IAS to change flight timings to India

Island Aviation Services (IAS) has revealed that the changes would be brought to its international flight schedule due to essential maintenance work on the runway at Trivandrum Airport. Airline revealed that changes would take effect from 1 of April 2008.

Ismail Shujau Assistant Director speaking to Miadhu Daily said as repair of the runway is due to carried out from 1 of April to end of June; the airline has decided to change its flight timings to Trivandrum. He revealed that this is due to closure of Trivandrum Airport for runway maintenance from 1330 hours to 1930 hours daily.

“Our schedule falls in to that period, we depart from Male’ at 1720 and arrive in Trivandrum at 1830, departure from Trivandrum is 2000 hours and land in Male’ at 2110.” Shujau said.

Shujau further revealed that even though flight timings are changed, there will be no change to the number of flights and daily flights would continue.

Island Aviation Services a fully government owned body commenced its international operations on 25 of January this year. At the present the airline only operates to Trivandrum in India although the airline has recently disclosed its intention to operate to Sri Lanka in the near future. (Miadhu News)

AIRPORT NEWS

Problems continue at Heathrow T5

Problems continued at Heathrow T5 today, with BA cancelling 20% of is shorthaul flights – a total of 36. More cancellations are expected over the weekend, but according to a spokesman “Everything will be fine by Monday.” Today was a lot better than the chaos seen yesterday, however, with passengers able to check-in hold luggage.

BA blamed staff familiarisation, and said that it took much longer than anticipated for baggage handling staff to pass through BAA’s security checks and commence work in the correct pace in the morning. The two company’s report that they are now working together to ensure that procedures are faster and smoother in the future.

Apparently yesterday’s main baggage handling problems were caused by the failure of handling staff to remove bags from conveyors fast enough before loading them onto aircraft, thereby causing a jam throughout the system right up to the check-in desks.

Oneworld in Pudong

Five of the oneworld member airlines serving Shanghai Pudong are to co-locate in the airport’s new Terminal 2 starting on 26 March.

British Airways and Qantas transferred to the new facility for the new opening yesterday. Cathay Pacific and its sister Dragonair, along with Finnair, will follow on 29 April. American Airlines intends to move to Terminal 2 later but will remain in Terminal 1 for now, alongside fellow oneworld member Japan Airlines and their code-share partner China Eastern, which will also stay there.

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair will announce details of their new lounge in Terminal 2 ahead of their move. Situated airside opposite gate D68, the lounge will be available to Emerald and Sapphire tier cardholders in any oneworld airline frequent flyer programme when flying on any oneworld airline from the terminal, and also to First and Business Class passengers flying on any oneworld airline.

Once the airline moves have been completed, Shanghai Pudong’s airport operator will refurbish Terminal 1 to bring it up to comparable standards to Terminal 2. Oneworld airlines offer almost 200 flights a week from Shanghai Pudong.

Previously all star alliance members including Shanghai airlines, Air china, Lufthansa and ANA decided to move to the new terminal under one roof.

Pilot pioneer lands first T5 flight

British Airways’ first female pilot flew the first plane to land today at Heathrow’s new £4.3 billion (US$ 8.6 billion) Terminal Five (T5). Captain Lynn Barton, 51, became BA’s first woman pilot in 1987. She was the flight commander on BA026 from Hong Kong, which landed six minutes early at 04:50 GMT.

Before the flight Barton commented: “I was incredibly proud to have been British Airways’ first ever woman pilot and now I have another first to my name. I’m already planning my passenger announcement for the first ever landing at T5. I want to make sure that I mark the occasion so that every one of my passengers can be part of history too.”

Barton applied to operate the flight last month while she was on holiday. “It was my husband’s idea to bid for the flight, but the timing meant I had to tear myself off the beach and find a computer so that I could apply through the airline’s flight bidding system. I found out when I got back from my holiday and was absolutely thrilled. Terminal 5 has been the focus of the airline’s future for several years now, and to operate the very first flight is a huge honour.”

BA now has 175 female pilots.

Left: Captain Lynn Barton

Domodedovo rated tops in growth

In 2007 Moscow Domodedovo was first in terms of growth rate for its airport category. It was 19th among European airports and leader among the airports of Eastern Europe in terms of passenger service growth. The results were announced last week in Brussels during the annual ACI Europe conference.

