To celebrate the inaugural flight to Edinburgh on October 1st, Emirates is offering passengers attractive fares to the Scottish capital. Travellers in the UAE can book special fares on all Economy and Business Class travel starting today until 10th September 2018 for travel between 1st October and 31st May 2019.
Economy Class passengers can enjoy fares starting from AED 2,495 and Business Class passengers can enjoy fares starting from AED 13,165.
Edinburgh is the airline’s second destination in Scotland after Glasgow and its 8th in the United Kingdom. Scotland is a popular destination for leisure and business travellers for its rich history, gourmet food, cultural scene and architectural attractions such as the Edinburgh Castle. The Scottish capital is the second most visited city in the UK by tourists with spectacular sites such as the city’s Old Town and New Town, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also the first city in the world to be designated a UNESCO city of Literature.
The new daily service will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER in a three class cabin configuration which offers 8 private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. Flight EK023 will depart Dubai daily at 0955hrs and arrive in Edinburgh at 1450hrs, while the return flight, EK024 will depart Edinburgh at 2015hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0640hrs the next morning.
Abu Dhabi Airports has welcomed the resumption of Turkmenistan Airlines’ biweekly flights between Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), connecting the two nation’s capitals with flights operating every Friday and Sunday
Saoud Al Shamsi, Acting Chief Commercial Officer (ACCO) of Abu Dhabi Airports said, “The resumption of Turkmenistan Airlines’ flights to Abu Dhabi reflects the city’s status as a key destination and transit hub for business and leisure travelers, as well as our own commitment to deploying world-class smart travel solutions, relaxing lounge spaces, and attractive retail offerings.”
“This additional service is part of our strategy to attract new airlines to our network that will support tourism growth in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. These flights are forecasted to attract around 20,000 passengers annually between the two cities, which will extend an opportunity to passengers between Abu Dhabi and Ashgabat to experience a convenient and entertaining travel experience through Abu Dhabi International Airport, and enjoy what Abu Dhabi has on offer as a leading destination for leisure and business,” added Al Shamsi.
Turkmenistan Airlines will operate the route using its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will employ a bi-class business and economy configuration. On Fridays, Flight 825 is scheduled to depart Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) at 13:00 local time, arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 15:30 local time before returning as Flight 826, departing AUH at 17:00 and arriving at ASB at 19:30. On Sundays, Flight 827 is scheduled to depart Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) at 07:50 local time, arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 10:20 local time before returning as Flight 828, departing AUH at 11:50 and arriving at ASB at 14:20.
Ekayev Shohrat, Representative of Turkmenistan Airlines in the UAE, said, “We are delighted to be working again with Abu Dhabi Airports to resume our twice-weekly flights to the UAE’s capital. The flights play a key role in our growth strategy and are designed to increase interconnectivity between both destinations. We look forward to welcoming business and leisure travelers aboard Turkmenistan Airlines.”
Effective from October 2018, Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its scheduled services from Abu Dhabi to Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, replacing the Airbus A330-300 currently serving the route.
The introduction of the technologically advanced aircraft on Rabat services is a further boost to its presence in the Moroccan market. In May this year, the airline placed the 787 Dreamliner on its daily flights to the kingdom’s commercial hub, Casablanca. The move to place the aircraft on Rabat flights will provide customers travelling on Etihad Airways’ Moroccan routes with full product consistency, the latest inflight technology, and increased cargo capacity to further boost trade.
Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Morocco is a very important destination on the Etihad network, underscoring the close cultural and commercial ties between the kingdom and the UAE.
“Our flights to Rabat and Casablanca have proved tremendously popular with UAE and Moroccan nationals, and residents. Adding the 787 Dreamliner on all our Moroccan services will now provide our customers flying to both capitals with the same award-winning cabins, innovative seating and products.”
Etihad Airways’ three-class version of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features 8 private First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats.
To meet summer peak travel demand, Etihad Airways recently added a third weekly service to Rabat, operating every Saturday until 29 September. The extra flight provides more choice to the increasing number of point-to-point business and leisure travellers between both cities.
Etihad Airways has been serving Rabat since January 2016, providing the only long-haul link from the city, and the only service operated by the 787 Dreamliner.
