Emirate Airlines eyes Tasman

[Wirraway]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/

Emirate Airlines eyes Tasman

TUESDAY , 27 MAY 2003
By ROELAND VAN DEN BERGH

Emirate Airlines is in talks with the Australian Government to fly the trans-Tasman route and potentially boost the chance of an alliance between Air New Zealand and Qantas.


Dubai-based Emirate Airlines is understood to be keen on flying to New Zealand, but wants to include a stop-off in at least one Australian city.

An Emirate spokeswoman said talks with the Australian Government were expected to be concluded today.

The Australian Government is keen to consider a deal that would allow Emirates to double its flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Dubai in return for competing on the Tasman route with the proposed Air New Zealand Qantas alliance.

Competition watchdogs in both countries have initially rejected the alliance, saying it would be too anti-competitive and result in higher fares.

Both the New Zealand and Australian governments have put their weight behind the alliance, which Air New Zealand says is needed for its long-term survival.

Qantas has offered Air New Zealand $550 million for a 22.5 per cent stake in the national carrier.

Air New Zealand spokesman Glen Sowry said Emirate would be joining several other airlines offering services across the Tasman.

It would guarantee competition, he said.

However, Emirate might struggle to convince competition authorities that its entry on the Tasman route would significantly increase competition on a route that is heavily dominated by Air New Zealand and Qantas, which together fly more than 200 services a week.

Emirate can already fly to New Zealand under an open skies agreement with United Arab Emirates, but Australia has so far refused permission for it to fly the trans-Tasman routes.

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[Wirraway]

Reuters

Thursday May 29, 9:25 AM
Australia adds Emirates flights, but not ex-Sydney

CANBERRA, May 29 (Reuters) - The Australian government said on Thursday it had given Emirates airline [EMAIR.UL] approval to boost its flight numbers between Dubai and Australia by almost 50 percent -- but not from the country's main gateway, Sydney.

Transport Minister John Anderson said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) had been signed with Dubai-based Emirates, increasing the number of its flights to Dubai from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane to 44 a week from 30.

The agreement allows Emirates to operate 14 services a week into Melbourne which will double its existing allowance.

"The increase will be implemented over the next 18 months," Anderson said in statement.

"Under the agreement, Emirates will also be able to operate an additional seven services a week to any combination of Perth and Brisbane after March 2004."

But Emirates application to increase its flights from Sydney to Dubai to two daily from its current one was rejected.

The move came after a reportedly strong lobbying campaign by Australia's largest airline, Qantas Airways Ltd , which wants to protect its position on the so-called kangaroo route to London which involves at least one stop-over.

But Anderson said the MOU made provisions for further increases to Sydney to be considered at a later date.

He said Dubai-based Emirates would also be able to operate beyond Australia to any two points in New Zealand for the first time, boosting competition on the trans-Tasman market as regulators assess a proposed alliance between Qantas and Air New Zealand .

"The government is firmly committed to liberalising air services arrangements with other countries where it is in our natioal interest," Anderson said.

Emirates airline is owned by the government's Emirates Group, one of the largest firms in the Gulf and the backbone of Dubai's efforts to establish itself as a tourism and international transport hub.

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[airsupport]

Well they have to use all these Aircraft somewhere. ;)


Reuters

Dubai's Emirates to post massive jet buy - report

Wednesday May 28, 6:29 pm ET


SEATTLE, May 28 (Reuters) - Dubai-based airline Emirates will announce a huge order for jetliners from Airbus SAS and rival Boeing Co. next month at the Paris Air Show, according to trade magazine Flight International.

Emirates will order up to 69 wide-body jets, including 23 Airbus A380s, bringing the fast-growing carrier's total orders for the new 555-seat megajet to 45, Flight reported in its latest edition, without directly citing anyone.

The order would also include 10 Airbus A340-600s and 26 Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range), Flight reported, accounting for a total of 59 of the 69 jets mentioned.

Emirates in 2001 announced its intention to order 25 777s, but has not yet specified which version it would buy. It currently operates nine smaller 777-200s and 12 stretched -300 models.

The magazine quoted an unnamed Emirates source as saying the airline would likely make a large order announcement on June 16, noting that such an announcement has been expected for several months.

At catalog prices, the jets cited would cost more than $12 billion, but airlines routinely receive discounts of 20 percent or more on large purchases and several have reported even fatter savings during the current industry slump.

Flight said Emirates was offered "heavily discounted" prices from Airbus and Boeing, plus leasing companies General Electric Capital Aviation Services and International Lease Finance, a unit of American International Group Inc.

The four-engine A340-600 comes equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 500 powerplants and the 777-300ER twin-jet comes only with the General Electric GE90-115B.

Emirates has not yet chosen which engines will power the 23 latest A380s, though it selected the GP7200 from the GE/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance last year for its first 22 A380s, Flight reported.