Posted: April 2, 2013 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Airline & Route News | Tags: A380, Airbus, EK, Emirates, long-term, partnership, Qantas, QFR, Superjumbo, UAE |
By April Hutchinson
The rare sight of two A380s flying side by side has cemented a new partnership between Qantas and Emirates.
Each of the airlines had one of its superjumbos fly over Sydney Harbour as part of what Emirates’ president Tim Clark called a “seismic development for the global aviation industry”.
“No carriers have ever come together to do something like that and I think it is a real testament to the bond of our new link – it has taken a herculean effort from all involved to get this kind of structure in place so quickly and effectively,” said Clark, speaking at Emirates’ headquarters in Dubai after flying with Qantas up from Sydney. “This is the beginning of a long-term partnership.”
Clark added that the partnership was “not just a codeshare or interline arrangement”. “It is a joint venture and we will treat each other’s passengers as if they were our own,” he said.
The new partnership will see the airlines cooperate on their combined 98 flights a week between Australia and Dubai.
The carriers will combine operations for five years initially, including coordination on ticket pricing, scheduling and frequent flyer benefits.
Emirates is already in the throes of its own expansion into Australia, but it’s Qantas’ passengers that will really feel the benefit of the tie-up, now with easier access to 65 one-stop onward connections in the UK, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East via Dubai.
Reduced overall flying time from Europe to Australia was also said to be one of the key benefits.
Journey times from Melbourne and Sydney to the “top 10” destinations in Europe are cut by an average of two hours going via Dubai, according to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce.
The tie-up will also go some way to helping the Australian airline recover from a difficult patch, with the partnership said to be worth around A$90 millionto Qantas and a bolster to its international business.
Joyce said: “We have already seen a six-fold sales increase in bookings to Europe on the joint network over a nine-week period compared to last year. It’s obvious this new partnership with Emirates gives us a fantastic opportunity to grow.”
Before its new partnership with Emirates, Joyce said Qantas had only really been able to access five connecting destinations via Singapore.
The airline will now establish an international hub for itself in Dubai, where it will be the only other airline able to use Emirates’ Terminal 3.
All Emirates and Qantas A380 flights will use the terminal’s specially-built US$3 billion Concourse A which opened in January.
Capable of handling 60 million passengers a year through 20 gates, Concourse A is the world’s first purpose-built A380 facility and has direct boarding from lounge to aircraft for business and first passengers.
Australia’s minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese also flew up to Dubai to mark the official launch of the partnership and saidit was “vital that the national iconic brand of Qantas be successful”,claiming the tie-up would have a significant impact on tourism and trade.
“This partnership opens up new markets for Australians into Europe and North Africa with advantages for tourism, trade and economic opportunities,” he said. “It also allows for greater regional tourism opportunities in Australia.”
Clark said there was no reason why the relationship could not develop further in operational synergies down the line.
Joyce added that Qatar Airways’ imminent arrival into the oneworld alliance, of which Qantas is a member, was not an issue for him or Emirates.
“Oneworld has always been a very loose alliance,” said Joyce. “And we have worked with other airlines in other alliances in the past – we are perfectly free to go and do deals such as this one with Emirates.”
Nor did Clark rule out the option of seeking similar tie-ups for Emirates “if another airline has the chemistry we have with Qantas”.
Qantas has also rolled out a new suite of product enhancements in first and business class to coincide with the new partnership.
What does it mean?
Qantas and Emirates share 98 flights a week between Australia and Dubai every week / 14 per day
There will be 32 destinations in Europe available from Dubai
All Qantas flights to the UK will now be Sydney-Dubai-London & Melbourne-Dubai-London
Qantas flights to London from Melbourne and Sydney via Dubai are about 30 minutes shorter now; stopovers in Dubai are 1hr 30 or 1hr 45mins
Eligible business and first Qantas passengers can now avail themselves of a chauffeur drive service (matching Emirates’ existing service) when travelling to Europe; will extend to other parts of Qantas network from July
Shared lounge access for eligible Qantas and Emirates passengers (although Qantas customers’ oneworld privileges and conditions still apply, i.e. able to use BA’s lounges)
Shared redemption of Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards points
Harmonised baggage policies including an increase in Qantas economy checked baggage to 30kg from 23kg
Sourced by TTG Digital
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: March 27, 2013 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Airline & Route News | Tags: Alliance, Australia, Australia Competition Watchdog, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, collaborate, EK, Emirates, Europe, five years, flight scheduling, Green Light, joint venture, pricing, Qantas, QF, QFA, Sales, UAE |
Australia’s competition watchdog has given the thumbs up to the Qantas joint venture with Emirates on routes between Europe and Australia.
