Dubai Airport Expo Reported : Boeing 787 to Make Middle East Debut at the Dubai Airshow

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its Middle East debut at the Dubai Airshow, which is being held from November 13 to November 17 at Dubai’s Airport Expo.

Among the other Boeing aircraft in display at the Dubai Airshow will be the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

The Boeing 787 will remain on static display during the show. Boeing has a backlog of 131 Dreamliners on order from customers in the region.

“The Middle East has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of the global economic slowdown, and this is reflected in the significant growth experienced in both the commercial aviation and defense sectors,” says Jeffrey Johnson, president, Boeing Middle East. “As we look to the future, we see a high level of potential to further grow our regional capabilities, and we remain committed to working closely with our customers and partners here to help them achieve their goals.”

Boeing commercial aircraft on display at the Dubai show will include a Boeing 777-200LR operated by Qatar Airways. This aircraft will be on static display.

Local low-cost carrier Flydubai will showcase a 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior, and a privately owned Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) also will be present.

On the defense side, the range of Boeing aircraft in service with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces and displayed at the show will include a UAE Land Forces AH-64D Apache attack helicopter, a UAE Air Force C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft, and a UAE Special Operations Command CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift transport helicopter.

The V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft, will make demonstration flights to showcase its capabilities, as will the AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter. A Turkish Air Force Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Peace Eagle, an F-15 Strike Eagle, and an F/A-18E Super Hornet will be on static display during the show.

Alaska Airline’s First Flight Using Biofuel to Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400

Alaska Airlines will operate 75 scheduled domestic flights partially powered by biofuel derived from used cooking oil. The first of the these flights, to be operated with Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s, will occur Wednesday when two aircraft fly from Seattle-Tacoma to Portland, Ore., and Washington National, respectively.

The fuel, a blend comprising 20% biofuel, is being supplied by broker SkyNRG and made by Dynamic Fuels, which is a joint venture between Tyson Foods Inc. and Syntroleum Corp. AS emphasized the fuel “meets aviation and military safety, sustainability and performance standards.”

The carrier said that it and regional affiliate Horizon Air “will continue to operate select flights between Seattle and the two cities over the next few weeks.” AS and Horizon parent Alaska Air Group chairman and CEO Bill Ayer said, “Commercial airplanes are equipped and ready for biofuels. They will enable us to fly cleaner, foster job growth in a new industry, and can insulate airlines from the volatile price swings of conventional fuel to help make air travel more economical. What we need is an adequate, affordable and sustainable supply. To the biofuels industry, we say: If you build it, we will buy it.”

AAG said it estimated that the 75 flights would emit 10% fewer carbon dioxide emissions compared to its traditionally powered flights. AAG and Boeing were among the group that last year formed Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest.

India Airlines Plans Increase Flights to Gulf, as Dubai’s Biggest Tourism Source Market

During the first quarter of 2011, the United Kingdom lost its crown as Dubai’s biggest tourism source market, after a staggering 186,478 travellers from India stayed in hotels across the emirate between January and March this year, more than any other nationality and approximately 10 percent higher than the same period in 2010. The figures, released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism, coincide with previous statistics that revealed 1.8 million expatriates from India are now based in the United Arab Emirates, while annual trade between the two countries has snowballed from US$180 million in the 1970s to $43.4 billion last year.

It’s little wonder, therefore, that passenger demand on routes that link the UAE and India is booming – a situation that has arguably benefited UAE carriers more than their Indian counterparts. In recent years, for example, the growth of Emirates and Etihad has reduced Air India’s market share on these routes, while low-cost carriers Air Arabia and flydubai have also enhanced their networks to include Hyderabad, Mumbai, Lucknow, Delhi and Chennai, amongst others. This situation has publically been acknowledged as a growing concern by Indian airlines. During an interview with The Hindu newspaper last month, for example, a senior official from Air India Express (AIE) vented his frustration at competition from Gulf carriers, especially when the no-frills subsidiary of national carrier Air India is hoping to breakeven in the next year or two. “There is no dearth of demand, but the market is so competitive that I cannot afford to re-price tickets. In the past 18 months, I could not touch my fares at all,” stated the anonymous source. “Beating carriers from the Gulf when it comes to pricing is a difficult problem, as their operational cost is much lower due to cheaper fuel, allowing them to sell tickets at much lower rates.”

AIE, which currently flies to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah, has undertaken a number of developments to better compete with Gulf carriers, including the relocation of its headquarters from Mumbai to Kochi for improved operational efficiency, together with a new regional base in Dubai, opened earlier this year to reduce flight disruptions and delays.