Etihad Airways has had a codeshare partnership in place with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) since May 2007, with the Moroccan flag carrier placing its ‘AT’ code on Etihad services from Abu Dhabi to both Rabat and Casablanca.
Under the agreement, Etihad Airways places its ‘EY’ code on Royal Air Maroc’s services from Casablanca to Agadir, Marrakech and Tangier, and pending government approvals, from Casablanca to Abidjan in Ivory Coast, Conakry in Guinea, and Dakar in Senegal.
“I don’t have a lot of free time but when I do, I tend to spend it with my family, or jogging. I think it’s important to maintain a good work/life balance, and also to keep fit. The executive lifestyle is inescapable and can be punishing, so you need to mitigate its worst potential impacts.”
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL) is one of the leading air cargo terminal operators in the world and heading this global organization is Wilson Kwong, an energetic, pragmatic and innovative UK-educated lawyer and chartered surveyor born and raised in Hong Kong.
In between his busy schedules and meetings, Kwong squeezed in an email interview with Air Cargo Update for this edition of The Lounge.
Kwong began his career as duty manager trainee for Jardine Aviation Services which mainly requires tours to and serving different parts of the organization.
“I still remember being a check-in agent for, among others, British Airways and Air China. I have always been fascinated about working at an airport and I still have fond memories about the experience,” he fondly recalls.
His career flourished within the Jardine Matheson Group and was entrusted to handle important projects which include Singapore’s Marina Bay Financial Center, among many others.
In March 2018, Kwong joined HACTL and accepted the challenges that come with the position in the very competitive air cargo industry.
“I feel so lucky and privileged to lead this iconic and globally-renowned business, and I am so excited by all the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Kwong.
“I am very fortunate to be joining this industry at an exciting time with growing air cargo demand – whether through e-commerce or just growing global trade in general (and I hope trade wars don’t take off, by the way, as it benefits no one). Locally in Hong Kong, I see lots of exciting opportunities ahead through further use of technology at our already highly automated terminal, and growing demands for our services as a result of the Greater Bay Area initiative, and the impending opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge,” he added.
As CEO of one of the world’s largest air cargo terminals, Kwong said his typical day is spent with “meetings, meetings and meetings.”
“Seriously, I do like to engage people whether it is with customers, colleagues or external stakeholders. Not all my meetings are in the boardroom. I make a point of meeting with my customers and staff at different locations throughout our giant facility. That’s the best way for me to keep a finger on the pulse of this fast-paced business,” he said.
Stress is part of Kwong’s job and being in a competitive industry the pressure keeps building on.
But he said “not all stress is bad. My job is pressured, but I must say it’s also enjoyable – I relax through spending time with my kids, although at times going through their homework can be equally stressful!”
His previous job entails lots of travels which Kwong finds therapeutic whether it’s for leisure or business.
“I used to travel a lot some years ago, and my new job at HACTL means I am happily starting to travel a lot once again. I enjoy traveling and meeting people from different countries and cultures; it’s fascinating and broadens the mind. I don’t think I have a dream place to visit yet, but maybe I’ll find one in the course of my work travels, and then I’ll take the family back there,” he said.
Whenever he has free time, Kwong says he spends it with his family, his most treasured possession, or jogging to stay fit.
This CEO is also fond of reading, mostly about practical, business or educational materials, which he says are helpful tools to keep up with the changing times.
Asked about his life philosophies, Kwong shared: “Be sincere, be curious, and constantly challenge and see how to make the status quo better – because you can. Believe in yourself: If you think you can succeed, you will. Be passionate about what you do. You’ll do a better job, and you’ll enjoy your work more.”
‘’Having been a cornerstone in social, cultural and economic terms for hundreds of years, Istanbul will serve as a brand-new mainstay for the global air traffic. Acting with its young and dynamic team, Turkish Cargo aims to increase the number of cargo dedicated direct destinations to minimum 150 from 85 by 2023, and to respond the requests in the most ideal way. – Fatih Cigal, Senior Vice President for Cargo Marketing, Turkish Cargo.”
Turkey is scheduled to unveil on October 29 its new airport, the Istanbul New Airport, spread over 76.5 million sqm of land, which can handle as much as 200 million passengers a year and 6 million tons of cargo, making it the largest airport in the world, thus far, when it opens.