The alliance will see Qantas shift its hub for European flights to Dubai from Singapore after it dropped a long standing partnership with British Airways on the ‘kangaroo route’.
The partnership with Emirates, which was agreed last year, will see the two carriers collaborate on pricing, sales and flight scheduling.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it thought the benefits of the alliance outweighed the drawbacks.
Chairman Rod Sims said: “The ACCC considers that the alliance is likely to result in public benefits through enhanced products and service offerings by the airlines, and improved operating efficiency.”
But approval was limited to five years, half the time the airlines had originally bid for. The green light was conditional on the two carriers maintaining their pre-alliance capacity on routes between Australia and New Zealand amid concerns about reduced competition.
Emirates president Tim Clark hailed the deal as “game-changing”.
He said: “Dubai is a leading global hub and through it, our two airlines will connect Australia to Europe, the UK and Northern Africa more smoothly than ever before.”
The Emirates alliance is seen as key to attempts by Qantas to turn around its loss-making international operations.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said: “Qantas is an Australian icon and the future of its international business is much brighter with this partnership.
“Customers are already responding very strongly to the joint network that Qantas and Emirates have built, and to the frequent flyer benefits that extend across it, with a significant increase in bookings.
Sourced by Travel Weekly
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: March 20, 2013 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Aircraft Engineering/Manufacturing | Tags: A380, Airbus, DLH, EADS, EK, Emirates, Engineering, LH, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Technik, Maintenance, Qantas, QF, QFA, repairs, Superjumbo, UAE, wing-rib |
By Kurt Hoffmann
Lufthansa Technik will perform some Airbus A380 wing rib feet repairs, chairman August Wilhelm Henningsen told ATW in Hamburg.
“We have taken on new responsibilities in terms of A380 support and carrying out the wing rib feet repairs mandated by Air France,” Henningsen said.
Henningsen expects one A380 wing rib repair to take between 40 to 50 days. About 40 technicians will work on the aircraft at the same time. The first aircraft, a Lufthansa A380, is already undergoing repair.
Lufthansa Technik will handle 10 Lufthansa A380 repairs at its base in Frankfurt. It will work with AMECO Beijing to carry out wing rib feet repairs on nine Emirates Airline A380s.
Twelve Qantas A380s will undergo the repair work at the Lufthansa Technik Philippine MRO facility. “A year ago, we opened our third widebody hangar at Lufthansa Technik Philippines. Now we are also able to provide technical support for the A380s. Among one of the first customers in Manila is Qantas with A380 cabin modifications,” he said.
Sourced by ATW
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: September 6, 2012 | Author: sedgie47 | Filed under: Airline & Route News | Tags: BA, BAW, British Airways, Droppping, Kangaroo, Long-standing, Qantas, QF |
Qantas is dropping a long-standing kangaroo route partnership with British Airways in favour of a 10-year global alliance with Emirates.
The two airlines will collaborate on pricing, sales and flight scheduling as the Australian carrier looks to turn around its loss-making international network.
The move comes just days after Gulf-based rival Etihad doubled its investment to 10% in Virgin Australia and will see Qantas move its hub for European flights to Dubai from Singapore.
Qantas will launch daily Airbus A380 services from both Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai. This means that together Emirates and Qantas will offer 98 weekly services between Australia and Dubai.
The airline is to restructure its Asian network in an effort to strengthen its focus on services to and within the region.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said: “Over the past 17 years the joint business with British Airways has been central to the Qantas network.
“However, global operating conditions have changed and partnership with Emirates is the right strategy for Qantas.
“A key objective is to make Qantas International strong and viable, and bring it back to profitability. This partnership will help us do that.
“This Emirates partnership will help us make an orderly withdrawal, and also ensure we can continue to service our customers over the long term,” Joyce said.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA parent International Airlines Group, said the end of the joint business with Qantas would not affect the two airlines’ membership of the Oneworld alliance.
He said: “We’re ending the joint business on amicable terms and
support Qantas’ decision to work with Emirates.
“The world has changed since 1995 when the joint business started. This is a small part of our overall network and this move fits in with changes in our global strategy.
“Asia has become a key market focus for IAG and we’re talking to a number of airlines about alternative options for us.
“Qantas has made it clear that its international performance has been weak and the termination of
the joint business won’t have any negative impact on IAG’s financial targets.”
Qantas announced that “underperforming” flights to Frankfurt will be dropped.
Sourced from Travel Weekly
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: July 26, 2012 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Airline & Route News | Tags: Discussion, EK, Emirates, Potential Alliances, Qantas, QF |
By Rob Gill
Qantas has admitted that it is in discussions with other airlines including Emirates about “potential alliances”.