This determination to fight back on India-UAE routes has been matched by the airline’s homegrown rival, Jet Airways, which has also been impacted by the rise of Gulf carriers, with vice president of commercial strategy KG Vishwanath recently admitting that lower-than-expected second quarter results for 2011 could be attributed to intense competition and high fuel prices. Even then, more routes have been earmarked to Gulf markets over the coming months, starting with daily flights from Sharjah to Thiruvananthapuram from the end of October this year. The service, its tenth daily route from the UAE to India and the twenty-second Jet Airways flight from the Gulf to India, will end a previous monopoly on the Sharjah- Thiruvananthapuram route by Air Arabia.

But perhaps the largest blow to UAE carriers will be the forthcoming launch of international flights by India’s fastest growing airline, IndiGo, which will initially connect Dubai to New Delhi and Mumbai, with plans to eventually link 14 destinations across India to the emirate, according to president Aditya Ghosh. “It’s no coincidence that we selected Dubai as our first international destination,” the young executive told Aviation Business. IndiGo was named the best low-cost airline in India and Central Asia at the World Airline Awards 2011 and with one of the youngest fleets in the world and return flights to Dubai starting at US$222, there could be a viable challenge ahead for UAE rivals Air Arabia and flydubai, and to a lesser degree even full service airlines Emirates and Etihad – the extent to which will probably be determined over the next couple of years.

Qantas Airlines May Airfares as Rise Oil Prices Rates

Australia’s primary airways, Qantas Airlines, may hike its fare rates this month due to the consistent rise in oil rates. According to the Australian government, they have warned that there will be an additional price rise in the country, as the global rates continue to surge. Another point of worry is the carbon emissions taxes, since the Australian government may bring in a hike in prices in this department also.

The emission taxes are going to be most important base for the price rise and it will affect what the consumer will pay for their respective travel. As of 19th February, the passengers will need to pay an additional $20-$50 each way in the fare, and it will be on fuel surcharge.

While traveling on Qantas airlines, passengers will pay around $290 as fuel surcharge while commuting from Australia to Britain. The price has been hiked by almost AU$100. Passengers of flights heading from US, Canada, South America, South Africa and India will pay surcharge worth $230 to the Australian Government. These are the after effects of the 24% price rise in jet fuel which has taken place in the period of only four months.

First and Business Class Flight Services to China With Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines to start flight services to Guangzhou with aircraft new Boeing 777-300ER. Turkish Airlines flight to Guangzhou used First and Business Class. There are currently First and Business Class tickets on sale on this route and the aircraft used will be a new Boeing 777-300ER with 34 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 8 suites in First Class.

The Turkish Airlines First Class Suite provides passengers with an area of about 26 square feet, with a moving door to provide privacy. Each First Class Suite has a seat which converts into a bed which is 83” long, with a 23” flat screen personal TV monitor and an ergonomically designed wardrobe.

There is also a table similar to those on a Business Jet so that two people can sit together facing one another. The seat also sports a massage function and various LED lighting choices. Passengers in First Class can work on their laptops as well as use SMS and email-functions.

When First Class passengers board the aircraft they are given a hot towel and Welcome Drink of champagne, orange juice, or lemon juice with peppermint. They are provided with a Bulgari amenity kit, newspapers and reading materials, and Bose noise-cancelling headsets for watching entertainment on the personal 23” screen.

They are presented with menu cards and canapés at the beginning of the flight and can choose to have their meal whenever they like during the journey. There is a choice of seven starters including Turkish mezze and international hors d’oeuvres, plus caviar. Passengers can select from one of the four main meals on offer, which usually includes a fish, meat and vegetarian dish. Drinks include premium wines, aperitifs, traditional Turkish tea with lemon slices, Turkish coffee served with Turkish Delight and other soft drinks.

When First Class passengers would like to sleep, they can put on their complimentary designer pyjamas and slippers and the cabin crew will cover the bed with a young goose sheet, two pillows and a quilt.

First Class passengers also get to travel in style in Istanbul, with a limousine service in either a Mercedes-S or a Mercedes-Viano VIP Design. They receive personal assistance on entering the international terminal and can check-in at private counters. They will fast-track through the private passport control and be able to relax in the Prime Class lounge. There is also an exclusive car service for transfer through the terminal so First Class customers receive the VIP treatment all the way to the aircraft.

