Qatar Airways (Doha) has officially launched the start of its three year partnership with FC Barcelona at an event held at Camp Nou.
The airline’s partnership with FCB took effect from July 1ย this year.
In attendance were leading representatives of both organizations, the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al-Baker, the President of FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell and Vice President of FC Barcelona Economic and Strategy Area, Javier Faus.
Since its beginnings, FC Barcelona has been characterized by being not just a football organization, but also a powerful force for globalization, solidarity, integration and social cohesion. Qatar Airways fully identifies with these values, which is why this partnership between both organizations is much more than just a simple economic alliance. Furthermore, Qatar Airways’ partnership with FC Barcelona will help to position the airline in the world.
Qatar Airways will work with FC Barcelona to create joint initiatives and will especially focus on connecting with the club’s fans and also with underprivileged children to spread the love of the game to all corners of the globe.
A new FC Barcelona logojet is on the horizon.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-FDZ A7-BFD (msn 41427) of the cargo division of Qatar Airways taxies at Amsterdam.
Emirates (Dubai) has announced theย launch of nonstop passenger services to Taipei, its 16th destination in the Far East.
The service will commence onย February 10, 2014, initially with six nonstop flights per week to Taipeiโs Taoyuan International Airport.
The route will be operated by a three classย Boeing 777-300 ERย aircraft equipped with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and generous space for 304 passengers in Economy Class, along with gourmet cuisine in all classes.
Emirates now operates services to 134 destinations in 76 countries from Dubai.ย Earlier this year Emirates launched services to Warsaw and Algiers, followed by Haneda, Japan in June.
Emirates has announced plans to launch services to Stockholm starting September 4, to Clark International Airport in the Philippinesย and theย trans-Atlantic Milan-New York (JFK) route on October 1;ย Conakry onย October 27, Sialkot on November 5 and Kiev onย January 16, 2014.
Taipei Flight Schedule – from February 10, 2014
Day
Flight Number
Departure Airport
Departure Time
Arrival Airport
Arrival Time
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
EK 366 EK 367
DXB TPE
0425 2315
TPE DXB
1615 0510 +1
Wednesday
EK 366 EK 367
DXB TPE
0225 2315
TPE DXB
1430 0510 +1
Saturday
EK 366 EK 367
DXB TPE
0020 2315
TPE DXB
1205 0510 +1
Sunday
EK 366 EK 367
DXB TPE
0340 2315
TPE DXB
1525 0510 +1
In other news, Emirates wants to expand its U.S. destinations from the current seven to 15 in the next three to five years according to a report by Reuters. In fact, the fast-growing carrier wants to add three new U.S. destinations in the next 12 months.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-31H ER A6-ECF (msn 35574) lands at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has no intention of joining one of the traditional airline alliances. Instead it is quickly building an alliance of aligned airlines in which its has an equity share. The latest target is reportedly loss-making Alitalia (2nd) (Rome).
Alitalia, which is currently 25 percent owned by the Airย France-KLM Group (Air France and KLM are code-share partners of Etihad), was rescued from bankruptcy in 2008. It was acquired by a consortium of Italian companies including bank Intesa Sanpaolo and is reportedly discussing with Etihad Airways about a possible new partnership according to this report by Reuters.
Meanwhile Etihad Airways is moving ahead to increase its equity in Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane), following recent approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board to increase from a 10 percent shareholding to 19.9 percent.
Etihad Airways equity alliance is a planned alternative to the legacy airline alliances. The Etihad equity alliance now has five members, following a deal to invest in Serbiaโs national airline, Air Serbia (Belgrade).
Etihad Airways also is awaiting regulatory approval for investment in a sixth airline, Indiaโs Jet Airways (Mumbai), which gives the equity alliance a combined total of more than 420 destinations, 500 aircraft and more than 96 million passengers each year.
In other news, Etihad Airways has announced new servicesย for the Australia market including:
Airbus A380 aircraft from Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi
Construction of premium lounges at Sydney and Melbourne Airports from 2014
Additional flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi
Commencement of nonstop flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Painted in the special Formula 1 livery to promote the Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix, Airbus A340-642X A6-EHJ (msn 933) climbs away from the runway at Geneva.
EasyJet (easyJet.com) (UK) (London-Luton) announced today it is increasing its Jersey, Channel Islands network with the introduction of a year-round service to and from London (Gatwick).
