Etihad Airways
has acquired the three main ground handling companies of Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The companies, which handle in-flight catering services, ground handling and cargo operations, are being incorporated, subject to regulatory approvals, into Etihad Airport Services, a unit of Etihad Airways.
It comes as Abu Dhabi Airports Company (
Adac
) is predicting a 15 per cent increase in the number of flights over the peak summer period, between May to August, compared with last summer's peak.
Some 1,065 flights a week are expected, with the number of seats available every week predicted to rise 11 per cent on the previous year, to 32,004.
Etihad said yesterday Adac's three companies, Abu Dhabi Airport Services, Abu Dhabi In-Flight Catering, and Abu Dhabi Cargo Company, were being integrated into Etihad's existing organisational structure to maximise synergies and operational scale.
The re-engineered business units will continue to provide the full range of ground handling, catering and cargo services to Etihad and other airlines at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the airline said.
"This acquisition follows international best practice and is critical to the continued growth of the airline, and more importantly to the sustained growth and development of Abu Dhabi's aviation industry in general as envisioned in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030," said James Hogan, the Etihad president and chief executive.
"The acquisition is a very positive development for the airline, for the three subsidiary companies, and for their employees, who will have access to increased benefits, career enhancement opportunities and training as the organisation continues to grow."
The acquisition will provide significant incremental revenue opportunities, cost savings and operational efficiencies across the various business entities, Mr Hogan added.
During the transition process the airline and Adac said they will work to ensure there is no disruption to existing services as Abu Dhabi airport gears up to handle what it predicts will be its busiest summer.
"The increase in both inbound and outbound flights means Abu Dhabi is not only growing in popularity as a destination for holiday and business travellers, but it's also growing as an international hub for flights connecting to other destinations," said Ahmad Al Haddabi, Adac's chief operating officer. "The airport has already experienced a growth in aircraft movement of 10 per cent so far this year and with the extraordinary number of flights scheduled the trend is set to continue right through the summer."
Etihad will increase flights from 590 to 653 weekly from Abu Dhabi during the coming summer season, while
Qatar Airways
has grown its operations from 35 to 42 flights from the UAE capital.
Jet Airways has grown from 12 to 21 flights, Air Seychelles from four to 10, Air India Express from 24 to 28, Egypt Air from nine to 11, Turkish Airways from four to six, Nas Air from seven to 19, and Malaysia from one to two.
The new carriers Hainan Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Rotana Jet will contribute to the increased number of flights through the airport during summer.
dblack@thenational.ae
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