Business Class seats are 23” wide and have a pitch of 49”, plus they can recline to a fully-flat position at a 180 degree angle. Business passengers can check-in at a special counter and receive a free baggage allowance of 30kg. They can relax in the CIP lounge before their flight, where they are given a welcome drink and can use the WiFi, watch television or get some work done in the Business Centre.

On-board the aircraft, Business Class passengers are offered a choice of orange juice or champagne and meals will be served in stylish dishes on a table dressed with linen and porcelain salt and pepper shakers. In Business Class, there is a special cupboard for coats and jackets, and a selection of newspapers and magazines.

Guangzhou, in Southern China, will be Turkish Airlines’ third destination in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Turkish Airlines also plans to add services to Los Angeles in the USA and Shiraz in the fourth quarter of 2011. The carrier is also planning to start new flights later in 2011 to Malaga in Spain, Salonika in Greece, Valencia in Spain, Toulouse in France, Manila in the Philippines, plus Genoa, Naples and Turin in Italy.

U. S. Department of Transportation Vows to Force Airline Ticket Sellers to Disclose Flight Operator Under Law

Travel websites and airlines must clearly identify which airline is flying each flight when customers use the Web to buy plane tickets, the U. S. Department of Transportation said Monday, vowing to “pursue enforcement action” against ticket sellers who continue to break the law.

The DOT’s announcement came as a huge victory for the Families of Continental Flight 3407, who lost loved ones in a February 2009 crash that claimed 50 lives in Clarence Center and who pushed a major aviation safety law to passage last year.

That law includes a disclosure provision forcing ticketers to identify each flight’s operator. The families have been waging a campaign to get online ticket sellers to comply with that provision.

“We are extremely pleased” with the DOT action, said Scott Maurer, a leader of the families group who lost his daughter, Lorin, in the crash. “Consumers deserve to know who really is flying the plane they are about to buy a ticket on, something our loved ones on Continental Flight 3407 didn’t know.”

Colgan Air, a regional airline that hires less-experienced pilots, operated the flight in Continental’s name. Federal investigators identified pilot error as the cause of the crash.

In the wake of pressure from the families and federal lawmakers, the DOT issued a guidance to travel websites and airlines informing them that they must clearly comply with the disclosure provision, which aims to force ticket sellers to say clearly when a smaller regional airline is operating a flight in the name of a major carrier.

“When passengers buy an airline ticket, they have the right to know which airline will be operating their

flight,” said U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “For years we’ve required airlines to inform consumers about code-sharing arrangements, and we’ll be monitoring the industry closely to make sure they comply with the provisions of the new legislation.”

The DOT made clear it would sanction travel websites or airlines that did not show exactly which airline operates each plane on the first page that pops up after a consumer searches for a flight.

Ticketers will have 60 days to bring their websites into compliance with the law. After that, violators will be subject to fines and “cease-and-desist orders” forcing them to change their policies, a DOT spokesman said.

“Airlines and travel websites will now have absolutely no excuse for not obeying the law and providing travelers with the information they need to know,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N. Y.,who authored the provision forcing the information to be disclosed.

A Buffalo News study in December showed that seven of 10 major online ticketers and one airline, USAirways, were not in clear compliance with the law.

Huge online ticket sellers such as Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak were among those that did not clearly show which airline was operating each flight. Some displayed that information only in links or in “rollover” symbols that required customers to move their mouse to a certain spot to see the information.

Since The News article and the Flight 3407 families’ campaign to pressure the websites, Priceline and CheapOAir changed their Web displays to clearly comply with the law.

And on Monday, Travelocity announced that it had done the same.

Rep. Chris Lee, R-Clarence, has met with representatives of several travel sites and has been in touch with the DOT to press for enforcement of the law.

“I appreciate DOT issuing these guidelines, and the focus now turns to ensuring each and every ticket issuer fully implements them,” Lee said Monday.

Aviation Job Fair : 3 Aviation Companies (Spirit Aerosystems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin) to Hold Job Fair In Wichita

Three airplane makers are holding a job fair in Wichita this week and 2,200 jobs are up for grabs. The job fair will include Spirit Aerosystems, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.

It’s not a great sign, but it’s a sign no less. Three of the major aircraft players in the country will be in Wichita this week looking for workers. Unfortunately, many of the jobs aren’t in Wichita, but for those who have been out of work for a year or more, they just might take anything.

“It’s real tough out there right now,” said James McDuffee, who was looking for work at the Workforce Alliance Center in Wichita. “Nobody’s hiring and if they are, it’s minimum wage. But you got to take what you can get sometimes.”