The Australian carrier was responding to local media speculation about a possible deal with the Dubai-based airline. Qantas’ shares rose by around 10 per cent following the news.
“Qantas today confirmed it is in discussions with a number of airlines about potential alliances. These airlines include Emirates, among others,” said Qantas in a statement.
“Strengthening alliance partnerships is one of the four pillars of the Qantas Group’s five-year strategy, announced in August 2011.
“At any one time Qantas may be in contact with a wide range of companies about potential commercial co-operation.
“Qantas’ policy is not to comment on the nature or status of these discussions. Should Qantas have a material announcement to make; it would be disclosed to the market in the normal way at the appropriate time.”
Emirates said in a statement: “Emirates does not comment on rumour or speculation.”
Emirates’ regional rival Etihad, based in neighbouring Abu Dhabi, was last week given permission to double its shareholding in Qantas’ competitor Virgin Australia to 10 per cent. This move has been seen as putting more pressure on Qantas to find a merger partner.
Sourced by ABTN
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: July 20, 2012 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Cardiff Airport & RAF St Athan | Tags: B747, B747-400, Boeing 747-400, Cardiff, Cardiff Airport, Charter, CWL, EGFF, Jumbo, Lyon, LYS, Man, Manchester, Qantas, QF |
It is expected that Cardiff Airport is to be visited tomorrow by a Qantas Boeing 747-400 as it is operating a special charter according to Airline Hubbuzz.
The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at 11:50 from Manchester and depart at 13:30 to Lyon in France.
The Wales Air Forum has been advised that the Rhoose Flying Club will not be open for visitors as it is hosting a private function.
If you do intend to go down to the airport to see this magnificent aircraft then we have provided other possible locations to view the aircraft.
In order not to spoil your day please ensure that you do not park on the double yellow lines as regular police patrols are conducted and you will likely be fined. There are however several locations where you can park.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: July 9, 2012 | Author: sedgie47 | Filed under: Airline & Route News, Cardiff Airport & RAF St Athan | Tags: Boeing 747-200, CWL, EGFF, France, Manchester, Private Charter, Qantas, QF, South Wales |
By AHB
QANTAS will operate the following 747 charters on behalf of Hughes Travel from Singapore to Manchester, Cardiff (CWL) Wales and Lyon (LYS) France:
QF6051 16JUL12 SIN-MAN 0140 0810
QF 6021 21JUL12 MAN-CWL 1100 1150
QF6051 21JUL12 CWL-LYS 1330 1650
QF6051 23JUL12 LYS-MAN 1200 1255
QF6051 30JUL12 MAN-SIN 2225 1835+1 (arrives 31JUL12)
Sourced from Airline Hubbuzz
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: June 8, 2012 | Author: sedgie47 | Filed under: Airline & Route News, World Aviation News | Tags: 90% Reductions, Fallen, Profits, Qantas, QF, Shares, Standard & Poor |
By Patrick Whyte
Qantas shares have fallen below one Australian Dollar for the first time after ratings agency Standard & Poor’s put it on watch for a possible downgrade.
The company’s shares have been sliding since the announcement earlier this week of a possible 90% reduction in its profits and they slumped to A$0.96 before closing for the week at A$0.97 – an all-time closing low.
“The magnitude of the losses from Qantas’ international business underscores the difficulty in turning around the segment (mainly European and Asian routes),” Standard & Poor’s credit analyst May Zhong said.
“In our view, Qantas’s international operations are a key factor to the group’s long-term competitiveness. We therefore consider that the group’s business risk profile would weaken if the airline’s international market position and earnings do not recover within a reasonable timeframe.”
On Tuesday the airline said that it expected to report an underlying profit before tax in the range of $50-$100 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2012, compared with A$552 million for the same period last year.
Sourced from TTG Digital
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: April 27, 2012 | Author: sedgie47 | Filed under: Aircraft Engineering/Manufacturing | Tags: A380, Airbus, Airworthiness Directive, cracking, Discovered, EADS, Engineering, Limited, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Qantas, Repaired, rib-foot |
By Greg Waldron
Source:
Qantas has discovered, and repaired, limited rib-foot cracking in all three Airbus A380s inspected so far under an airworthiness directive.
In all three cases, cracks were found in fewer than 10 locations, and all the aircraft are back in service, says Qantas in an update on the matter.
Inspections of wing rib-feet brackets on all A380s were required by the European Aviation Safety Agency directive issued in early 2012.
The Australian carrier says: “The cracking is found in a bracket that connects the wing rib to the skin of the aircraft. There are about 4,000 such brackets on an A380. Airbus has confirmed that it poses no risk whatsoever to the safety of A380 operations.”