The total growth in passenger service in Europe was 6.5% in the reported year, which demonstrates the stable development of European airports. Moscow Domodedovo was found leader in the second group, which comprised airports handling 10-25 million people annually.

The growth in passenger service at Domodedovo was 22%, followed by Berlin Templehof, Dublin, Athens, Milan Malpensa and Geneva airports.

Boeing Confirms 737 Order from Turkmenistan Airlines

SEATTLE, — The Boeing Company confirmed an order for three Next-Generation 737s by national flag carrier Turkmenistan Airlines. The order for two 737-900ERs and one 737-700 is worth approximately $221 million at list prices.

Turkmenistan Airlines’ all-Boeing fleet also includes 717s, Classic and Next-Generation 737s, 757s, and one 767.

“Turkmenistan Airlines is taking maximum advantage of the commonality of the Next-Generation 737 family. By integrating the different model sizes, including the larger -900ER, into its fleet, Turkmenistan Airlines can grow its fleet with lower investments in parts, equipment and training,” said Craig Jones, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for Russia & Central Asia.

The Next-Generation 737 family is the most technologically advanced airplane family in the single-aisle market. The Next-Generation 737’s market success is confirmed by air finance investors, who consistently rank it as the most preferred airplane due to its wide market base, superior efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.

The 737 has logged more orders than any other commercial jet model in history, with more than 7,800 orders. Boeing has more than 2,100 unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737, worth more than $150 billion at current list prices.

Bangalore International Airport Ltd to introduce domestic user charge

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has defied Ministry of Civil Aviation requests by proposing plans to issue a User Development Fee (UDF) of USD6 on outbound domestic passengers and USD13 on international passengers for the first two months after it launches operations. Thereafter, it plans to increase them to USD16.80 and USD23.80, respectively.

According to BIAL CEO, Albert Brunner, it would not be fair to charge only international passengers on the same facilities being used by domestic passengers.

Similarly, a UDF will also be levied by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) to domestic passengers at the new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport within the next three months. GHIAL will also introduce USD24.80 to outbound international passengers.

Indian Government originally approved the new airports to levy UDF to allow the greenfield airport operators to recover development costs.

However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is reportedly now planning to mandate future greenfield airport developers to cross-subsidise aeronautical development with non-aeronautical revenues, although it would not be applicable to the new Bangalore and Hyderabad airports.

A spokesman for the Ministry stated, “rightly or wrongly, agreements have been signed with GHIAL and BIAL, and this allows them to collect UDF to recover their cost. But in Delhi and Mumbai airports, the operators are supposed to cross-subsidise aeronautical cost with 30% of their non-aeronautical revenue, it would be applicable for all future greenfield projects”.

Jet Airways to launch services to San Francisco via Shanghai

Jet Airways will commence daily service from San Francisco International Airport to Shanghai and India on 05 May 2007, it was announced by founder and chairman of Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal.

With this launch, Jet Airways becomes the first Indian airline to fly from San Francisco to Mumbai and only the second airline worldwide to fly nonstop from San Francisco to Shanghai. The flight from San Francisco International Airport will also be the airline's fourth daily North American departure to India, following new launches of service from New York's JFK and Newark airports, and Toronto Pearson International Airport, within the past year.

"With the introduction of this new transpacific route to India aboard Jet Airways," observed Goyal, "we continue our airline's unprecedented expansion throughout North America. I am immensely proud of our team's accomplishments of launching four new long-haul routes in less than a year."

The new Jet Airways transpacific flights aboard Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will offer unprecedented levels of luxury, privacy and comfort in the air, including First Class suites with the world's longest airline beds, private closets, dining tables for two, and 23" flat-screens. Première (business) class pods offer what are considered the most comfortable Business Class seats in the sky that convert to 73"-long totally flat beds. Leg-room in Economy is more generous than the norm - and passengers in all three classes have access to the state-of-the-art Panasonic eX2 entertainment system, complete with 200+ movies, games and endless music choices - heard through Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

Emirates denies plans to buy Japan's first passenger jet

Dubai-based airline Emirates denied reports it is planning to buy a new regional passenger jet under development in Japan -- the first such aircraft to be built in the country.