Strategically located connecting Europe, the Middle East, Asia to as far as Africa, Turkey is bent on using its geographical advantages to rollout a thriving business in aviation, logistics and air freight, designed to create at least 1.5 million jobs.
Fatih Cigal, Senior Vice President for Cargo Marketing at Turkish Cargo, told Air Cargo Update in an email interview, the new airport was created with thoughts of bridging the gap between continents through affordable means of transportation to support businesses and economies.
“This mega hub will serve as a bridge between Asia and America, Europe and Africa continents, and will rise as a new point of departure with its feature of being a transit center in air transportation. Being one of the fastest growing air cargo brands in the world, Turkish Cargo will increase its capacity and be capable of carrying and handling 4 million tons of cargo on annual basis with its modern and modular premises covering an area of 165 m2 at Istanbul New Airport, to be completed in 2018,” explained Cigal who assumed his new post early this year after handling other key management positions in Turkish Airlines since 2005.
“The cargo tunnels, to be built between the cargo premises and the Yankee area, will save time and maximize the security,” added Cigal who studied industrial engineering at Istanbul Technical University.
New Cargo City
The country’s new airport boasts of a modern cargo city that can accommodate more than 30 wide-body aircraft to simultaneously dock at parking positions located in front of warehouses.
They are designed to use the air side service tunnels by passing beneath the runways and taxiways to avoid affecting passenger aircraft traffic.
The Cargo City will host ware-houses, agency buildings, customs office and all cargo/logistics operations with service points for banks, cafes and restaurants, dry cleaning, salons, prayer areas, veterinary, medical center and test laboratories, among others, to support various companies in the area.
With 456,000 sqm planned for car parks that can handle 18,000 big and small vehicles, traveling within the Cargo City would be seamless.
Turkish Cargo’s new hub
Turkish Cargo’s existing cargo terminal has 43 private cargo rooms and different specialized facilities for different types of cargoes. In its new hub, this would be further enhanced with modern facilities.
“The existing cargo terminal has 43 private cargo rooms (total 3500 m2) Cold Storehouses (-21 °C, 0 °C, 2-8 °C, 15-25 °C ) Live Animals (AVI) Rooms, Dangerous Goods (DG), Rooms Vulnerable (VUN), Cargo Rooms Valuable (VAL), Cargo Rooms Radioactive Cargo Rooms,” said Cigal.
“The mega-hub Istanbul New Airport, which will be replacing the existing Ataturk Airport, is due to open with its first phase in October this year and is a clear statement of intent for Turkey to become a major air cargo gateway and the investment in technology for the air cargo sector,” he stressed.
Once the first phase is opened, the company’s cargo capacity will increase to 2 million tons annually up to 6 million tons eventually.
“With the new airport, we will be increasing our cargo capacity to 2 million tons annually with an airfreight footprint of 1.4 million sqm, including cargo aircraft parking areas, which will allow simultaneous handling of 35 wide-body freighter aircraft,” Cigal said.
With the Turkish government’s support, Turkish Cargo’s new hub will have state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate easy storage and trans-portation of different types of goods at various destinations across the world.
“Thanks to its investment in automatic storage systems and the layout plan to support special products and services, Turkish Cargo’s new cargo terminal will have bespoke temperature-controlled facilities for cold chain pharma and perishables products, plus high-tech warehousing for mail express cargo and e-commerce,” Cigal said.
“The new Pallet Container Handling System will have a total of 2000 positions, of which 200 are used for cold ULD and ASRS with 16,800 position capacity which are planned to be used in warehouse handling.”
The cargo executive also stressed their new hub will have two main storage areas—the 2,500 m2 express cargo operating area & the 5,000 m2 dedicated for cold chain with 1,500 m2 strictly just for pharma shipments.
“The postal and e-commerce operation area is 5,000 m2 and it provides the possibility of doubling the capacity and will be offering direct connection with the PTT facilities,” he added.
Growth in e-Commerce
Turkish Cargo’s ultimate goal is to become one of the world’s top 5 air freight companies. Cigal said the company’s infrastructural innovations and improvements are geared towards this goal, which he believes, will be achieved given their good performance in recent years.
In 2017, Turkish Cargo carried 1.1 million tons of cargo and it expects to wrap up the year with 1.3 million tons.