Hopefully with today’s news, workers like McDuffee will have a chance at being employed again soon. Tuesday and Wednesday, Spirit, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are coming together to look for a total of 2,200 workers.

Spirit is looking to hire 200 workers right here in Wichita. Boeing is looking to hire 1,000 workers at their Puget Sound facility and Lockheed is looking to hire another 1,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

In an emailed statement to KAKE News, Spirit’s Ken Evans was cautious about the hiring.

“Some positions are backfilling after retirements. Others are in response to upcoming rate increases already announced by customers,” Evans said “Further hiring plans will depend on many factors, including the new 787 schedule which hasn’t been announced by Boeing.”

Meanwhile, the Workforce Alliance Center in Downtown Wichita is urging laid off aviation workers to do as much as possible to expand their skill set to include other areas like health care or information technology.

“We have so many aviation workers right now that all have that aviation background that just a little bit of training above and beyond what some of those have can put you at the top for positions,” explained Kimberly Cronister.

The Boeing and Lockheed positions will require a move away from Wichita, however.

“There are certain areas in certain parts of the country that are hiring,” said Michael Burleigh, I-A-M local business representative, “so we want to make sure we get some of our people back to work. Right now, the market here in this town is not very good, so we want to help our people find jobs someplace else.”

The job fair is two days. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Machinist Union Hall near I-235 and Meridian starting at 9am.

New Arrivals Terminal at Doha International Airport Close to Completion

Doha International Airport (DIA) is preparing to open its brand new Doha Arrivals terminal as the country’s only international airport expands to receive an increasing number of visitors to the State of Qatar.

The new Doha Arrivals terminal is a separate stand-alone facility to DIA’s current Main terminal and will handle all airport passengers arriving into the country.

Residents in Qatar will be familiar with the location of the Doha Arrivals terminal as the site of the temporary terminal erected for the Doha Asian Games in 2006, across the road from Qatar Airways’ Premium Sales office. The new facility is situated on C-Ring Road between VIP roundabout and Ras Aboud flyover and is designed to greatly enhance the arrival experience for people entering Qatar.

The Doha Arrivals terminal forms part of a multi-million dollar DIA re-development plan that will enable the airport to continue its efficient operation as it prepares for the opening of the New Doha International Airport, scheduled for 2012.

Features of the new Doha Arrivals terminal include an increased number of baggage belts, more immigration counters, Duty Free retail shopping, bus and taxi stands, and an enlarged meet and greet waiting area for those receiving passengers at the airport.

Frequent shuttle buses will provide passengers who have parked their vehicles at the Main Terminal – which will be renamed the Departure and Transfer terminal – with transport from the Doha Arrivals terminal on their return.

Soon after the new Doha Arrivals terminal becomes operational, work will begin on reconfiguring the existing arrivals terminal into an expanded Departure and Transfer terminal which will accommodate increasing passenger flows. The additional work will take several months to complete.

Doha International Airport is managed and operated by Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the changes were aimed at enhancing customer experience ahead of the opening of the New Doha International Airport.

“Over the next few days, Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways will be providing more information on the new facilities to ensure passengers are fully aware of the significant changes taking place,” said Al Baker.

“It was imperative for the continued development of Qatar that the existing airport infrastructure was expanded. The new Doha Arrivals terminal is the latest step in the infrastructure improvements to handle the influx of passengers through the airport.

“We are eagerly awaiting the opening of the New Doha International Airport in 2012, which will provide an even better facility for the people of Qatar and for international travellers flying on Qatar Airways and other airlines.”

Qatar’s only international airport has received several upgrades since November 2006 when Qatar Airways’ exclusive Premium Terminal for First and Business Class passengers opened, and has subsequently seen the expansion of the airport’s Eastern Apron, including increased aircraft parking space, a dual carriageway perimeter road to the Main terminal, and the establishment of a new Satellite Transfer terminal.

In 2008, the main airport terminal was also upgraded with extra boarding gates added to accommodate the increased number of flights departing from Doha. Last year, the Premium Terminal was extended to provide additional space for the growth of the number of First and Business Class passengers flying with Qatar Airways.

How Air Travel and Airline Passengers Affected After Delta and American Airlines Pulled Airfare from Search Engines

Airline fees, higher airfares, and the increased costs of travel have been a burden for many travelers the last few years. As airlines look to increase their revenues and cut costs, many may follow the lead of American and Delta by eliminating their airfares from popular travel sites and search engines like Orbitz. And even with new fees that can help travelers like the Farelock fee, finding cheaper flights may become more difficult.