Emirates is in talks about buying the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), which would seat 70 to 90 passengers, Japan's Kyodo News agency said, quoting an unnamed source familiar with the matter.

But a Dubai-based spokesman for Emirates said it did not plan to buy any of the jets, which are billed as the most quiet, light and fuel-efficient model in their class and are being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

"Emirates has always operated an all wide-body aircraft fleet and we have no intention of purchasing any regional jets for our business," he said.

Mitsubishi has begun marketing the MRJ and has chosen the new geared turbofan engine from Pratt & Whitney, part of United Technologies Corp, to power the aircraft.
It said it would decide by the end of March whether to go ahead with the project, based on the level of interest among airlines.

Kyodo News said Vietnam Airlines was considering buying about 20 of the jets, while US and European carriers were also showing interest in the aircraft, which could enter service in 2012.

Japan's All Nippon Airways has also said it is considering buying the new fuel-efficient regional plane if it is built and Japan Airlines is reported to have shown interest in the jet.
If it becomes a reality, the aircraft would be the first commercial passenger aircraft in four decades -- and the first ever jet aircraft -- to be built in Japan.

Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corp said this month it was considering financial backing for the venture.

China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways and United Airlines Ready for Take-Off at Changi Airport Terminal 3

Four more airlines will begin their flight operations at Singapore Changi Airport's new Terminal 3 on Wednesday, 26 March 2008. China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways and United Airlines will join Singapore Airlines and shift their operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3. Singapore Airlines has been operating at Terminal 3 since the terminal begins operations on 9 January 2008.

Among the four airlines, China Eastern Airline's flight will be the first to arrive and depart from Terminal 3. Flight MU545 from Shanghai will arrive at Terminal 3 at 2050 hours on Tuesday, 25 March 2008. The same aircraft will depart for Shanghai at 0055 hours on 26 March 2008.

For the other three airlines, United Airlines will handle its first arrival flight from Atlanta (via Chicago and Hong Kong) at 2325 hours on Tuesday, 25 March 2008, while its first departure flight will take off at 0650 hours on 26 March 2008. Jet Airways will handle its first arrival flight from Mumbai at 0735 hours and first departure flight to Chennai at 0920 hours. Qatar Airways will see its arrival flight from Jakarta at 0145 hours and first departure flight to Doha at 0245hours.

Since February 2008, the four airlines have undergone integrated airport system trials at Terminal 3 involving passenger check-in, baggage handling, staff familiarisation and "live" commercial trial flights to test the actual passenger departure and arrival processes. The objective of these trials is to ensure that the airlines establish, integrate and test their systems and procedures in a live-like environment ahead of their shift to Terminal 3. The trials also provide opportunities for the airlines' staff to familiarise themselves with the new terminal.

CAAS has put in place measures to communicate the commencement of operations by these four airlines at Terminal 3. These include the updating of airport directories and signs within the terminal buildings as well as dissemination of circulars and vehicle decals to ground transport service providers such as coach and taxi drivers to generate awareness.

Passengers and airport visitors can visit Changi Airport’s website www.changiairport.com for more details. Passengers can also check for flight information conveniently while on the move via their mobile phones or personal digital devices at http://wap.changiairport.com/fis. This wireless application protocol (WAP) complements the flight information sources already in place, such as Teletext (a text based television flight information service), Changi Airport's toll-free telephone flight enquiry system number 1800-5424422 as well as the airport website and flight information televisions within the terminals mentioned above. In addition, CAAS will also be deploying Customer Service Officers at the three terminals to provide assistance to passengers and airport visitors.

The four airlines operate a total of 148 weekly flights from Singapore to 12 cities viz. Shanghai, Kunming, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Doha, Jakarta, Atlanta, Chicago, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Washington DC, bringing a total of more than 900 weekly scheduled flights at Terminal 3.

Oman Air renews GDS agreement with Sabre

Oman Air and Sabre Travel Network Middle East renewed their distribution agreement on 24-Mar-08. This agreement will allow Oman Air to promote and support Sabre as its preferred GDS through joint sales and marketing activities in Oman and beyond. As part of the agreement Oman Air will be providing additional benefits to the travel agency community including the managing of group travel and limousine bookings. In addition Oman Air will have an option to expand its check-in services to its customers through its existing agreement with Sabre.

