Aerospace Diary

Abu Dhabi enjoys the big race spotlight By Neelam Mathews   /  November 24, 2014 Etihad Airways has become the longest title sponsors in Formula One history through its recent extension of title sponsorship of the FORMULA 1 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX .  Sealing the deal..Etihad Airways chief James Hogan and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone The airline has been the title sponsor of the Middle East’s biggest sporting event since the inaugural race in 2009.   The airline has been the title sponsor of the Middle East’s biggest sporting event since the inaugural race in 2009. The partnership extension was finalised between James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive, and Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of the Formula One group of companies. Hogan said the event showcased the airline and Abu Dhabi "to a global audience of more than 500 million people".  “The F1 event is now firmly established as one of the major highlights of the Formula 1 calendar, with Yas ...

Neelam Mathews April 27, 2014 As Jet Airways inches towards its 25 th anniversary on May 5- or is it the 26 th?  as people have different modes of calculation- AerospaceDiary has learnt an all- business class service on B737-900 could be started between Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai. We hear the aircraft is being reconfigured presently, but could not confirm this.                   While many would look at this as a gutsy step given that it were to happen, and with the economy not having bounced back, a ministry official here informed us the seats could be between 78- 92. Presently, Jet Airways has 28 business class seats on the sector. This could be in the footsteps of its partner Etihad Airways that is believed to be looking at a similar service from Abu Dhabi to London. While many might wonder whether load factors will meet expectations, we hear Jet has managed to woo its business c...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  APRIL 29, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Jet Airways A330s will become a common sight in Abu Dhabi under an expanded alliance with Etihad. (Photo: Airbus) April 29, 2013, 11:21 AM Even as AirAsia India prepares to apply for a No Objection Certificate to start domestic operations, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has invested $379 million in India’s Jet Airways. The outlay gives Etihad a 24-percent share in India’s second largest carrier. Signs of the alliance became clear in February, when Etihad purchased three pairs of Jet’s Heathrow slots through a sale and leaseback agreement for $70 million. It plans to further inject $150 million through a majority equity investment in Jet Airways’ frequent flier program within the next six months. Etihad Airways’ investment in Jet Airways follows the minority equity stakes the airline took in Airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus over ...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  APRIL 15, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Thanks to Chinese funding, Sri Lanka now has a second international gateway, Mattala Rajapaska International Airport, and Sri Lankan Airlines is among the first carriers to commit to operating there. (Photo: Sri Lankan Airlines) April 15, 2013, 2:15 PM Sri Lanka’s second international airport–the $200 million China Exim Bank-funded Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport ( MRIA )–opened last month and has already attracted national carrier SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiary, SriLankan Cargo; Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia; and flyDubai. Emirates Airlines, Korean Airways and Sichuan Airlines all plan to start services soon, while British Airways and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways have also “committed” to establish a presence at  MRIA , located in the district of Hambantota, some 100 miles southeast of the capital, Colombo. Looking to attract ...

Neelam Mathews Dec 16, 2012 Looking Ahead?!  Credit- Gulf Times  While we're not in the business to track people, this is just to clear some reports that have said Naresh Goyal, the tsar of India's Jet Airways  is in Abu Dhabi. Goyal was spotted at Udaipur airport taking the flight back to Mumbai this morning, Aerospace Diary learns.

Neelam Mathews Dec 11, 2012,     9.24pm There's a news snippet I just read in Gulf News that "Etihad Airways has entered into a $553 million (Rs30 billion, Dh2.06 billion) buyout of a 48 percent stake in debt-ridden Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), highly placed sources in Kingfisher confirmed on Tuesday"  AerospaceDiary could not confirm any of this. There are a few queries that come to mind- What happens to the Jet Airways-Etihad deal we are hearing about? Can the same foreign carrier invest in two Indian airlines? What will be the ramifications? What does the Competition Commission of India have to say on this? What will it do to domestic fares? Here's what the rest of the article says: Etihad will initially buy a 30 percent holding this month and a further 18 percent by next August, reads the news. However, the formal announcement for the same is likely to come on December 18, the 57th birthday of Kingfisher chairman Vijay Mallya. Acco...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews March 26, 2012 Airbus Military has successfully completed receiver qualification of the two primary aircraft-types that the UAE Air Force will refuel from the three A330 MRTT multi role tanker transports that it currently has on order. In an extensive series of flight tests in Abu Dhabi, the compatibility of the new generation A330 MRTT with UAE Air Force Mirage 2000 and F-16 Block 60 fighters was fully demonstrated.                                 A UAE Air Force Mirage 2000 refuelling from a A330 MRTT Operating from Al Dhafra airbase, the aircraft performed air-to-air refuelling at speeds throughout the refuelling flight envelope, at a range of altitudes, and in turns, climbs and descents as well as level flight. Other versions of the F-16 have already been qualified with the A330 MRTT, but the...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 25, 2012 Etihad Airways is acquiring a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles as part of a strategic partnership between the two carriers.  Etihad will increase frequencies between Abu Dhabi and Mahé from four per week to dailies. Etihad picked up   a 29% stake in Air Berlin, on 24 January.