Aerospace Diary

Offers Etihad Wi-Fly” solution By Neelam Mathews   /  February 06, 2015 Inflight connectivity a draw at Etihad. -- -- -- -- Increased demand for onboard mobile services has contributed to a surge in usage for Etihad Airways. 2.6 million devices connected to the airline’s onboard mobile network in 2014. Etihad Airways’ Live TV service has a viewership of 50,000 hours  of live news and sporting events  each month. Inflight texts and mobile phone calls increased by 62 per cent and  61 per cent respectively, compared to the same period in 2013 according  to the carrier.  iOS was the most popular operating system onboard, with 55 per cent  of the airline’s guests connecting to the Internet with their iPads  and iPhones, while 30 per cent used devices running on Android’s operating system. Etihad Airways’ Live TV service has a viewership of 50,000 hours  of live news and sporting events ...

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 ...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Etihad CEO James Hogan (right) and Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal meet in New Delhi. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) July 24, 2014, 11:12 AM India’s loss-making Jet Airways and its new 24-percent owner Etihad Airways are formulating plans for restructuring debt and fleet rationalization for enhancing a full-service branding. Jet, reporting $689 million in declared losses last year, expects to show profits by 2017, founder and chairman Naresh Goyal said at a July 23 press conference in New Delhi. A slowed economy, infrastructure constraints, and rupee depreciation have in the past years resulted in massive losses for airlines in India. Nevertheless, Etihad Airways president and  CEO  James Hogan ruled out any exit strategy. “This is not an overnight turnaround,” he said. “It’s a structured rebuilding process…We have a responsibility to shareholders of the company…for return to sustainable profitabil...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Mubadala's Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies is to form the new maintenance, repair and overhaul division of Etihad Airways. [Photo: Mubadala] May 21, 2014, 1:13 PM At face value, the recent acquisition of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies ( ADAT ) from Mubadala Development Co. by Etihad Airways is straightforward portfolio realignment between two state-owned entities in the United Arab Emirates. But Etihad’s reputation as an aggressive empire-builder with deep pockets to fund a string of airline buyouts suggests that the move is part of a wider master plan that will underpin the flag carrier’s prolific fleet growth and its ambitions to compete in the market for third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul ( MRO ) services. In a deal agreed on May 8, Etihad will.... read more - http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-05-21/etihad-expands-maintenance-and-flight-training

Neelam Mathews May 4, 2014 Add caption As Jet Airways turns 21, plans to start an all-business service between two metros have been put on hold as a Report by Seabury believed to have been commissioned by Etihad is awaited. The report, a source told AerospaceDiary will offer a complete evaluation of manpower, fleet utilization among others. “Till then, no major decision will be taken by Jet.” Etihad, that has by now, a combined fleet of 250 including its tie-ups and partners, is already consolidating routes. AerospaceDiary learns it is looking at buying equity in an Asian and a US carrier! We are also hearing joint purchase agreements are being looked into, including MRO. Meanwhile, three Air India B777s that are being bid will be likely sold to Etihad at $57.5 million- a part of the bilateral deal…….? Just speculating!

Posted By- Neelam Mathews Feb 2,2014 Etihad is not letting up on its acquisition spree. A release just came through that says Etihad Airways and Alitalia have entered the final phase of a due diligence process about a possible investment by Etihad Airways in Alitalia, James Hogan, President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, and Gabriele Del Torchio, Chief Executive of Alitalia, confirmed this today.  During the next 30 days both companies and their advisors will determine how a common strategy can be developed which meets the objectives of both parties.   Any issues that may prevent the establishment of an appropriate business plan will have to be resolved to ensure the plan can be implemented to move Alitalia to sustainable profitability.

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz (far left) greets Rohit Nandan, Air India chairman and managing director (far right), following the December 13 Star Alliance board meeting in Vienna as Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (center left) and Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu (center right) look on. (Photo: Star Alliance) January 10, 2014, 12:19 PM The Star Alliance has set a new target of 2015 for Air India to join its ranks following a unanimous vote by member airlines to restart the process of integrating the Indian flag carrier. The alliance suspended integration in 2011 on grounds that Air India had “not met minimum joining conditions agreed in December 2007.” With signs of stability and fleet rationalization, however, Star has agreed to give Air India a second chance. “When we stopped integration, we thought Air India needed more time for its merger and preparation for its future growth and development…We feel t...

Neelam Mathews Oct 9, 2013 What Air India couldn’t do- Etihad can. The carrier today announced its intention to purchase from Air India five Boeing 777-200 LRs, the longest range passenger aircraft in operation to support its accelerated network growth plan. The two carriers signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Mumbai earlier this week paving the way for the deal. Subject to approvals, the aircraft will be delivered to Etihad Airways from the beginning of 2014 and each will be re-fitted in a three class cabin configuration consistent with similar aircraft in the Etihad Airways fleet.  It is expected the first aircraft will enter service in April 2014. The five Air India 777-200LR aircraft, which Etihad Airways is purchasing, are on average, six years old, helping the airline to maintain its overall position of having one of the most modern fleets in the industry. The 777-200 LRs will be used on the airline’s new route between Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles, announced yesterd...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Air France-KLM became the first European carrier to operate an Airbus A380 to Shanghai early this month. (Photo: Air France-KLM) September 30, 2013, 11:45 AM Facing high costs and increased competition, Air France- KLM ’s management must pick its battles. Having announced plans for up to 2,800 job cuts on September 18, the European airline this week deferred a decision on whether or not it will provide further investment to plug holes in the sieve-like balance sheet of Alitalia. It holds a 25-percent stake in the Italian carrier, and Italy’s government has indicated it would be willing to see the Franco-Dutch group increase that share to 50 percent. French unions, who have already threatened strike action over the job cuts at home, appear unlikely to view favorably any effort to prop up perennial struggler Alitalia. Meanwhile, Air France- KLM  is...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  AUGUST 19, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS United Breweries Group chairman Vijay Mallya launched Kingfisher Airlines in 2005. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) August 19, 2013, 12:45 PM The death knell for India’s Kingfisher Airlines sounded as lender banks took possession of the airline’s 25,850-sq-ft headquarters property in Mumbai on August 10. Carrying some $1 billion in outstanding debt, liquor tsar Vijay Mallya and his United Breweries Group have seen wholly owned Kingfisher accumulate $2.6 billion in losses since its launch in 2005. Most recently, it registered a loss of $188 million for the quarter running from April to June. Once again it collected no revenue due to its  grounding on October 1  of last year. It still technically employs some 2,000 people, none of whom it has paid for the past 10 months, and retains a fleet of 15 airplanes out its former complement of 66, including three self-o...