The expected result of this renewal is enhanced cost effectiveness, superior inventory management and increased product offerings, all benefits that Oman Air can pass on to its customers - the travel agents - locally, regionally and globally, due to the reach of Sabre's global distribution systems (GDS).

This agreement will provide a springboard for both partners, allowing further expansion in the region whilst capitalizing on the synergies created throughout the long term relationship. This is in a market where Sabre has achieved a significant increase in its market presence in less than two years. Oman Air has also enjoyed significant growth in recent years expanding both its routes and fleet.

Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO of Sabre, said: "We are extremely proud to be recognized as the preferred GDS of one of the fastest growing carriers in the region. Sabre's robust technology, innovative suite of products and excellent customer service has allowed us to enhance Oman Air's offer to its customers, the travel agencies, and therefore the end travel consumer."

Ziad Al Haremi, CEO of Oman Aviation Services (Oman Air) said: "We have invested significantly in our operations previously, as well as in recent years with a view to making Oman Air not only a regional player, but an international one. Our new corporate identity project has aided the carrier's transformation into a world-class airline. The airline has vigorously rejuvenated itself as a major carrier in the region. With our expanding fleet, we can offer new routes and more frequent flights regionally and globally, and the end result is more passenger choice. We look forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationship with Sabre and to reaping the benefits of their constantly evolving technology and products."

Oman is a particularly buoyant market for Sabre which is looking forward to further signings with top travel agencies this year. The company is well placed to capture new business as they have recently increased their team on the ground, as well as opening several more offices in the Sultanate.

Emirates to launch a low cost carrier - 1,000 seat A380s coming to an airport near you?

There is a need for an LCC in the region” - and with those words from the UAE Prime Minister and Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, a new Dubai-based LCC was born. In a major development for the global aviation industry (where another high profile full service airline develops an in-house LCC), Emirates Executive VP Commercial Operations, Ghaith Al-Ghaith, has been appointed CEO of the new airline.

The unnamed Dubai LCC will be part of the Emirates Group, operating to destinations up to 4.5 hours flying time from its base. This includes the Middle East, all the key points in the India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Northeast Africa (Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Cairo) and as far as Greece in Southern Europe and Central Asia (where Emirates has no operations at present).

The new carrier plans to lease or buy single-aisle aircraft (B737s or A320s) and will begin operations within a year.

However, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation believes it is only a matter of time before A380 equipment is eventually deployed at the airline – a move that would strike fear into airline managements in Europe and Asia.

Emirates has 58 A380s on order, or 30% of the entire global A380 orderbook. The carrier has previously indicated it could operate low cost services with A380 equipment. In Nov-07, Emirates President, Tim Clark, stated that, had the stretch version of the A380 been available today, “probably two-thirds” of the A380s the Dubai-based carrier had on order (or some 38 aircraft) would be for that model.

He indicated that Emirates (or now the LCC subsidiary) would configure the proposed A380-900 with around 750 seats on a typical service, although some of the aircraft could be configured with 1,000 seats for routes to countries such as Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

The airline is currently officially planning a higher density medium-haul configuration with 604 seats, although the A380-800 model is licensed to handle 853 in an all-economy layout.

The practical recognition of the potential of the A380 as a mass transport, low cost vehicle is sure to stimulate wider interest in the aircraft. Until now, its sales have not been spectacular; they were not helped by successive delivery delays. But as Singapore Airlines' first A380 landed in London this week, the tide may be turning.

The Emirates LCC move follows the success of Air Arabia, based in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, which has reported outstanding profitability since its launch and has recently established cross-border JVs in Morocco and Nepal to target the North Africa/Europe and Asian markets, respectively. Kuwait-based LCC, Jazeera Airlines, has also established a base in Dubai.

Dubai Airport is expected to overtake Singapore Changi this year, handling in excess of 40 million passengers. The emirate is developing a new airport at Jebel Ali that will ultimately become the biggest in the world, with capacity for 120 million passenger p/a. The Emirates LCC will become a key ingredient in making the Dubai world gateway vision a reality.