Cigal said e-Commerce grew by 30 percent in recent years and all indications point to continued growth in the coming years. Turkish Cargo, he said, is already making plans to cater to this growing market.
“The most rapid growth in air cargo traffic is achieved in e-commerce transportation with an annual growth rate up to 30%, in recent years. The e-commerce products, sent from Asian Far East to Europe, achieved a growth rate of 66% in the last 2 years, and the global e-commerce volume is expected to increase to 3.5 trillion US dollars in 2019,” said Cigal.
“The domestic e-commerce companies have had the chance to sell their products to the markets, covered by Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo, via online market place, providing a contribution to Turkey’s annual exports target of USD500 billion,” he noted.
To better serve the growing e-Commerce market, Cigal said Turkish Cargo is investing on smart storages, information and communication systems as well as other logistics infrastructure requirements in their new cargo terminal at Istanbul New Airport.
“Besides its fleet and facility investments, Turkish Cargo has been following the evolution of commerce today and the future expectations, and makes a move accordingly and realizes its investments in the field of e-Commerce through the current and future agreements,” said Cigal.
In a bid to widen its clout in the Chinese market, Turkish Cargo signed last August a partnership agreement with the Chinese express cargo group ZTO and Hong Kong PAL Air to focus on the global e-Commerce market and door-to-door service.
Domestic & Int’l Growth
With Turkish products getting more popular across the world in recent years and Turkey’s air transportation getting recognized for its reliability, Turkish Cargo’s role as an enabler and trading partner of sort is further strengthened.
And Cigal has high hopes the company will soar higher as it strives harder to achieve its goals while helping traders and economies.
“Combined with the cargo carriage capacity of Turkish Airlines which is flying to more countries than any other airline in the world with a network covering 307 destinations in 122 countries and the direct cargo flights to 85 destinations operated by its additional cargo aircraft fleet, Turkish Cargo will maintain its upward growth without slowing down,” Cigal said with optimism.
“When we move into Istanbul New Airport soon, we will realize many substantial innovations that will be of particular concern to the global air cargo trends. Our modern premises, to be capable of handling 4 million tons of cargo on annual basis, have currently the largest capacity,” he added.
Flying cargo since 1936, Turkish Cargo is bent on becoming a power house in the global air freight industry with unrivaled quality of service and efficiency at reasonable costs.
“Having been a cornerstone in social, cultural and economic terms for hundreds of years, Istanbul will serve as a brand-new mainstay for the global air traffic. Acting with its young and dynamic team, Turkish Cargo aims to increase the number of cargo dedicated direct destinations to minimum 150 from 85 by 2023, and to respond the requests in the most ideal way,” said Cigal.
“In 2019, we plan to provide services in our 165,000 m2 cargo facility at Istanbul New Airport. We will be moving faster and more confidently our goal of becoming one of the world’s top 5 air cargo companies,” he concluded.
Istanbul New Airport taps sea for fuel supply
Instead of using nearly 2,250 transport vehicles to deliver fuel at Istanbul New Airport, Turkey is utilizing the low-cost fuel supply transfer via ships through the 12-km pipeline it built to connect fuel tanks to the airport.
Last August, the airport had its first refueling test with 63,000 tons of oil delivered and transferred from its Fuel Supply Port.
“The first refueling took place less than 80 days before the opening of İstanbul New Airport that will be the world’s largest airport built from scratch with the capacity of 200 million passengers. The fuel needs of İstanbul New Airport will be met by sea, instead of being delivered by land, and the first fuel shipment of 63 thousand tons was made from İGA Fuel Supply Port built for that purpose,” IGA shared to the press.
İGA Fuel Supply Port’s fuel capacity is two-fold of the fuel capacity of airports in Turkey at 6 million cubic meters, it added.
Daily fuel consumption at Istanbul New Airport is estimated at 13,200 cubic meters.
“We will have the advantage of cost-effective fuel transport by sea to İGA Fuel Supply Port from all parts of the world thanks to this infrastructure. The port will ensure the fuel provision and security of supply form the areas where affordable base fuel prices are offered. The tanks of İGA Fuel Supply Port has annually fuel intake capacity of nearly 6 million cubic meters,” it said.
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