Page 36 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 Online Magazine

AIRLINES

AIRLINES

Aussie Indians
Air India has established a new route
to Australia with direct flights between
Delhi and Sydney/Melbourne at the end
of last month. The Air India 787s will
be routed from India to Sydney, then
Melbourne before returning to Delhi.
Last year, around 140,000 passengers
Etihad Beats The 1Billion Barrier travelled between Delhi and Sydney
Etihad Airways has notched up over across the traditional peak travel months via Asian hubs. The new route will be
US$1 billion in a single quarter of July and August.” Total passenger open four times a week, and marks the
from passenger revenue, and revenues were just over US$1.03 billion, first time direct flights have been made
seen passenger numbers pass 3 and even cargo was up by 39 per cent between the two countries for 16 years
million. Total revenue rose 11% to to US$244 million – defying global “India is Australia’s largest unserved
US$1.4 billion, compared to US$1.3 trends. “Headlining our partnership market,” said Kerrie Mather Sydney
billion in Q3 of 2012, the airline said in activities, we continued to work closely Airport CEO. “Sydney has Australia’s
a statement. “The Q3 growth occurred with regulatory authorities in India as highest number of residents with
in a climate of increasing capacity we progressed our plans to acquire Indian ancestry – with 217,000 people
and ongoing price competition,” said 24% of Jet Airways – the first offshore of Indian descent, 88,000 of whom
James Hogan, Etihad CEO. “It also investment in an Indian airline under were born in India – so there is strong
[came during] reduced travel during the country’s Foreign Direct Investment demand for direct services between
the Holy Month of Ramadan, which fell legislation,” said Hogan. India and Sydney,” she added.

Green Concerns

Industry players and regulators met Association of Asia Pacific Airlines
recently in Bangkok, Thailand for the (AAPA). The delegates investigated
South-East Asia Sustainable Aviation the impact of aviation biofuels, both
Fuel Initiative (SEASAFI). The discussion reducing aviation’s environmental
centred on sustainable aviation fuels impact, and how feedstock for
that have the potential to deliver sustainable aviation fuels could open
significant reductions in the sector’s up rural socio-economic development
long term carbon footprint. “The opportunities across the region. “The
introduction of newer more fuel efficient commercialisation of sustainable fuels
aircraft, fuel conservation programmes, is one of the essential ingredients
and improved airspace management all in our quest to achieving ambitious
contribute towards reducing aviation’s environmental targets in aviation,”
environmental impact,” said Martin said Frédéric Eychenne, Airbus New
Eran-Tasker, technical director at the Energies Programme Manager.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM