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Volume 3, Issue 24, June 17, 2010 |
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The International Air Transport Association says global carriers should be profitable this year for the first time since 2007, led by strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking before the Berlin Air Show, Giovanni Bisignani, director general and CEO, IATA said the industry can be cautiously optimistic about this year’s results.
Asia-Pacific carriers are powering the upturn with an anticipated profit of USD 2.2 billion. North American carriers are expected to move into the black at USD 1.9 billion. IATA says Latin American airlines will return USD 900 million, the only region with two consecutive profitable years, while Middle Eastern and African carriers will each deliver profits of USD 100 million. European airlines are not expected to be in the black this year.
Bisignani also unveiled Vision 2050 — Shaping Aviation’s Future, IATA’s vision of “clean, safe and delay-free travel” for global travellers in 40 years.
He predicted that in 2050 the aviation industry will have consolidated to a dozen or so global brands supported by regional and niche players. “In just over a decade, I can see USD 100 billion in profits on revenues of USD 1 trillion. As we near 2050, this 10 percent margin will become much more robust,” he said.
Describing the chaos caused by the Eyjafjallajokul volcano as a wake-up call, Bisignani said it also sent a clear message that “without air connectivity, modern life is not possible”. He argued that air traffic management systems must change radically. In IATA’s Vision 2050 air traffic control services are consolidated, so10 global organizations replace the work of the current 180. Bisignani is also optimistic about the possibility of biofuels breaking “the tyranny of oil”.
“We will be very near to zero accidents. We will emit half the carbon. We will have eliminated queues with integrated systems ensuring security as we process more passengers. We will operate with almost no delays in globally united skies. We will share costs and profits equitably across the value chain,” said Bisignani.
IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93 percent of scheduled international air traffic.
On June 11, Lufthansa launched its first scheduled A380 flight to Asia from Frankfurt (FRA) to Tokyo (NRT). The service operates three times a week and will become daily on Aug. 4. Lufthansa will start operating A380s between Frankfurt and Beijing (PEK) three times a week from Aug. 25. Last week, Air France announced that Tokyo will be the first destination in Asia for its A380 service. Air France will start flying the Paris (CDG)–Tokyo route three times a week on Sept 1, with daily flights from Oct. 5. Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Emirates are already flying A380s within the Asia-Pacific region and at the Berlin Air Show last week Emirates placed a record-breaking order for more super-jumbos. Emirates’ USD 11.5 billion order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380s takes the Dubai-based carrier’s total firm order to 90 aircraft.
Passengers departing Singapore's Changi Airport (SIN) have a new option when items from their carry-on luggage are not allowed on board aircraft. Rather than throwing away items that do not comply with security guidelines about liquids, aerosols and gels, passengers can opt to post the items to themselves. Changi Airport Group and SingPost, are running the Speedpost@Changi service trial in the transit area of Changi’s Terminal 1 for two months. This service is expected to avoid the unnecessary disposal of high value items such as perfumes or liquid cosmetics of more than 100 ml as well items such as Swiss Army penknives or nail scissors typically confiscated at pre-flight screening checks. A new dedicated SingPost Speedpost counter will assist passengers who wish to post prohibited hand-carried items to an address in Singapore or overseas.
Vietnam Airlines is the latest member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. The first Southeast Asian member of SkyTeam, Vietnam Airlines adds 20 new destinations to the SkyTeam network, significantly strengthening its network in the region. “We are proud to welcome the first carrier from Southeast Asia in our midst today,” said Leo van Wijk, chairman of the SkyTeam governing board. “Together with our current members China Southern and Korean Air, and our future member China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines brings us closer to becoming the leading alliance for Asia.” Joining SkyTeam is a milestone for Vietnam’s national flag carrier, which flies 75 routes to 20 domestic and 26 international destinations with more than 290 daily flights.
World Hotels has expanded its portfolio in Japan with four new affiliates from the RIHGA Royal Hotels group. Established over 70 years ago, RIHGA Royal Hotels have a reputation for first-rate hospitality and excellence, and are favoured by the Japanese imperial family as well as visiting royalty, heads of state and key government officials from around the world. The 973-room RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka and the 126-room RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo have joined World Hotels’ Deluxe Collection. Joining the First Class Collection are the 484-room RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto and the 488-room RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima.
Monday saw the launch of a new route between Taipei and Shanghai that will cut the total journey time for passengers commuting between the two cities’ central business districts by up to an hour. China Airlines operated the inaugural flight on the new route linking Songshan Airport (TSA), in downtown Taipei, and Hongqiao Airport (SHA) in Shanghai. TransAsia Airways and Eva Airways and China Eastern Airlines will also service this route. China and Taiwan began direct chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits in 2008, followed by scheduled flights last year.
Westin Hotels and Resorts has a summer promotion at its four newly opened hotels in India: The Westin Hyderabad, Mindspace; The Westin Mumbai, Garden City; The Westin Pune, Koregaon Par; and The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa. As well as enjoying a great night’s sleep in a Westin Heavenly Bed followed by breakfast featuring “super foods”, guests will earn a complimentary night’s stay for every two nights or more booked at any of the four new Westins. The complimentary night’s stay can be enjoyed at any Westin in India. The Westin Summer Offer is available through Sept. 30.
Visa and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have teamed up to offer extra promotions in this year’s Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, which runs from June 15 through Aug. 15. To kick-start the summer sales, and signal a return to business-as-usual in Thailand, Visa is running a Win What You Buy promotion through June 30 to encourage shoppers and tourists to visit Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district. For every transaction made on a Visa card, cardholders will have a one in 150 chance to win back the value of their shopping bill. Other promotions include up to 80 percent discounts and other privileges from participating merchants in Bangkok and key cities throughout Thailand. For more details visit Amazing Thailand Grand Sale.
Looking for a venue to watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 in Singapore? Resorts World Sentosa is playing all 64 matches in the tournament. At RWS football fans can watch the action on 72 screens mounted across the resort, making it the largest venue in town to catch the world’s hottest football action. The resort’s popular gathering spot, The Forum, will be turned into a match theatre with 300 seats and a giant 6-by-5-metre LED televison screen. Seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Various locations across the resort will also screen matches including the Casino Royale Bar, Happy9, Feng Shui Inn, Maxims and Crockfords Club areas within the Resorts World Casino.
Delta Air Lines now flies nonstop between Hong Kong (HKG) and Detroit (DTW) five times weekly. To celebrate this new service, SkyMiles members flying BusinessElite can earn up to triple bonus miles per journey, while economy-class tickets earn double miles. Delta customers who are SkyMiles members can enroll in the promotion by registering here and flying the Hong Kong–Detroit route before Sept. 30. Delta’s expansion at Hong Kong is part of the first fully consolidated summer schedule published following the airline’s merger with Northwest Airlines, allowing Delta to reallocate existing capacity to new routes.
Mandarin Oriental’s Grand Lapa Macau is offering special summer packages from HKD 1,388 per night Monday to Thursday and from HKD 1,688 per night for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The deluxe hotel package includes one night’s accommodation in a superior room; a HKD 300 credit to be used at any of the hotel’s restaurants and bars or for a spa treatment; and complimentary shuttle bus transfer between the Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal and the hotel. The Grand Lapa Macau offers sophisticated accommodation within a lush tropical setting complete with an outdoor swimming pool with its own waterfall. Read an eTested review of Grand Lapa Macau here.
