Wirraway
5th Feb 2004, 18:26
Wed "Australian Financial Review"
Emirates chases more flights
February 4th, 2004
Australian Financial Review
Emirates Airlines said it was expecting a decision by the Australian government as early as this month about increasing its flights out of Sydney to Dubai, a move likely to spur competition on European routes and bring down ticket prices.
Emirates area manager Australia & New Zealand Eddie Lim said it expected an answer from the government in February, four months ahead of the previously flagged date. The airline is seeking to double daily flights, up from once a day at present.
We are very positive, there is no reason we should be denied this,'' Mr Lim said.
If successful, the move will increase the pressure on Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines that dominate the so-called "Kangaroo route'' between Australia and Britain.
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson last year rejected Emirates' application to fly twice a day from Sydney to Dubai under pressure from Qantas.
But industry pundits expect Mr Anderson to reverse his decision this time because the airline industry has recovered to the extent that another "no'' decision may be seen as protecting Qantas at the expense of travellers and tourism.
Qantas, which dominates the route in a partnership with British Airlines, is expected to unveil vastly improved earnings later this month.
When rejecting Emirates in 2003, Mr Anderson promised to revisit his decision in a year's time. A spokesman said talks would begin this month but a decision might not be made until May.
"Emirates is a fine airline with a commitment to Australia and we will be taking their request very seriously,'' government spokesman Paul Chamberlin said.
One of the factors that may swing against Emirates is if Asian bird flu starts to affect travel and hurt Australia's flag ship carrier.
If Emirates gets the green light, fund managers believe that in about two to three years it will change the way Australians travel to Europe.
Instead of flying through Singapore or Bangkok, and then on to a limited number of European cities or transiting through Britain, passengers on Emirates will travel non-stop to Dubai and then directly to their European destination.
Emirates now has the right to fly trans-Tasman routes and twice-daily to Dubai from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
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Emirates chases more flights
February 4th, 2004
Australian Financial Review
Emirates Airlines said it was expecting a decision by the Australian government as early as this month about increasing its flights out of Sydney to Dubai, a move likely to spur competition on European routes and bring down ticket prices.
Emirates area manager Australia & New Zealand Eddie Lim said it expected an answer from the government in February, four months ahead of the previously flagged date. The airline is seeking to double daily flights, up from once a day at present.
We are very positive, there is no reason we should be denied this,'' Mr Lim said.
If successful, the move will increase the pressure on Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines that dominate the so-called "Kangaroo route'' between Australia and Britain.
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson last year rejected Emirates' application to fly twice a day from Sydney to Dubai under pressure from Qantas.
But industry pundits expect Mr Anderson to reverse his decision this time because the airline industry has recovered to the extent that another "no'' decision may be seen as protecting Qantas at the expense of travellers and tourism.
Qantas, which dominates the route in a partnership with British Airlines, is expected to unveil vastly improved earnings later this month.
When rejecting Emirates in 2003, Mr Anderson promised to revisit his decision in a year's time. A spokesman said talks would begin this month but a decision might not be made until May.
"Emirates is a fine airline with a commitment to Australia and we will be taking their request very seriously,'' government spokesman Paul Chamberlin said.
One of the factors that may swing against Emirates is if Asian bird flu starts to affect travel and hurt Australia's flag ship carrier.
If Emirates gets the green light, fund managers believe that in about two to three years it will change the way Australians travel to Europe.
Instead of flying through Singapore or Bangkok, and then on to a limited number of European cities or transiting through Britain, passengers on Emirates will travel non-stop to Dubai and then directly to their European destination.
Emirates now has the right to fly trans-Tasman routes and twice-daily to Dubai from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
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