Etihad named Middle East's top airline

Etihad Airways has been named Leading Airline for the seventh consecutive year at the World Travel Awards Middle East.

The United Arab Emirate's flag carrier also scooped the titles of Leading Airline First Class and Leading Cabin Crew.

'The hallmark of Etihad Airways is the warm and generous hospitality that is drawn from the traditional Arabian culture in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and of which we are extremely proud,' commented James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive.

Explaining why Etihad had walked away with three awards, Graham Cooke, World Travel Awards president and founder, pointed to the airline's 'unrivalled commitment to quality and service' as well as its 'savvy' business model.

Etihad is the fastest growing airline in history. Founded in 1993, its fleet has expanded to 66 aircraft operating 1,000 flights per week to destinations throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.

Citibank, Etihad ink miles agreement

Citibank, has partnered with Etihad guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, to offer an Etihad guest miles redemption option on the bank’s premier miles credit card.

This collaboration further strengthens the unique rewards proposition which allows customers to spend on their credit card and earn Citi miles that can be redeemed across multiple airline partners. Etihad Airways is the third major airline to partner with Citibank on the premier miles card, a statement from the bank said.

Under the new agreement with the airline, customers are now able to transfer their Citi miles directly to an Etihad guest account. They will not only benefit from the opportunity to earn miles when they fly with Etihad, but also accumulate additional guest miles by transferring Citi miles earned every time they use their card.

As an introductory offer, Citibank premier miles credit card customers can benefit from a 20 per cent bonus Etihad guest miles offer when transferring their Citi miles to their Etihad guest account. The said offer is available on transfers made through June 30.

Navneet Kampani, Citibank consumer bank head, said: “Constantly developing the customer value proposition is core to serving our clients and developing innovative solutions. We continue to build strategic partnerships with leading airlines, hotels and travel service providers in this region to bring unmatched offerings to our clients.”

“The premier miles credit card is an unrivaled platform for both frequent fliers and holiday makers to earn miles on a daily basis and benefit from free flights and upgrades on the region’s premier airlines.”

Barry Green, Etihad Airways’ vice president of customer relationship management and loyalty, said: “We are delighted to partner with Citibank in Bahrain and are confident this partnership will provide more value to both our members and their customers.”

“We are pleased to offer premier miles credit card customers the opportunity to enjoy the same benefits as our member base of nearly two million. The programme offers members the opportunity to accumulate Etihad guest miles on flights with Etihad Airways and our airline partners.”

“Members also enjoy accruing miles with our global partners, ranging from hotel accommodation and car rental to retail and financial products. Etihad guest members can redeem against a selection of flights on more than 2,000 routes and more than 6,000 non-flight rewards from over 250 partners on the Etihad guest online reward shop.”

Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliners resume services

Qatar Airways has resumed its Boeing 787 services after a worldwide grounding of the aircraft in January.

The airline’s first Boeing 787 to be redeployed operated flight QR116 from Doha to Dubai.

The airline’s fleet of five Dreamliners was grounded earlier this year following a directive from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker was the first passenger to board the airline’s reinstated Dreamliner 787, joined by president Boeing Middle East Jeffrey Johnson.

Al Baker said he was delighted to be back on board the Dreamliner.

“I always said I would be the first to fly on Qatar Airways’ 787 once it returned to service, and I’m thrilled that our Dreamliner fleet is back in the skies, providing our passengers with an unparalleled level of service and comfort,” he said.

“After a setback that not only affected our own worldwide operations, but those of many carriers worldwide, we look forward to now deploying the Dreamliner on other key routes over the coming weeks.

“I have always hailed the Dreamliner as the state-of-the-art aircraft destined to change the way people travel and I was delighted to be on board our first 787 to take to the air again.

“Throughout the grounding of our fleet we have worked closely with Boeing to monitor the situation and work towards getting our fleet up and running again.

“Safety has always been the number one priority for Qatar Airways and I have full confidence in the safety and security of this aircraft.”

IATA records further increases in passenger demand

Officials at the International Air Transport Association have released global passenger traffic results for March showing strong demand growth led by emerging markets with all regions showing gains.

Total traffic rose 5.9 per cent compared to March 2012.

Part of the rise may be attributable to traffic related to the Easter holiday, which occurred in March this year versus April 2012.

But the seasonally adjusted trend continues to show strong growth, with demand expanding at an eight per cent annualised rate in the six months since October 2012.

Capacity rose 3.5 per cent compared to the year-ago period, pushing up load factor 1.8 percentage points to 80.3 per cent.

“Strong demand for air travel is consistent with improving business conditions. Performance, however, has been uneven.

“Mature markets are seeing relatively little growth while emerging markets continue to show a robust expansion. Although oil prices have softened in recent weeks, they remain high against historical averages.

“In view of this, airlines are responding with a very cautious approach to capacity management,” said Tony Tyler, IATA director general.

March international passenger demand rose six per cent compared to the year-ago period, with capacity up 3.5 per cent, pushing up load factor 1.8 percentage points to 79.9 per cent.

Compared to February, traffic rose 0.4 per cent.

The strongest growth occurred in the emerging markets of Latin America and the Middle East.

FCm Travel Solutions expands African presence

FCm Travel Solutions’ expansion in Africa is continuing apace after signing new partnership agreements in Tanzania and Mozambique, meaning the global travel management company now has nine partners in the region, as well as an area head office in South Africa.

