What's Happening with Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, one of the Gulf Majors, has been undergoing a major overhaul. In one of the most recent financial reports, the Gulf carrier posted a loss. This was mainly due to the bankruptcy of airlines with which it has a majority stake. These include Air Berlin and Alitalia, the latter still operating, but looking for a buyer to acquire its assets. Etihad airways has also grounded all 5 A330F aircraft that it operated, meaning that its cargo fleet consists of solely 777F aircraft, which the airline says will continue to operate as it has more capacity than its Airbus A330F fleet and thus making it more profitable.
In other news, the airline has made changed a lot of its schedule on many routes. Many of its changes are in Asia, with routes operating on a lower or higher schedule. According to routesonline.com the following shedules have been changed:
The Abu Dhabi-Kathmandu flight will reduce from a double-daily flight to a daily flight between 21 May and 16 September 2018. The flight is currently operated by A320 family aircraft. The number of seats available every day during this period will be between 252 and 272 seats depending on the configuration.
The Abu Dhabi-Mumbai flight will operate by a mix of many different aircraft, including A320 family aircraft, A330-200 and -300 aircraft and finally 777-300ER aircraft. The route was previously operated by A320 and A330 aircraft. The airline operates two different routes to Mumbai, operating at different times and with different flight numbers. The EY206/205 route (to Mumbai) will operate using 787-9 aircraft, replacing the A330-200 which previously operated the route. It’s a daily flight which will operate with the 787, but on selected dates, will operate with the A330-200. We estimate that there is around a 13% increase in capacity on the EY206/205 during the 787-9 operation
Previously planned to change operation to an A321, The Abu Dhabi-Ahmedabad route will continue to be operated by an A320.
Reduced from 14 flights weekly to 10 weekly, Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Kuala Lumpur route will be operated by A330-200 and -300s. By 1 September, the frequencies will be lowered to 7 times weekly. Before the change in September, there should be around a 29% decrease in capacity, depending on the aircraft being used. In September, the capacity will reduce by 50% in total compared to the current operation in March 2018.
A major change has come to the Abu Dhabi-Amman route, will have increased frequencies, up from daily to double daily. However, there will be a decrease in capacity after the current 787-9 aircraft will be replaced by an A320 which will be the inaugural double daily flight operator. The capacity decrease should be around 10% even with the double daily service.
The Abu Dhabi-Amsterdam flight operated by a 787-9 will increase it’s service to the European destination from 5 to 6 times weekly, while the A330 will reduce it’s links to the Netherlands’ city from twice to once weekly. In total, the airline will and currently operates daily flights to the European city. Starting the summer season, the 787-9 will fly 82% of the passengers if full compared to a full A330-200.
The city of Belgrade will see an increase of 3 weekly A320 flights. The Serbian city will experience an increase of 30% capacity on Etihad flights to Abu Dhabi. Etihad has competition on flights to the middle east from low cost carrier FlyDubai, AirCairo and Qatar Airways. Air Serbia has only got flights to Bahrain, Beirut and Muscat respectively.
In Africa, Lagos will see an increase of 2 weekly A330-200 flights. Currently, the airline operates weekly flights to Lagos and after the change will have daily flights to the Nigerian capital. Etihad receives intense competition on this route, with 23% of all airlines operating from Lagos operating to the Middle East. If you count easy connections, depending on your criteria, it can go up to 47% of flights operating to the middle east !
The Abu Dhabi-Bangalore service, will see a large increase in capacity as an A330-200 will operate 4 out of the 7 weekly flights while the A321and A320s that currently operate all flights will continue to operate the remaining 3 flights. This means a 30% increase in capacity, again, depending on the aircraft being used.
The A320 service to Entebbe in Africa, will be terminated. When Etihad ends the service, 25% of all revenue routes to and from Entebbe will be to the middle east. This shows that Etihad once again faced intense competition from other airlines.
Abu Dhabi-Geneva route operated by an A330-300 daily, will furthermore be operated by a 787-9, which gives a lot more fuel efficiency; The aircraft offer a reduction of 21% per 100KM
Abu Dhabi-Male in the Maldives, will have increases in its services by Etihad airways, as it adds 4 more weekly flights bringing the total to 11 weekly flights. The airline currently operates the flight with A330-300 aircraft. The airline has a lot of competition, with 17% of all airlines operating from the Maldives operating one route to the middle east directly (17% includes Seasonal flights as well).
Abu Dhabi-Casablanca will be operated daily by the 787-9, replacing the A330-300. The aircraft will increase capacity operated by Etihad on this route by 2%.
Russia is becoming increasingly popular due to the Soccer World Cup. Etihad, on selected dates, will operate double daily flights to Moscow Domedevo. The specific dates are: 11 June 2018-16 June 2018 and 27 June 2018-30 June 2018. Currently the airline operates daily flights and will continue to do so apart from the seasonal dates above.
Abu Dhabi-Paris Charles du Gaulle airport, will see an A380 service year round, daily. Currently the gulf carrier operates a B777-300ER aircraft daily to the French capital. Capacity on the popular route will be increased by 32% when the changes come into service.
Abu Dhabi-Phuket will see a summer-only adjustment, with an A330-200 replacing a 777-300ER. The airline will then continue to operate the 777-300ER daily on the route, as it does now. Capacity will be decreased by about 23% during the seasonal change.
Abu Dhabi-Rome will see an increase of 5 weekly flights taking the total up to 12. By 30 April 2018, Rome will see a total of 14 weekly flights as Etihad airways will have made changes to its schedule to and from the Italian capital. By May, capacity on the route would have doubled. This means that there are round 3668 seats per week (depending on the aircraft configuration).
Abu Dhabi-Rabat will see an increase of scheduled flights, from 2 to 3 weekly flights. This does not include the following dates: 13 May 2018-29 Jun 2018 and 30 September 2018-27 October 2018. The airline will have 693 seats every week after the change (not including the above dates which will have 2 weekly flights)
Etihad airways has also revealed plans to sell its 24% stake in Jet Airways, after the airline has endured major financial issues thank to the recent bankruptcies of Air Berlin and Alitalia. The 5 star airline said that it planned to sell its stake in the Indian carrier by or during 2019. The reason for this, was to focus on its own operations, thus reducing risk of major financial difficulties. The airlines original plans were to invest in many unstable airlines and then help them regain stability. This would give Etihad a large profit depending on the stake it holds if the plan goes well. Though as seen with Air Berlin and Alitalia, it isn’t working. The airline has endured huge losses and has had to reorganise the company as a whole. The airline still has outstanding orders to eventually double its fleet as of March 2018. The airline will continue to grow and should remain as one of the best known carriers in the world.