Etihad Facts (No gossip please)

[ME Expat]

As there has been so many rumours floating around about Etihad, I though it was time that we had a thread where people could discuss genuine issues related to this airline. With that in mind, it’d be appreciated if people could not corrupt this thread with negative gossip.

I thought the following facts might be of interest to start it off:

(1) Etihad, based in Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates, will have been operating for 2 years in November.

(2) The current passenger fleet size is 9 aircraft, which consists of 1x B767-300, 1x A340-300 and 7x A330-200’s

(3) There are currently 3 cargo aircraft (1x A300 and 2x A310’s)

(4) The current passenger fleet orders for 2006 include 5x B777-300ER, 6x A330-200 and 4x A340-500

Based on the above growth resulting in there being 24 passenger aircraft after only 3-years of operation, would this be one of the fastest growing airlines ever?

[4HolerPoler]

Welcome to the site ME Expat - regretfully I'm not sure you understand how things work here - it's a Rumour Network; not the Professional Pilot's Genuine Issues Network - hey! I like that -PPGeniusnet - you could be onto a winner - best wishes.

Roll out the rumours guys, who wants boring old genuine issues?

4HP (Avid Rumourmonger)

[vichooper]

I was interviewed 1-4 September as a DEC for the B-777. The interview was very professional. I say that after having successfully interviewing with Continental, American and Delta and spending 28 years at Delta. Expectations were high, but the attitude was very good. Only time will tell, but in my opinion, they are off to a very good start.

[Glorified Donkey]

I agree, when I first heard of Etihad I thought theyd shut down within 2 years, and there were rumours that they werent doing too well, but seems they are here to stay.

[boiler]

You have to remember that even if their SF is below 50% for much of the year, it can never shut down as this airline was created by the Govt. of Abu Dhabi with the appoval of the current Emir and therefore has tons of support (financially).

[mutt]

I'm proud to be a member of PPGeniusnet.. :):):)

But could someone please explain what SF means?

Cheers

Mutt

[SecurID]

Come on Mutt, you're an old hand here...

SF = Seat Factor

[ME Expat]

It may be a stupid question but wouldn't the seat factor stay low on Etihad because of the continual increase in aircraft capacity and destinations?

(i.e. I'm sure the routes can be solidly booked & then another 250 seats become available at 2-3 new destinations which will take time to fill seats)

[fullforward]

Flights to FRA and LON are already a remarkable success, some days even overbooked. Nobody told me this, I KNOW THIS.

ME, you missed the 4 A380 order.

I join Vic on their comments.

HI VIC!!!! Nice to see in this space, hope to meet you and the great bunch of boys at the desert again!...

[ME Expat]

I see on the website that Etihad will shortly be flying to Toronto, Brussels, Paris, Johannesburg and Manila.

4 of these sound great, however I was wondering why anyone would go to Brussels. However, after a quick internet search I found the following:

"No matter where you are in Belgium, there’s a party going on – and you’re invited! From 8pm until 8am – in that space of time between savoring a beautiful beer and piping hot waffles – Belgium’s exuberant nightlife will prove that sometimes it’s worth it to skip a good night’s sleep. Jazz festivals, rock concerts, exotic nightclubs, traditional brown pubs and casinos are all a part of daily life here in the heart of Europe.

Brussels alone has over 80 bars. We need someplace to house our 450 beers!"

I don't know about the waffle attraction but the beers sound good for summer (after UAE perfect weather, I can't cope with anything under 20 degrees C).

[unablereqnavperf]

Indeed I have vast experience of Belguim, work is a sware word there Belgians love to party and know how to do it! Suffered many a hangover to prove it! However don't expect good wx its rains more often that anywhere I know exept perhaps Holland!

[Sheikh Ahmed BinSaif]

yew eyre mine guist wen wee go too brussels fullof ofrwrad

gahba for me thieey layke brussels bicose hawse for me very naice theyre

Etihad, bestest ayrline four the world

you eyre!

insh allah!

Bi bi

[boiler]

2 possible reasons why EY might fly to BRU. The first is that there is a large amount of traffic between BRU and India. This is could be why Jet Airways was planning to go there as well on their way to JFK (on hold now due to court proceedings against Jet Airways). The second reason might be traffic rights. There is no way EY can get traffic rights from the UK to N. America. But if EY was able to get them from BRU, then it can fill the plane with local traffic which would be helpful as they will probably be higher yield than the ISC traffic to Canada.