From March 30, 2014 easyJet will operate three flights per day between Jersey and London Gatwick offering the choice of a morning, afternoon and evening departure in each direction. The new service will go on sale in September 2013 and means easyJet now connect Jersey with five UK airports โ London Gatwick, Southend, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow.
The announcement follows a deal secured by easyJet earlier this year to purchase 25 additional slots at Gatwick Airport from Flybe. Since this time, the airline has worked closely with the route development team at Jersey Airport to expand its operation in the Island and enhance connections to London Gatwick. The new flight will be operated by an Airbus A319 aircraft with the capacity of 156 seats.
Provisional schedule for summer 2014 โ timings to be confirmed in September.
London Gatwick โ Jersey
Jersey โ London Gatwick
Depart
Arrive
Depart
Arrive
07:00
08:00
08:30
09:30
14:30
15:30
16:00
17:00
17:30
18:30
19:00
20:00
The introduction of a London Gatwick service brings the total number of routes the airline serves from Jersey to five. In addition to its exiting year-round services to Liverpool, Glasgow and London (Southend), the airline also introduced a summer service to Newcastle earlier this year.
Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 G-EZGI (msn 4693) is pictured in action at Amsterdam.
Germania Fluggesellschaft (Berlin-Tegel) will become the first airline to operate from the delayed Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (BER).
The airline will move to BER on November 1, 2013 from its previous home at Tegel Airport and the adjacent Schรถnefeld Airport, operating from the north pier.ย A detailed schedule will be announced separately.
Germania in the winter timetable 2013/2014 will operate from Berlin twice-weekly to Skopje in Macedonia and to Beirut in Lebanon, and once a week to Adana in Turkey. Germania will also start charter flights to the Canary Islands, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from BER.
The airline currently operates 8 Airbus A319s and 10 Boeing 737-700s.
Top Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-75B D-AGER (msn 28107) prepares to land at Frankfurt.
Germania:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo:ย Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (BER). The new terminal at BER.
Jet2 (Jet2.com) (Leeds/Bradford) is trying a different approach to promoting its new airline routes. The airline is promoting its new flights to Gran Canaria with the “Gran Canaria Ice-Cream Van” offering free ice cream and a chance to win free tickets to the island. The van is visiting Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
In other news, the airline is planning to offer charter flights from Leeds/Bradford, Newcastle and Glasgow to Boston, New York (JFK) and Toronto (Pearson).
Read the full report from the Daily Mail: CLICK HERE
Atlantic Airways (Vagar, Faroe Islands) reported improved financial results and issued this financial report for the first half of 2013:
Revenue increased 5% to DKK 129.5 million in Q2 2013 from DKK 122.8 million in the corresponding period in 2012. The increase is mainly attributable to an increase in passenger numbers on scheduled services and increased charter activity as well as increased duty-free sales.
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) in Q2 2013 decreased 1% from DKK 24.7 million in the second quarter of 2012, to DKK 24.3 million.
The result before tax (EBT) for the second quarter of 2013 was DKK 7.6 million, compared with DKK 6.9 million in the same period last year and the result after tax for the second quarter of 2013 was DKK 6.2 million, compared with DKK 5.7 million in the second quarter of 2012.
The main explanatory factors for the higher result in Q2 2013 are the increased number of passengers and higher load factor on scheduled services. However, the result in Q2 2013 was also affected by decreased helicopter activity.
EBITDA in the first half of 2013 were DKK 37.7 million, compared with DKK 31.7 million in the first half of 2012, an increase of 19%. The result before tax for the first half of 2013 amounted to DKK 4.3 million, compared with DKK 1.7 million in the same period in 2012 and the result after tax amounted to DKK 3.5 million, compared with DKK 1.4 million in the same period in 2012.
The supply of seats (ASK) on scheduled services in the second quarter was 1% lower than inย the corresponding period last year due to adjustments in capacity. Passenger traffic (RPK) on scheduled services increased 8% in the same period resulting in an increase in passenger load factor (PLF) from 71 to 78%. During the first half the supply of seats grew by 7% owing to the introduction of Airbus capacity in Q 1 and passenger traffic increased by 9% in total.
โGrowth in traffic has been significant although there is still room for better loads in the low seasonโ, says Magni Arge, CEO. Growth has been driven by low-fare campaigns and supported by growth in capacity in Q1.
