Dubai: Etihad Airways is targeting revenues of over $5 billion (Dh18.3 billion) in 2013 on the back of new aircraft and partnerships, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s chief executive said yesterday.
“We turned over $4.6 billion last year, we will be turning well over $5 billion this [calendar] year, driven by new aircraft, improvement in revenues, improvement in partnerships and the number will be more than $5 billion this year,” James Hogan, Etihad’s chief executive, told reporters.
He was speaking at the launch of Etihad Travel Mall, a check-in and retail facility in Dubai aimed at attracting more passengers from the emirate, especially nearby prime areas like Jumeirah.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, opened the facility yesterday.
“People always take it from the angle of competition. Competition is everywhere but it’s a matter of being complements in the market,” he said adding that Etihad promotes tourism products in the country through its Hala Abu Dhabi destination management programme.
Asked if there is a possibility for co-operation in services between Etihad and Emirates airlines in future, he said: “Co-operation is there on a small scale but if there are bigger things, then we can do them.”
The Etihad Travel Mall, located on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite Noor Islamic Bank metro station, will offer a wider range of services and more space than the pick-up service in Chelsea Tower. The existing Etihad Express bus service at Dubai Marina Mall will continue operations.
Passengers can buy tickets, check in flights, drop off baggage and board an Etihad Express bus to Abu Dhabi from the new mall.
“The opportunity here a big one: people leaving at night can check in here in the morning once they leave their hotel, their bags are here and they can go to Abu Dhabi and take a flight, so the convenience factor is very strong,” Hogan said.
The facility, which is open 24 hours and seven days a week, hopes to draw customers on the convenience and comfort factors. Services include an Etihad Holidays section, Hala Abu Dhabi destination management, Hertz car rental outlet, Arab Link money exchange centre, Relay convenience store and Jones the Grocer gourmet café.
“Obviously Dubai is an important city. We are now servicing more of our guests here in Dubai. What we see is more people travelling from Dubai that fly out of Abu Dhabi. Also we’re bringing guests over from Abu Dhabi who are coming to Dubai. As Dubai and Abu Dhabi are positioned as metro cities, it’s very important to have Etihad have the right level of services here,” Hogan said.
Hareb Al Muhairi, Etihad’s vice president of sales in the UAE, said the centre was located an hour away from Abu Dhabi International Airport and close to new Dubai areas such as Dubai Mall and Jumeirah where premium passengers are located.
The centre is expected to increase business, as buses from previous pick-up points are always full, Al Muhairi said, but did not give target passenger numbers. Etihad buses with a 35-person capacity run every two hours from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
The facility will “take some pressure off” Abu Dhabi ahead of the Midfield Terminal complex opening, Hogan said.
