Tag Archives: 2000

Etihad Airways’ 33.3% investment in Darwin Airline is approved

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has now received approval from FOCA to acquire a 33.3 percent share of Darwin Airline (Lugano), now operating as Etihad Regional.

Etihad Regional logo

Etihad issued this statement:

Etihad logo

Etihad Airways has received the approval from Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation to take a 33.3 percent stake in Darwin Airline – a Swiss regional carrier.

Beginning January 2014, according to a brand partnership deal with Etihad Airways, Darwin Airline has operated as Etihad Regional.

FOCA’s approval of the investment now allows Etihad and Darwin to fully benefit from the partnership, including using codeshares on each other’s flights.

“Because of the time it took to secure this deal, and due to the fierce competition during this period, Etihad Regional has been obliged to withdraw or reduce services on numerous routes. They were launched based on the fact that they would benefit from the support of traffic running between our global network and our Etihad Regional European network,” said James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 2000 HB-IZZ (msn 048) approaches the runway at Zurich.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

Etihad Regional aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

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Darwin Airline to drop four routes as it regroups

Darwin Airline (Etihad Regional) (Lugano) will drop routes from Zurich to Lugano and Linz and from Geneva to Toulouse and Nice. The four routes were unprofitable.

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has restated its confidence in the regional carrier. Darwin is attempting to finalize its business relationship and investment by Etihad with the European regulatory authorities.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Darwin Airline SAAB 2000 HB-IZP (msn 031) in the Etihad Regional colors taxies at Geneva.

Etihad Regional aircraft slide show:

Eastern Airways adds its ninth SAAB 2000

Eastern Airways (Humberside and Aberdeen) is expanding the size of its SAAB 2000 fleet to nine aircraft with the introduction of an extra aircraft.

The regional airline, which provides a comprehensive domestic network of scheduled services, and is the UK’s leading provider of fixed wing air services for the oil and gas industry, will see the Saab 2000 entering service in the coming weeks.

The Swedish manufactured 50-seater SAAB 2000 is one of the world’s fastest turbo-prop aircraft with its two Rolls Royce engines producing a cruising speed of 425 mph, and low fuel burn due to its efficiency.

This latest addition will be assigned to its charter services operating for the oil and gas industry, which also includes the recently awarded major contract with BP flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles.

Paul Alcock, Eastern Airways’ managing director, said: “The SAAB 2000 is an extremely flexible aircraft that can operate on both short and longer runways, which is ideally suited to our long term charter services for the oil and gas industry.  The aircraft type is also used on our scheduled network and to European destinations for ad-hoc charters.”

SAAB 2000 aircraft were first introduced to Eastern Airways fleet in 2004 and the latest addition increases the fleet to nine.  The airline is also the largest operator of British Aerospace Jetstream 41s in the world with a fleet of 18.  The remainder of the fleet comprises of four regional jets, including two Embraer 135 and two Embraer 145 aircraft.

A network of services across to 20 airports in the UK, Norway and France is operated by the airline on a fleet of 31 regional aircraft (see route map below).

Eastern Airways 3.2014 Route Map

In January 2014, the airline started a new scheduled service between Leeds Bradford and Southampton and also launched its third domestic route in France with flights between Lorient and Lyon.

Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 2000 G-CDKA (msn 006) prepares to land in Stockholm (Arlanda).

Eastern Airways: AG Slide Show

Darwin Airline to become Etihad Regional

Darwin Airline (Lugano and Geneva) and Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) have jointly announced the later has acquired a 33.3 percent interest in the Swiss carrier. Darwin as a result will be rebranded as Etihad Regional and will feed Etihad Airways flights from secondary markets in Europe. Etihad is building an extensive worldwide feeder relationship network with its acquisitions. The two airlines issued this joint statement:

ETIHAD AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES ‘STEP-CHANGE IN BUSINESS STRATEGY’ WITH THE LAUNCH OF ETIHAD REGIONAL

  • Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has announced a ‘step- change in global aviation’, with the launch of its first branded regional operation, after taking a 33.3 per cent stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline.

    Following completion of the minority investment, which is subject to regulatory approval, Darwin Airline will rebrand its operations as Etihad Regional and align its network to connect passengers from secondary European markets onto the main networks of Etihad Airways and its equity alliance partners.

    Etihad Airways will also launch daily services on June 1st, 2014 from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, which will become one of Darwin Airline’s main operating hubs.

    James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is a step- change for Etihad Airways. With our new partner Darwin Airline, we are creating a unique approach to network development for global airlines.

    “European travellers will now be able to connect from a far, wider range of European towns and cities on Etihad-branded aircraft, through Abu Dhabi to our destinations worldwide.”

    “We are also linking the new Etihad Regional network into the key hubs of our equity alliance partners, bringing benefits to the customers of airberlin and Air Serbia.”

“This new model is one that can bring the Etihad badge of quality to air travellers around the world,” he said. “In just a decade, we have established the Etihad brand as one of the most recognised and most highly regarded in aviation. This model offers a new direction for that brand in future.”

Darwin Airline is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with its major hub in Geneva. It currently offers scheduled flights to 21 destinations in Europe using a fleet of ten 50-seat SAAB 2000 turboprop aircrafts.

Subject to regulatory approvals, Etihad Airways will invest in Darwin Airline through the acquisition of 33.3 per cent of an enlarged share capital. Darwin Airline, which will continue to focus on secondary markets, will become the seventh member of the Etihad Airways equity airline alliance, the fourth partner in Europe, and the first to operate using a new sub-brand called ‘Etihad Regional’.

The investment will give Etihad Airways access to regional markets in Europe, and enable a major expansion of Darwin Airline’s operations.

The new ‘Etihad Regional’ logo will be displayed prominently on each side of the fuselage of the Darwin Airline aircrafts, while the rear of the planes will carry the words “Operated by Darwin Airline”, and the Darwin Airline’s present logo, as well as continuing to proudly display the Swiss flag. All flights will continue to be operated under the Darwin Airline designator code.

By mid-2014, Darwin Airline will add 21 new routes and 18 new destinations. Its network will then include six European gateways served by Etihad Airways – Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Dusseldorf, Belgrade and, commencing in June, Zurich.

Darwin Airline will be able to connect to the network of airberlin, Etihad Airways’ equity partner, through new and existing routes to Berlin, Dusseldorf and Zurich. Berlin and Dusseldorf provide excellent connections to the US with airberlin.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. The company now operates a fleet of 10 SAAB 2000 turboprops. SAAB 2000 HB-IZJ (msn 015) prepares to touch down in Zurich.

 

Darwin Airline: AG Slide Show

Darwin logo-2

 

Current routes from Geneva:

Darwin 11.2013 GVA Route Map

Darwin Airline to open a new base at Cambridge starting on September 2

Darwin Airline (Lugano) has announced a new European base at Cambridge, UK. Starting on September 2, Darwin will fly from Cambridge to Amsterdam, Paris (CDG), Milan (Malpensa) and Geneva with 50-seat SAAB 2000 aircraft. A total of 50 flights will be operated from Cambridge each week. This will include a planned timetable of 24 weekly flights to and from Amsterdam;
12 weekly flights to and from Paris CDG (East Anglia’s only air service to the French capital); eight
weekly flights to and from Milan Malpensa, and six weekly services to and from Darwin Airline’s main
hub at Geneva.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 2000 HB-IZZ (msn 048) arrives at Zurich with a special S. Pellegrino logo.

Darwin Airline: AG Slide Show

Darwin logo-1

Current routes from Geneva:

Darwin 5:2013 GVA Route Map