In Tanzania, FCm has partnered with Antelope Tours & Travel Services, which operates five business travel centres across the country.

Three offices are located in Dar es Salaam, including a branch at Nyerere International Airport and the company has two further branches in Arusha and Dodoma.

Established in 1993, Antelope Tours & Travel Services handles corporate travel for a portfolio of local and international clients across a broad range of sectors including government, finance, mining, oil and gas.

In Mozambique, FCm has extended its existing agreement with Alive, an affiliate of OnTourism Capital Investments, with whom the TMC partnered in Portugal and Angola last year.

Located in Maputo in southern Mozambique, FCm’s new travel team offers end-to-end corporate travel management services as well as meetings and events expertise.

Ciaràn Kelly, FCm’s general manager Middle East & Africa said: “The spotlight has been on Africa for a while now as the continent offers major opportunities for growth and development for international companies.

“From the mining, oil and gas industries to offshore, property development and MICE travel, there is broad commercial interest in Africa which is steadily increasing inbound and outbound business travel for the region.

“The growth of our African network in the past year has been well received by our regional and multinational clients as it’s critical that global TMCs like FCm can offer on-the-ground travel management services to clients looking to fly into places like Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria and Angola.

“These are very unique markets that require in-depth local knowledge to ensure corporate travel for companies is cost and time efficient, and safe.”

Fastjet makes headway in South Africa

By Jamie Nimmo
No frills African airline fastjet  has revealed that its new South African partner has changed its name from Blockbuster to fastjet Holdings.

It follows Wednesday’s news that fastjet is to enter the South African flight market after signing a deal with investment company Blockbuster to set up a service between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The joint venture will be 75% owned by fastjet Holdings, with the rest owned by fastjet.
The company said it is now “fully engaged” with partners and working hard to get tickets on sale within a few weeks.
A commercial deal has been struck with local operator Federal Air, which will allow fastjet to use its existing licensing infrastructure and deliver its “proven low-cost airline model to the South African public”.
The date targeted to launch the route is 31 May.
Kyle Haywood, the company’s managing director for Africa, has become chief executive of the new South African operations, heading up the launch team there.
The South African has over 25 years’ experience in global airlines, such as British Airways and Etihad Airways. He was CEO of Air Uganda before joining fastjet.
Chief executive Ed Winter said: “I am really pleased that we have Kyle overseeing this exciting project given his vast aviation experience.
“There is a strategic gap in the South African market for a pan-continental, high quality, low-cost airline and we look forward to bridging that gap and bringing fastjet to the South African public.
“This marks an exciting chapter in fastjet’s history and an important step in its growth strategy.”

Airport lounges becoming a key tool in the fight for market share

BY DR. WOLFGANG H. THOME, ETN UGANDA 

When the new Jomo Kenyatta International Airport terminal facility eventually open its doors to passengers next year, Kenya Airways will be opening two state-of-the-art lounges in Terminal Four. Presently, Kenya Airways offer two lounges at the existing terminal, however, they are distant from the boarding gates and near the main immigration facilities where arriving passengers go through passport control.


While the upstairs lounge was doubled in size a few months ago, passengers using either of the two lounges during peak traffic times know that space is at a premium in these facilities and that, food and service quality notwithstanding, they no longer can be called state-of-the-art airline lounges.
The new terminal will, however, introduce, according to information availed by a source close to the airline, the latest in premium passenger lounge quality, comprising dining areas, dedicated rest areas, shower facilities, a sauna and treatment rooms for massage, besides the “usual” amenities of comfortable arm chairs along with an array of reading materials and news channels.
The fight for premium passengers in Africa, largely dominated by the alliance affiliation of market leaders like Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and South African Airways, the latter two being members of global market leader, Star Alliance, and the former a member of the KLM/Air France led SkyTeam, is according to some aviation experts won on the ground, as in-flight service levels and cabin layouts are all now very similar when it comes to the business class products offered.
“Lounges are becoming a key tool in the fight for market share in the premium segment of travel. Those passengers insist on state-of-the-art aircraft and great in-flight services, and we all offer that now - punctuality, superior service on check-in and when connecting through the airline hubs to onward flights - the amenities in the lounges.
“Ethiopian has taken this game to the next level when they opened the first section of their new lounge in Addis, and Kenya Airways is now almost compelled to level the playing field again. Because of the delays in completing Terminal Four it will be a bit longer until they can showcase their response to the move by their rivals, but when the new lounges are open, they will be the best available in Africa.
“The same will be the case when the next airport phase comes on line, which you call Project Greenfield. That new mega-terminal is going to be used by Kenya Airways and the alliance partners, maybe two thirds or even more of the projected space and capacity, and there the premium lounges will be even better. Kenya Airways transit traffic forms more and more the bulk of their business, and business class travelers are the ones every airline wants to attract and keep. If they are happy in the air with an airline’s product, they must be equally happy on the ground with the service they get. If there are shortcomings, they will eventually walk away and start using a rival airline. Competition is tough and such investments are as important as ordering new planes,” said a source from the Kenya Airways head office in Embakasi on condition of anonymity for not being an official spokesperson of the airline.
Recent efforts to obtain an authoritative response from the Kenya Airports Authority on the anticipated completion of the new Terminal Four, as well as reasons for the delays in opening this new facility, were unsuccessful as emails sent to the main mail portal went unanswered.