Emirates chief open to working closely with Etihad
Oct 11, 2017, 5:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Emirates chief open to working closely with Etihad
I guess costs / bottom line is a big driver for this:
https://www.thenational.ae/business/...tihad-1.666420
Emirates is open to cooperation with Etihad Airways on areas including procurement, its president Tim Clark said on Wednesday, adding a full merger between the pair was unlikely but up to the owners.
Oct 11, 2017, 5:27 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Here's a long short theory: What if a long-term merge is something the owners have been considering for quite some time and is in part the motivation for building DWC, almost half way between AUH and DXB? Given the exteme capacity planned for, DWC could presumably manage the merged airline, however there would be a lot of redundant routes and all the investment in DXB and AUH especially would be wasted, not to mention the baggage EY carries with it. Perhaps EK acquiring EY is more realistic, with the bad parts of the organisation (Alitalia, Air Berlin) being left out of the deal...
Oct 11, 2017, 5:34 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Here's a long short theory: What if a long-term merge is something the owners have been considering for quite some time and is in part the motivation for building DWC, almost half way between AUH and DXB? Given the exteme capacity planned for, DWC could presumably manage the merged airline, however there would be a lot of redundant routes and all the investment in DXB and AUH especially would be wasted, not to mention the baggage EY carries with it. Perhaps EK acquiring EY is more realistic, with the bad parts of the organisation (Alitalia, Air Berlin) being left out of the deal...
I work for a company that is the product of a recent merger between Dubai and Abu Dhabi govt owned entities and all has gone very well.
Oct 11, 2017, 5:38 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,635
There is no reason why Dubai and Abu Dhabi, one hour apart, both need large global network airlines, or indeed really need separate airports. Hopefully some sanity will prevail and in the long term we'll see Dubai-Abu Dhabi International as the hub of Emirates-Etihad
Oct 11, 2017, 5:47 am
#5
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,603
Oct 11, 2017, 6:02 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,635
Except that London and Paris are not two hours apart by road, and even if they were, 2 hours is not the same as 1 hour
Oct 11, 2017, 6:56 am
#7
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,603
Oct 11, 2017, 7:59 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
A Shanghai style maglev train would be cool, but even a TGV/ICE style high-speed rail system would work nicely (or a faster version of Johannesburg's Gautrain, which does around 140-160km/h)
Oct 11, 2017, 2:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,095
First synergy EK could make is take EY's 40 359s, and 30 7810's they have on order.
That is if they EY would be willing. I think l read not so long ago EY were considering dumping their XWB order. If so its a win win situation for both airlines.
If this were to happen EK would recieve their first 359 very soon.
That is if they EY would be willing. I think l read not so long ago EY were considering dumping their XWB order. If so its a win win situation for both airlines.
If this were to happen EK would recieve their first 359 very soon.
Oct 11, 2017, 2:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: WY SL, EK Gold, CX MPO
Posts: 185
That's certainly an interesting theory and could very well happen. But what would happen to the new AUH airport? Seems like a massive waste by the government if it doesn't pan out. Don't think they could get away with moving all AUH operations to DWC with a merger. I presume Abu Dhabi government would avoid this to save face as it's more of an all or nothing move due to the large percentage of connecting traffic. Sure they could use the new airport for just shorthaul O/D, but then there's a lot of missed opportunities for connecting traffic.
Oct 11, 2017, 2:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
That's certainly an interesting theory and could very well happen. But what would happen to the new AUH airport? Seems like a massive waste by the government if it doesn't pan out. Don't think they could get away with moving all AUH operations to DWC with a merger. I presume Abu Dhabi government would avoid this to save face as it's more of an all or nothing move due to the large percentage of connecting traffic. Sure they could use the new airport for just shorthaul O/D, but then there's a lot of missed opportunities for connecting traffic.
Oct 11, 2017, 10:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,268
DWC won't be at a stage to handle a merged EK/EY operation for another decade or so, it kind of makes sense to still refurb AUH in the interim, especially given that presumably nothing is actually decided, and certainly wasn't when AUH construction began. It'd be a big concession on both sides to merge, given the pride and competition involved between AUH and DXB. The same goes for DXB and the investment there which will be obsolete in 10 years when EK moves. Both airports could be used in some way for connecting traffic if a sufficiently fast rail link were to be established. Unfortunately AUH already has Yas Marina since a race track would be another obvious conversion.