Things are looking up for Etihad Airways. Despite recent problems besetting the airline, its home airport reported an increase of 5.1% in passenger traffic in 2016 – the majority of which went to Etihad.
Emirates are to launch a new service between Athens to Newark in the US. The move is a great use of Fifth Freedom rights to increase the carriers reach but it’s not without its critics.
At British Airways, management are getting ready for 6 days of strike action by cabin crew. The airline has refused to budge its position and will be looking to break the strike rather than compromise.
Passenger Traffic at Abu Dhabi Airport Increases 5.1% in 2016
18th January 2017 – Courtesy Centre for Aviation
Things weren’t all bad for Etihad Airways in 2016. In December, Abu Dhabi International Airport, the home of Etihad Airways welcomed 2.2 million passengers – a 3.7% year-on-year increase. Passenger traffic at the airport rose 5.1% in 2016 with a total of 24.5 million passenger passing through its doors. Etihad Airways took the lion share of passengers with 76% accounted for by the national airline of the UAE.
Emirates to Launch new Fifth Freedom Flight From Athens to Newark
25th January 2017 – Courtesy Business Insider
From the 12th March 2017, Emirates will be launching yet another new US bound flight. The Dubai-based carrier will be taking advantage of so-called ‘Fifth Freedom’ rights to operate the daily Boeing 777 service from Athens to Newark. The new route will be the first Emirates flight to the New York area that doesn’t fly to JFK.
Speaking about the new route, Tim Clark the CEO of Emirates said that his airline had been asked by the Greek authorities to operate the route: “The Greek Government and Athens International Airport approached Emirates some time ago to consider serving the route between Athens and New York. After careful review, Emirates concluded that extending one of our Dubai-Athens flights to Newark would be commercially and operationally feasible. We are pleased to be able to help meet a strong consumer need long neglected by other airlines, and we would like to thank the authorities and our partners in both the US and Greece for their support of the new route.”
The move by Emirates has re-stoked the tension between it and rival US carriers including Delta, American Airlines and United.
British Airways to Strike for 6 More Days in Escalating Protest
27th January 2017 – Courtesy British Broadcasting Corporation
In an escalation of strike action by new British Airways cabin crew working under the ‘Mixed Fleet’ contract, union members are to stage 6 days of strike action commencing 5th February. The Unite union which has called the action sent a letter to the management of British Airways urging the airline to rethink its stance: “Your reluctance to offer a reasonable pay deal to our members, yet spend what we believe is now reaching millions of pounds in trying to quash strike action, suggests money is available and this is a question of ideology.”
In response, British Airways has stood firm, maintaining that it pays Mixed Fleet crew a reasonable wage that is comparable to other UK-based airlines.
Emirates Cabin Crew May be the Most Beautiful Crew in the World
23rd January 2017 – Courtesy Daily Express
Travel website, Trippy has released results from its rather sexist poll to determine which airline has the most beautiful cabin crew. The poll used composite photos made up of employees faces from seventeen airlines around the world. Emirates scored highest with American Airlines coming second and Westjet Airlines from Canada taking third place.
Photo Credit: Abu Dhabi Airports
