b plane buy

India’s government has hit back at claims by the national financial watchdog that state-run carrier Air India botched a multi-billion-dollar aircraft purchase, putting the firm’s future at risk.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Thursday said in a report that the “risky” acquisition of 111 new Boeing and Airbus jets was mistimed and imposed “an undue long-term financial burden on the carrier”.

But Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said late Thursday that it was a collective decision by government and Air India management to buy the aircraft and was designed to strengthen the ailing airline.

The 68 Boeing and 43 Airbus aircraft are costing the crisis-hit airline about 455 billion rupees (nearly $ 10 billion).

The CAG said the entire acquisition, to be funded through debt, “was a recipe for disaster” and it should have raised alarm bells for the ministry and India’s top government policy think tank, the Planning Commission.

Assumptions that the new planes would lead to an increase in Air India’s market share were “unduly optimistic” and “not validated”, it added.

AFP