[sandstorm inferno]

Why Brussels?

- European Union
- NATO
- EUROCONTROL
- Manneken Pis
- Atomium monument
- Jean-Claude Van Damme born there :{



Well I don't know...

[boeingdream787]

Can anybody gimme details on how I can get membership to PPGeniusnet membership? Mutt.......can u help bro. Whats the site add? Thx in advance.

[Desert Whine]

The interview was very professional. I say that after having successfully interviewing with Continental, American and Delta Aren't they all in dire financial circumstances now?

Might not be the best yardstick for measuring professionalism against...!!!

[tbaylx]

Riiiight...cause a company that is in bankruptcy protection can't possibly be proffesional, because of course the two are so closely related....:rolleyes:

[ironbutt57]

Somehow I find it hard for one to draw parallels between inept board members, and irresponsible CEO's of USA carriers, to the professionalism of the HR, and flt ops departments..."desert whine" two very different situations..:rolleyes:

[jollyikarus]

Hey, Desert whine and Co.,

come on now and think a bit!

Some of the world's best airlines were run onto the rocks by their so-called 'Top Management' and certainly NOT by their ground staff, cabin crew or pilots!
In recent history (say, starting about 35 years ago), it began with Juan P. Trippe at the helm of PanAm and many, many more followed.

Another typical example of this can be wittnessed right now in Dubai!
Until not too long ago a really great airline, now being run down by a management which - as per Peter's Priciples' - has reached their level of maximum incompetence!

Peanuts at the head does by no means mean that there are no professionals in the ranks!

As the old Scandinavian saying goes...
'The fish alwas begins to stink from the head.'

Cheers,

;-)

Oh yes....
and what i said above does not only apply to airlines!!!!

Cheers again!

;-)

[IShotTheSherif]

Hi ME Expat,

You also missed their order for 4(?) A340-600's... Delievery I believe starting in 2006...

Cheers

[tic]

ME Expat

Once again the thread is diverting at a tangent. EY ARE recruiting. I don't work for them, YET!! but no way are they going to fold up. They have huge financial back-up. With by far the wealthiest Emirate backing them. I reckon, but my opinion only, they could buy out EK, lock stock and barrell, ( excuse the pun ) and still have plenty change left over. They will take DEC's, coz they have to, if they want to crew their brand new aircraft.( Airbus 380, 340,330 and 777 ). SF at the moment doesn't mean much to them. Maybe that will change, but anyone who gets in now, will be relatively senior. Something to think about perhaps.

[fullforward]

What you're saying is true. For good or for bad...

[Not registered]

Salom Bibi,

Do wi detekt envi no nid bibi ...

cum werk wis us is gud vi bi yu end golf eir end evribodi and wi al

spik lik sis over hir et itihad end yu kan lern to befor yu it yur hart

aut.......

[fullforward]

Dear Hazardail (sic)

You forget your pills again...
Try Israir or El Al, they are starting a cadet program.
Or maybe your unsuspected talents as Airline Development Manager would be better used.

What's the matter with you, kid?
No money to pay the Cherokee lessons?

Back to the sand box!:}

[jollyikarus]

Tic and ff,

Taking into consideration that - despite their different family clans - the two Ahmeds at the helm of each airline are pretty good friends, I would not be surprised at all if one day it will simply be EMIHAD or ETIRATES....

Neither would I be very surprised if Shk. H. AL THANI will surface again with a plan...

The Middle East has always been good for a few surprises, and whatever you may think of them......never underestimate the locals (and some of their advisors) - be it for good ar bad.....

And despite many comments to the contrary, from a passenger's perspective, I think ETIHAD is NOT such a bad airline at all!
Once they sort out their teething problems and rapid growth pains - which will most certainly also result in a few chopped off heads
of some non-valeurs still in various 'senior' positions - they will be playing in the upper league...IMHO

Cheers!

;-)

And...HAZRAIL.....
NO, I don't work for EY or EK......I work some 7hrs. flying time away!
INSHALLAH...or SHALOM...(whichever you prefer!)