Dubai: Local airlines repeated previous year’s efforts by continuing to rapidly expand in 2013, adding new destinations and expanding their fleets with record aircraft orders.
Etihad Airways, which turned 10 this year, launched flights to w destinations: Belgrade, Amsterdam, Sana’a, Washington DC, Sao Paulo, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Turning heads at the Dubai Airshow, Etihad ordered 56 new Boeing 777s valued at $25.2 billion, including engines, making the Abu Dhabi-based carrier the launch customer for the 777-8X.
Etihad did not stop there, announcing an order for 50 Airbus A350 XWBs (extra wide bodies), 36 A320neos (new engine options), and an A330-200F (freighter). In a twist it turned out the firm order for 10 A320neos are for Air Serbia, an airline Etihad holds an equity stake in.
Not to be outdone, Emirates placed $99 billion worth of Boeing and Airbus orders at the Airshow. The Dubai flagship carrier ordered 150 Boeing 777X, plus 50 purchase rights, and a further 50 Airbus A380s. Emirates is currently the world’s largest fleet operator of the superjumbo.
Etihad also increased its network with equity takes in Indian carrier Jet Airways and European carriers, Air Serbia and Darwin Airlines. It is also currently in discussions to take a sizeable equity stake in Italian carrier Alitalia.
In a surprise move, Emirates teamed up with Qatar Airways on the 777X orders to ensure the best possible deal for the carriers, something that could be repeated, Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said.
Emirates, the UAE’s oldest airline, also grew its network in 2013 by launching nine new destinations including to Kabul, Stockholm, and Warsaw. And in move that agitated foreign competitors Emirates launched its Milan-New York flight, the first route not flying through its Dubai hub.
It also began a five-year codeshare partnership with Qantas, which saw the Australian carrier move its hub for London-bound flights from Singapore to Dubai.
Mega order
Budget carriers in the UAE also grew in 2013. flydubai announced 16 new routes and in October began introducing business class across its fleet. Possibly the airline’s biggest news for the year was the largest ever Boeing single-aisle carrier order valued at $11.4 billion for 100 737MAX and 11 next generation 737-800s.
Meanwhile Sharjah’s Air Arabia, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary, added eight new destinations to its network and announced it will begin flights to China next year.
NEW AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE:
Dubai’s highly anticipated second airport and future super hub, Al Maktoum International, opened in late October at Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali. Scheduled for completion by 2020 it will feature five A380 capable runways handling up to 160 million passengers a year. It opened with one runway and annual passenger capacity up to seven million passengers. The new airport paved the way for Wizz Air to become the first European low cost carrier to fly to the UAE. The Central European-based airline has already impacted the market, according to Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President Commercial Operates UAE, Middle Ease, Europe and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), who said Wizz Air is driving down airfares.
Abu Dhabi is investing in its own new airport complex, the Midfield Terminal, which is currently under construction will handle up to 50 million passengers annually. Its scheduled to open in 2017.
However, the UAE aviation sector is still challenged by the burden of its own growth. Air traffic congestion is becoming an increasingly important focal point for the industry who says a long-term solution must be found.
KEY MILESTORNES: 2013
January 2 - World’s first A380 concourse opens at Dubai International
March 3 - Tony Douglas, former London Heathrow Chief Executive, named Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) CEO
March 27 - Emirates and Qantas five-year codeshare alliance receives Australian regulatory approval
August 1 - Etihad Airways takes 49% stake in Serbian national carrier Jat Airways, which is rebranded Air Serbia
October 8 - flydubai unveils business class roll out
October 27 - Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central opens to passenger traffic
October 28 - Air Arabia celebrates 10th anniversary
November 12 - Etihad Airways celebrates 10th anniversary
November 17-21 - 13th edition of the Dubai Airshow with record orders from Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways
November 17 - Eithad Airways unveils Etihad Regional with 33.3% stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline
November 20 - Etihad receives final regulatory approval to take 24% in Indian carrier Jet Airways
