Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan was in Cologne Germany earlier this week for the FVW Kongress. Speaking about the airline’s synergistic equity investments, James said the airline would consider more equity investments if they add value. Etihad Airways is currently engaged in three major transactions:
- Acquisition of 24% of Jet Airways
- 49% stake and management contract in Air Serbia from January 2014
- Increasing equity in Virgin Australia from 10$ to a target of 19.9%
“Global reach is beyond the capacity of any single airline. Progress must come through partnership” shared Mr Hogan.
Etihad Airways launched its equity investment strategy in 2011 and its initial investments included
- Purchased 29% stake in airberlin with codeshares on 61 airberlin routes and 31 routes on Etihad Airways routes for airberlin. Both airlines have agreed to identical interiors, engines and a joint-implementation programme for their new Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Etihad Guest and airberlin Topbonus loyalty programmes have been integrated.
- 40% investment in Air Seychelles with a five-year management contract
- Investment in Virgin Australia this year
- 3% stake in Aer Lignus
Etihad Airways and the six equity partner airlines serve more than 340 destination with a fleet of 511 aircraft carrying a combined total of more than 91 million passengers last year. Etihad Airways has a fleet of 80 Airbus and Boeing aircraft with a large order of 41 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 Airbus A380s. It flies to 94 passenger and cargo destinations in Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and The Americas.
Other Etihad Airways Updates
Etihad Guest Integration with Equity Partner Airlines
Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme can automatically earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles across the entire worldwide partner network including hotel stays, car hire and shopping. Etihad Guest will integrate with Air Serbia’s Extra Flight Club offering frequent flyer members from both airlines additional opportunities to earn and redeem miles.
Increase Seats and Flights between Abu Dhabi and India
Etihad Airways will introduce more flights and wide body jets by the end of this year for travel between Abu Dhabi and India. It will increase and introduce new routes next year subject to regulatory approval. From 1 November 2013, the airline plans to more than triple the number of seats it now offers on the prime routes from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai or New Delhi.
By end December 2013, Eithad Airways plans to:
- Increase from daily to double-daily its Abu Dhabi-Mumbai and Abu Dhabi-New Delhi flights;
- Use wide-bodied Airbus A340-600 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi – Mumbai flights, offering First, Business and Economy Classes;
- Use wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi – New Delhi flights, offering Business and Economy Class; and
- Upgrade daily Abu Dhabi – Chennai flights from 136-seat Airbus A320s to new Airbus A321s, seating 174 passengers.
Celebrating Seven Years of Flying To The Philippines
From just four weekly A330-200 flights in 2006, Etihad Airways now operates twice daily services from Abu Dhabi to Manila with a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. For the past seven years, Etihad Airways has carried more than 2.3 million passengers with an average seat factor of approximately 86%, making the Philippines route one of the airline’s strongest performers. The strengthening Philippines economy with a GDP growth of 7.6% in the first half of 2013 is one of the key drivers of this growth. Mr Hogan and a delegation of senior executives visited the Philippines earlier this month to celebrate this milestone.
