Aviation

Emirates flagship A380 network expands to East and West

Emirates' A380 destination list has flown past 20 with Singapore and Moscow joining the airline's double-decker network.

With the world's largest fleet of A380 aircraft, at 27 and another four to be delivered up to the end of 2012, Emirates continues to set the pace for A380 deployment. In the four years since the A380 has been in operation over 11.5 million passengers have flown on the aircraft, covering 169 million kilometres.

"Singapore and Moscow are both strategically important routes for Emirates," said Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. "Deploying larger capacity aircraft, such as the A380, is central to helping us meet growing passenger demand in these markets. "The Emirates A380 continues to peak customer interest.

Setting a new standard for aviation both in terms of customer comfort and environmental efficiency, the Emirates A380 continues to deliver strong load factors for us wherever it flies," added Mr. Clark.

Emirates' inaugural A380 service to Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow marks the first time a commercial A380 flight has touched down in the city reinforcing the airline's long-term commitment to Russia.

In addition to the launch of the A380 to Moscow, Emirates will also upgrade its daily St. Petersburg service, launching a Boeing 777-300 on the route today adding a further 688 seats per week on the route.

Emirates’ A380 destination

"In Moscow the new A380 service will further drive demand for passenger and cargo services and the current buzz in the market certainly reflects this.

As Emirates' South East Asian hub, Singapore will also benefit from the higher capacity aircraft which will further support the country's international trade agenda," added Mr. Clark.

With the addition of A380 services, Emirates' total capacity across four daily services from Dubai to Singapore increases to 1,659 seats daily.

In Moscow the total capacity across two daily services from Dubai to Moscow increases to 775 seats daily.

New York and Paris will also benefit from the upcoming A380 deliveries, each receiving their second daily A380 service from 1st January 2013.

The extensive Emirates A380 network enables many customers to now travel onboard the A380 for the full length of their journey.

Passengers in all classes can enjoy Emirates' award-winning 'ice' Digital Widescreen, the industry's most sophisticated video and audio system, offering 1,400 channels of on-demand entertainment - the largest selection of programming in the sky.

Indian airline shares soar

Shares of two loss-making private Indian airlines, SpiceJet and Jet Airways, soared following reports that foreign carriers were in talks about buying stakes in the operators. Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways was reported to be courting Jet Airways while Malaysia's AirAsia, Asia's biggest discount carrier, was said to be interested in acquiring a stake in SpiceJet.

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet, India's second largest no-frills operator by market share, said in a statement that it was "true that a few foreign airlines/investors have evinced interest" in the company. But the airline added it was "very premature" to comment on media reports about the possibility of any deal and did not elaborate further.

Jet Airways, a market leader which is 80 percent controlled by Indian tycoon Naresh Goyal, a former travel agent, said separately that it did not comment on "speculative reports".

But VCCircle, a financial website, reported late last week that Etihad was close to buying a 24 percent stake in Jet in a deal expected to be worth $400 million. SpiceJet's shares closed 13 percent higher at 44.40 rupees on the Bombay Stock Exchange while Jet ended the day up 11 percent at 560.40 rupees. There was no immediate official comment from either Etihad or AirAsia but an industry executive close to AirAsia said the carrier was unlikely to seek a stake in SpiceJet.

Speculation about foreign interest in Indian carriers has been brewing since the government in September said it would allow overseas airlines to take up to 49 percent stakes in domestic operators as part of a blitz of economic reforms.

AFP

Kingfisher shares up after Etihad stake deal

Shares in India's troubled Kingfisher Airlines were up nearly five percent after a newspaper report that Abu Dhabi's carrier Etihad Airways is set to buy a 48 percent stake.

The Mumbai Mirror report, citing unnamed sources in the two airlines, said an official announcement was expected around December 18, the birthday of Kingfisher's flamboyant boss Vijay Mallya.

The deal is worth more than 30 billion rupees ($553 million), the newspaper said. Kingfisher shares were up 4.96 percent at 15.67 rupees in morning trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Mallya has been desperately seeking a buyer from abroad to save his airline from collapse since the government in September allowed foreign airlines to purchase stakes of up to 49 percent in domestic carriers.

The debt-ridden airline, named after Mallya's biggest beer brand, has been struggling to survive, owing billions of dollars in taxes and payments to suppliers, lenders and employees. The carrier's staff ended a strike in late October over unpaid wages but Kingfisher's fleet has remained grounded after India's airline industry regulator suspended its licence.The watchdog has said it will not lift the suspension until Kingfisher comes up with a "viable" revival plan.

Etihad, which carried 8.3 million passengers in 2011, already holds stakes in Virgin Australia, Air Berlin, Air Seychelles and Aer Lingus. It has also reportedly been looking at buying a stake in India's Jet Airways.

The Mumbai Mirror said Etihad would buy the Kingfisher stake in two installments: 30 percent this month and another 18 percent by August next year, after cracking the deal last week in Abu Dhabi.

A spokesman for Kingfisher refused to comment on the report.

AFP

SIA deepens commitment to Australia

Singapore Airlines has signed agreements with six tourism organisations in Australia in line with the Airline's ongoing efforts to promote tourism to the country. The agreements are for a period of between two and four years, with the total investment for the current financial year amounting to more than A$5 million.

New agreements were signed between July and October with the South Australia Tourism Commission and Destination New South Wales, while existing agreements with Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Victoria and Tourism Western Australia were expanded to increase their value and include new markets. Key markets covered under the agreements include selected countries in Europe and Asia including the UK, Germany, India, Indonesia and Singapore, among others.

Under the partnerships, Singapore Airlines and the tourism organisations are jointly funding marketing campaigns and activities, including mounting advertising campaigns and organising familiarisation visits for travel agents and media, with the aim of actively promoting tourism to the different states in Australia.

Singapore Airlines has been serving Australia for 45 years and continues to expand capacity to the country.

Services between Singapore and Adelaide were recently increased to 10 flights per week from seven, while a fourth daily service has been introduced to Perth, up from three. The Airbus A380 superjumbo is also being used for two of the three daily flights to Melbourne, up from one, and for two of the four daily flights to Sydney. "Australia has always been an important market for Singapore Airlines, and these partnerships serve to strengthen our ties with the country's tourism organisations," said Singapore Airlines Acting Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Chin Yau Seng.

"Through our extensive global network we are continuing to promote travel to Australia, enabling visitors to discover the wide variety of experiences that the country offers, from rugged natural wonders to cutting-edge lifestyle offerings."

Singapore Airlines operates 108 flights a week to five Australian cities, namely Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, while subsidiary SilkAir serves Darwin with four weekly flights. Including codeshare services through a comprehensive alliance with Virgin Australia, SIA offers customers access to 32 Australian cities.