In June, the second Airbus was introduced to service both the route network to the Faroes and charter operations out of Denmark. Like the first aircraft it was also modified to support the groundbreaking RNP AR navigational aid system. The system has improved the regularity and saved us a number of diversions. However, in July, the severe fog interrupted operations consistently over a period of four weeks resulting in 54 diversions and cancellations as well as a further 70 delays.
Without RNP AR equipped aircraft we would have experienced a further 20 diversions. The total cost of the unrecedented weather interruption in July is estimated at between 7.5 and 8.5 MDKK .โ says Magni Arge.
Atlantic Airways currently estimates that the full-year result in 2013 will be about the same level as in 2012, yet fuel prices, adverse weather, and advice against travel to Egypt may have a negative impact on the result. Other risk factors mentioned in the Risk management section in the 2012 annual report may similarly affect the financial performance.
Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. The company is pioneering itsย RNP AR navigational aid system at Vagar Airport in the Faroe Islands. Airbus A319-115 OY-RCG (msn 5079) arrives at Barcelona on a flight from Vagar.
Atlantic Airways:ย
Route Map: Atlantic Airways is the only scheduled passenger airline on these routes from the Faroe Islands:
ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) is planning to expand capacity on routes between Japan, Asia and North America. ANA issued this report:
ANA Group is set to expand capacity on routes between Japan, Asia and North America in a modification to its international and domestic air transportation plan for second half of FY2013. This expansion will allow the airline to capitalize on the strong demand for travel to Japan and for flights between Asia and North America.On international routes, ANA Group is preparing for the second round of additional takeoff and landing slots for international routes at Haneda Airport. In addition, the airline is increasing the frequency of flights on routes to North America and expanding supply capacity on Asian routes, in line with its strategy to absorb increasing demand for flights to Japan and flights between Asia and North America, transiting in Japan.
These service enhancements will make it more convenient for ANA passengers to travel both domestically and internationally and will improve ANAโs standing as a full-service carrier, further enhancing the Companyโs competitive edge.
Details can be found below.
*These plans are subject to the approval of the relevant authorities and may change for certain reasons.
1.International Routes
ANA Group has strengthened its North American route network by increasing flights to New York from October 2012 and by increasing flights to Chicago from September 1. In addition, in order to respond to further increases in demand for flights to Japan and flights between Asia and North America transiting in Japan via the Narita Airport hub, ANA Group will be expanding capacity on Asian routes by introducing larger aircraft.(1) Introduction of Boeing 787-8 on Asian routes
The Boeing 787-8, which is larger than the Boeing 767-300 ER, will be introduced on the routes below.
*All 14 flights will be operated by B787-8 from Sunday, October 27, 2013
(2) Other aircraft changes
(3) Route suspensions and flight reductions
(4) The introduction of premium economy service on Boeing 787-8 aircraft flying long-haul international flights
The premium economy seats and services which have proved extremely popular on Boeing 777-300 ER long-haul international flights (routes to Europe and North America) will be sequentially introduced on to 787* flights.
From September 1, 2013, premium economy service will begin on the Haneda = Frankfurt route, and will subsequently be introduced sequentially onto other routes.
*Seat specifications: Business class 46 seats, premium economy class 21 seats, economy class 102 seats (Total: 169 seats)
2.Others
ANA Group is planning, at the end of fiscal year 2013, to retire all Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which have served for many years as the Groupโs mainstay aircraft model, principally on major routes.ย For Cargo flights, ANA Group is launching two new routes from Sunday, October 27, 2013. The routes are Narita=Guangzhou and Okinawa=Qingdao, both operated by Boeing 767-300F . Tokyo(Narita)=Guangzhou will serve from above date until Monday, March 3, 2014.
Furthermore, at the end of fiscal 2013, ANA will be taking delivery of its tenth Boeing 767-300F dedicated cargo aircraft, with the aim of expanding cargo business.
Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. ANA’ Boeing 787-8 JA815A (msn 40899) taxies at Paine Field near Everett, WA.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) today (August 26) inaugurated nonstop service between Portland, Oregon and Atlanta.
Alaska Airlines has added eight new routes from Portland within the last 12 months which also includes new service to Dallas-Fort Worth starting on September 16.
Summary of new service:
Start date
City pair
Departs
Arrives
Frequency
Aug. 26
Portland-Atlanta
ย 9:50 a.m.
5:35 p.m.
Daily
Aug. 26
Atlanta-Portland
5:10 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Daily
Flight times based on local time zones.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-890 N518AS (msn 35693) completes the “River Approach” into Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
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