The airline industry is constantly changing. Lately, this has meant more fees, higher costs, and more frustrations for passengers. Where this latest move by Delta and American leads is uncertain at this point. However, many experts agree – it’s not good news for travelers.

1. Rising costs – One effect of this move could be higher airfares. One thing consolidator search engines do is to bring all airlines together to help offer the cheapest flights. This may mean combining flights on two different airlines to save you money on your trip. However, if some of those airlines are no longer available for purchase, entire flights may need to be booked on airline web sites. This may lead to more expensive flights since cheaper flights on other airlines can’t be combined.

2. Cheap flights more difficult to find – Aside from the rising costs of having to book your flight through one airline, this may also mean a lot more research to find the cheapest flight. Finding more affordable flights will mean some airfare search engines may not help you find the cheapest flight and you may need to look on individual airline sights to compare. This will mean more time and effort for travelers.

Keeping this in mind, it’s important to note that airfare search technology, even when it combines airlines together for cheaper flights, may not be your best option. With these new changes, it’s even more important to note that there are other ways to find good airfares – like these 6 tips to find the cheapest flights. These may be more important than ever now.

3. Travel agents may become popular again – Travel agents have always been an important part of the travel industry. Even with the rise of technology, travel agents have still been viable and very helpful in finding great deals for travelers. If other airlines follow American and Delta, travel agents may be called upon to take on the work that travelers once did themselves on the internet. With international airports in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Oakland and the complicated process of booking travel, finding great deals will be harder and travel agents may grow in popularity once again.

Cost of Air Travel Rising, As Crude Oil Prices Soar

South Floridians could encounter higher airfares when next traveling as some airlines this week began charging more system wide or on certain routes for air travel. Passengers whose travel plans were wrecked over the holiday weekend were likely the first to feel the price pinch.

Several airlines confirmed that they were raising prices on many domestic routes by $10 one way and $20 per round trip, even as snowbound passengers remained stranded at New York City-area airports earlier this week.

United, Continental and Delta said they’re raising prices effective immediately. Travel website FareCompare.com said American was too, but the airline didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Low-fare carrier Southwest Airlines — a major operator at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Palm Beach International airports — currently has no plans to raise its fares, spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said Wednesday.

But competitor JetBlue Airways, which also flies from the South Florida airports and Orlando International Airport, has matched the fare increases on some routes, spokesman Bryan Baldwin said.

Baldwin could not say, however, which routes were affected or if the increases would be adopted systemwide.

A spokesperson for Miramar-based Spirit Airlines declined comment Wednesday, saying the airline was “still in a quiet period,” following its September IPO filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A call to Orlando-based AirTran Airways seeking comment was not immediately returned Wednesday. The low-fare airline also operates flights to and from South Florida.

FareCompare co-founder Rick Seaney said on his website RickSeaney.com Wednesday that AirTran and Frontier were not among the airlines joining the airfare hikes.

Several airlines posted strong profits in the third quarter, and traffic has been running higher than a year ago as travel demand slowly recovers from the recession. They didn’t offer a reason for the fare hikes.

But FareCompare noted that they are facing rising fuel costs. Oil prices have climbed this year and analysts predict they will rise again in 2011 due to strong demand from developing countries such as China and India.

The fare hikes and surcharges came as airlines were still digging out from a storm that shut down airports in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, leading to at least 7,000 canceled flights. Airlines were adding a few extra flights Tuesday to handle the backlog of stranded passengers, but it was expected to take several days to accommodate all the travelers.

Airline tickets cost more lately partly due to the increase in oil prices and partly because more people are traveling as the economy improves. Prices began to rise in the last few months and are only expected to keep increasing.

In fact, airfares could rise 3.5 percent to 5 percent in the next 12 months, says Mike Boyd, president of the airline consulting and research firm Boyd Group International.

Average domestic airfares rose to $341 in the second quarter of the year, up 13 percent compared to the same period in 2009, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which looked at round trips and one-way trips for which no return ticket was purchased.

Business travelers are already feeling the pinch. One-way airfares rose 6 percent to $228 during the third quarter compared to the same period last year for tickets purchased through American Express Business Travel. One-way international business airfare rose 8 percent to $1,781 in the third quarter compared to last year, according to the American Express’ quarterly Business Travel Monitor.

Source : sun-sentinel.com

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