Air Arabia connects 11 Indian destinations in three years

Air Arabia announced it will launch services to New Delhi on 31-Mar-08, increasing its Indian operations to 11 destinations in the space of three years. Air Arabia commenced operations to India with the launch of services to Mumbai in Mar-05. The current ten Indian destinations served by Air Arabia include Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Thiruvanathapuram, Bangalore and Kozhikode.

Air Arabia commenced operations in Oct-03 and currently operates a fleet of 11 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 38 destinations across Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah, UAE.

ANA considering launching or buying an Asian low cost carrier

All Nippon Airways Co (ANA) stated it is seriously considering launching or buying a new Asian low cost carrier. ANA confirmed it could have a low cost carrier as soon as by Mar-09.

ANA spokesman, Rob Henderson, said "We are seriously examining the market and the likelihood of low-cost carriers flying into Haneda after it gets its fourth runway in Oct-10, and how we will take them on if they do… setting up an airline from scratch is an option, as is acquiring a new one, or possibly setting up a joint venture. We are seriously looking at the options now."

ANA stated that if it decides to go ahead with a regional low cost carrier, it might be based outside Japan. ANA already runs subsidiaries with niche markets, including a local low cost carrier, Air Next, which it set up in 2004.

Meanwhile, in 2007, larger rival, Japan Airlines Corp, commenced codesharing with Australian low cost carrier, Jetstar, which operates between Sydney and Kansai International Airport.

TUI Travel confident of TUIfly/Germanwings merger in 6-8 weeks

TUI Travel PLC's CEO, Peter Long, stated he is confident that a deal to merge the group's TUIfly with Deutsche Lufthansa AG's Germanwings will be finalised in six to eight weeks.

In Jan-08, TUI Travel signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lufthansa and its JV partner, Albrecht Knauf, the majority owner of Germanwings parent, Eurowings AG, with a view to merging the three charter and budget airlines to create a national rival to Air Berlin.

TUI Travel CEO, Peter Long, said "We are still in detailed talks with Lufthansa and I'm very confident that we will get a successful outcome. In terms of the timescale, it's probably 6-8 weeks."

Meanwhile, TUI Travel and Lufthansa will reportedly each hold 40% of the new entity, while Knauf will hold the remaining 20%.

WTM chairman: industry left behind in ethical thinking

KERALA – Speaking at the second International Conference on Responsible Tourism here last weekend, Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market (WTM) claimed: "There is evidence that travel and tourism is lagging behind this trend for ethical thinking. Despite some excellent responsible tourism work around the world, there's still a very long way to go."

"Certainly in the UK, WTM World Responsible Tourism Day has come at the right time. In the past eight years, ethical concerns have soared in the UK with household expenditure on ethical goods and services almost doubling in the past five years," Jeffery said in a keynote speech.

She said that the aim of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day is that it will act as a catalyst for change, spreading best practice throughout the industry. But she warned that much more than lip service was needed by larger companies and organisations.

"It is noticeable", she continued, "that much of the current examples of best practice are operated by smaller organisations and specialist operators, often steered by passionate individuals who have given their life to ensuring a better world. Much more must be done by the international travel and tourism industry if it is to catch up with other sectors and fulfill the growing demands of holidaymakers."

Thailand steps up tourism safety

BANGKOK – Weerasak Kowsurat, Thailand’s new Minister of Tourism and Sports, is leading efforts to implement measures designed to increase tourist safety at all tourist attractions throughout Thailand. The new measures will continue all year round and are expected to be fully in place before the upcoming Songkran Thai New Year celebrations from April 13-15.

Locations targeted for immediate attention include remote areas such as secluded beaches and other natural attractions that are popular with tourists. These include upland areas, waterfalls and caves.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) is also working with provincial authorities to distribute information leaflets on safety tips to guesthouses and various other forms of accommodation that are popular choices with the ever increasing number of Fully Independent Travellers (FITs) who generally rely on recommendations from guide books to find their preferred accommodation.

Additionally, the MOTS is working on the development of a self-help information service whereby visitors or tourists will be able to access vital information themselves.

“We hope that our immediate response and the urgent implementation of these stringent new security measures will send a clear signal that Thai authorities take safety for tourists very seriously,” Minister Weerasak said.