The three aircraft in which cracks were discovered were VH-OQA, VH-OQB, and VH-OQC. Of these, VH-0QB and VH-OQC were inspected upon reaching 1,300 cycles – the limit set out in the directive.
VH-OQA’s checks were undertaken as part of an extensive repair programme in Singapore, where the aircraft was stranded for 18 months following an uncontained engine failure in November 2010.
“Qantas has not been ‘forced to ground’ aircraft,” Qantas executive Olivia Wirth stresses. “Like every other A380 operator, we are complying fully with a regulatory requirement.
“Similar airworthiness directives apply to many minor issues across various aircraft types around the world.”
She says that at no time has more than one Qantas A380 been out of service related to the rib-foot cracking issue, with the inspection schedule for the aircraft planned in advance.
“As each subsequent Qantas A380 approaches 1,300 flights it will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired,” she adds. “The A380 is 100% safe to fly. It remains the most popular aircraft in the Qantas fleet.”
Costs of the repairs are covered under Qantas’ warranty arrangements with Airbus.
Sourced from Flight Global
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted: April 24, 2012 | Author: walesairforum | Filed under: Accidents & Incidents, Aircraft Engineering/Manufacturing | Tags: A380, Airbus, EADS, Engineering, Incident, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Qantas, QF32, Superjumbo, Uncontained engine failure, VH-OQA |
By: Siva Govindasamy Singapore
The Qantas Airways Airbus A380 that had a mid-air uncontained engine failure after take-off from Singapore in November 2010 has finally returned to Australia.
The aircraft, which has the registration VH-OQA, took off from Singapore’s Changi airport on the evening of 21 April and landed in Sydney on the morning of 22 April. It used the same QF32 flight number as the original flight, although this will now be retired. Passengers included Australian media, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Richard de Crespigny, who was the captain of the original flight. “I have absolute confidence in this aircraft,” says de Crespigny.
It will return to active service on 28 April on the Sydney-Hong Kong route.
“She’s running a little late, by about 18 months,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said before the flight to Sydney. “But looking at the repairs, it has been worth it. She is almost brand new.”
Shortly after take-off on 4 November 2010, the aircraft’s No 2 engine had an uncontained failure over the Indonesian island of Batam, but the pilots managed to fly the aircraft back to Singapore safely.
Australian investigators have finished collecting data for an investigation into the uncontained failure of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine. The data is being analysed and a final report is expected in the third quarter of 2012.
So far, the investigations identified a defect in an oil feed tube as the cause behind an oil fire, which led to the engine failure. The defect caused a section of the oil tube to thin out and crack, leading to an internal engine oil fire that weakened the intermediate pressure turbine disc. This was then separated from the turbine shaft, puncturing the engine case and wing structure.
Repairs took almost 18 months to complete, and used almost 40,000t of tooling and parts. The entire tab of A$139 million ($144 million) was picked up by insurance companies. Another A$95 million came from Rolls-Royce, which supplied the Trent 900 engines, as compensation.
“The aircraft, with everything that we have put into it such as the in-flight entertainment, is worth A$300 million. So repairing the aircraft, instead of writing it off, was definitely the right decision for us,” says Joyce.
Almost 70,000 man hours went into the repairs, which were conducted at the SIA Engineering A380 hangar in Singapore. Most of this focused on damage to the left wing between ribs six and 13, primarily on the forward spar and upper and lower wing sections.
“At the start of the project, we had to get as much information as possible. There was a lot of pressure to get the repairs going as soon as we could. But we made a conscious decision to relax and examine this as closely as possible and make the right decisions,” says Alan Milne, head of the Qantas integrated operations centre.
Much of the work entailed fixing a custom made patch to the upper wing skin, which was pierced by debris from the No 2 engine. Part of the front spar and lower wing skin was also replaced. Inside the wing, various components were replaced including harnesses, fairings, flaps, fuel pipes, and various other hydraulic and electrical systems. All four engines were also replaced.
All of this added almost 200kg to the aircraft’s weight, but Airbus and Qantas officials say that this will have negligible impact on the aircraft’s performance.
After the repairs, the aircraft was put through a test schedule usually reserved for brand new aircraft. This included a four-hour long test flight, in which Qantas and Airbus pilots took the aircraft to 43,000ft. There was also a second test flight to test cabin equipment.
“The aircraft is now as good as new,” says Derek Blackham, Airbus director of customer support and services. “That’s what we planned from the start of this project and that’s what we’ve got.”
Sourced by Flightglobal
Like this:
Like Loading...
.gif)
