Aviation

Department of Civil Aviation – Abu Dhabi International Airport

“Ongoing progress at Adia.”

The Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation is moving forward with its multi-million dollar expansion programs despite the global uncertainty faced by the aviation industry over the last two years.

His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, says “the traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport has doubled in less than eight years from 2 million to 4.5 million and we anticipate passenger numbers of 5.1 million in 2004. Careful analysis of the previous trends and knowledge of other factors affecting passenger numbers has enabled us to prepare a strategic plan to take us up to 2015. We believe that investment in infrastructure and facilities at this time is imperative to meet the future demand that will be placed upon our airport and we aim to meet that challenge even before it arises.”

The ongoing expansion projects have included a wide range of improvements to the award-winning duty free shopping complex at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which currently features 34 branded shops and boutiques spread over 3,750 square meters on two levels.

With an average passenger spend of USD 36, Abu Dhabi Duty Free ranks among the top ten airports worldwide. The ground floor of Abu Dhabi Duty Free offers luxury brands in stylish boutiques, including a World of Luxury shop featuring Bvlgari, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo, a Gifts International shop containing boutiques for Montblanc, Bally, Boss, Francesco Smalto and Givenchy, a World of Cigars shop, the Beauty and Fragrance shop, the Vision 2000 electronics shop, a Food and Chocolates shop, and the Liquor and Tobacco shop. The upper level hosts a wide range of reasonably-priced goods including toys, books, luggage, sunglasses, audio/video and sportswear.

The airport expansion has also allowed for upgrading of the various passenger services including a number of food and beverage outlets and the airport in-transit hotel, which now offers four international standard lounges, one of which features the world’s first in-lounge duty free shop, 40 comfortable rooms, a health club and a five star restaurant and bar, while plans are on the drawing board for a new 155-room airport hotel.
Luxury is affordable at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers can treat themselves to First or Business Class style on the ground without paying the high prices, through the Golden Class service. Golden Class offers a comprehensive Meet-and-Assist service with fast track through check-in and immigration, and access to the luxurious VIP lounge, business centre and health club. The Golden Class is available to all passengers, regardless of flight ticket class, at very reasonable rates.

Another service at Abu Dhabi International Airport is the Al Ghazal Golf Club, the home of the Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championship. Passengers can play a round in between flights and follow in the footsteps of Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, hit some balls off the shaded grass driving range, or just enjoy the facilities including a fully licensed clubhouse and terrace, snooker room, swimming pool, pro shop, and health club including gymnasium, sauna, steam and jacuzzi.

The various services at Abu Dhabi International Airport have been presented with many international awards for excellence, including the Frontier Award – the Oscars of the duty free industry – for Best Marketing Campaign by a Retailer in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The latest award to be won is the Emerald Award from Onboard Services magazine for the in-flight catering at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s commitment to improving services and increasing capacity will enable it to cater to the needs of its customers well into the future, and help in promoting Abu Dhabi as a destination to the international tourism industry worldwide.

Etihad Airways

“The World has a New Airline.”

Ehtihad Airways, the new national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is rapidly making its presence known outside the Middle East. The full-service airline made its first commercial flight a little more than seven months ago. Since that time, the airline has quickly expanded from its base in Abu Dhabi and is now attracting attention on an international scale.

Etihad Airways offers flights to Amman, Bangkok, Beirut, Colombo, Damascus and London, with more routes to Europe and Asia about to open. The carrier plans on providing service to a total of up to 16 destinations by the end of this year and hopes to fly to at least one destination in North America in the near future. By 2010 Etihad aims to be flying 50 aircraft to 70 destinations worldwide.

Bringing comfort and value-added service to the commercial air travel experience has been Etihad’s key for success. The airline is being positioned as the airline of the 21st century and promises to make flying an untroubled and pleasant experience that meets or exceeds customer expectations.

Dr. Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Etihad Airways’ Chairman, says that the airline is determined to deliver on what the customer really wants, even if this means slightly higher initial operating costs and lower profit margins over the short-term.

“We are taking the long view with Etihad and, from the outset, our focus has been on doing things differently – reinventing the way an airline works, with the emphasis decidedly on customer service and satisfaction. Since the introduction of business class, there has been very little to differentiate one airline from another. We aim to change that,” he says.

According to Dr. Ahmed, himself a former commercial pilot, the airline’s brand values of imagination and a fresh approach to product and service are being incorporated into all aspects of the airline. “Too often, companies fail to live up to their values as time goes on and they become established in the market. We will not let this happen.”

The Etihad Airways flying experience is entirely based on customer preferences, founded on the premise that air travelers are demanding higher and more sophisticated levels of service. At the same time, in this era of low cost startup airlines, the airline believes an individual approach to guest comfort and service will be recognized as having apparent value.

Borrowing from the traditional spirit of desert hospitality, Etihad has introduced the concept of referring to passengers as guests; indicative of how they are valued and treated by the airline. Similarly there are three zones on all aircraft, rather than classes of seats. But more than just another terminology, Etihad style and service extends through the entire cabin. This will even be more noticeable next year when the airline receives its first delivery of Airbus aircraft with cabins designed to its own specifications.

Each zone provides a premium service, with overall product quality and personal attention being the common factor. The element of personal choice is emphasized, with more selections of meals, fine wines and quality spirits available than on other carriers. On demand service and amenities are tailored to make flights a more enjoyable and individual experience that meets personal preferences at prices that compare favorably with other airlines.

Diamond Zone is luxurious and spacious with 75-inch seat pitch; this little bit of airline terminology translates to more than six feet between seats–giving a sense of roominess and plenty of personal privacy. The seats also fold flat for sleeping comfort on long haul flights. Diamond Zone offers top-of-the-range cuisine, service and entertainment facilities.

Pearl Zone, with comfortable seats having 49-inch pitch allows for plenty of room for guests to stretch out and relax. The zone also provides superior facilities suited to the business traveler who may wish to work during the flight. Again, the watchword is comfort with attention paid to the little details that can make a flight a more pleasant experience.

Coral Zone, with a 32-inch seat pitch that compares with the roomiest seating for any comparably-priced seat in the industry, has been designed with the leisure traveler in mind, providing a value-added service. As in Diamond and Pearl, all guests in this zone have the option of watching personal video screens. Gone are the days of straining to watch a tiny television screen several seats away.

Etihad catering has been created by a panel of award-winning chefs responsible for designing a unique style of fusion cuisine. Menus reflect regional tastes and combine flavors and varying methods of cooking styles to produce fine dining experiences that are memorable for quality and taste. Airline food will never be the same once a guest has experienced Etihad catering.

Etihad Airways also offers the latest in air cargo services from its hub in the Middle East, now considered a critical distribution point between Europe and Asia. The airline also recently launched its travel division partner, Etihad Holidays, which features a full line of vacation and travel products.

“We are doing things differently at Etihad, ” Dr. Ahmed explains. “In effect we are reinventing the airline travel experience in a way that brings individual comfort, style and value to flying.”
Discover Etihad Airways, and enjoy the difference.

Royal Jet

“We have had 50 percent more demand than expected.”

Royal Jet, which began offering private jet service last year in May 2003, with one Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), has been growing rapidly and now operates a fleet of three aircraft, The BBJ and two brand new Gulfstream G300. Two additional new aircraft will join our fleet by the end of 2004 and another two will be in service by end of 2006, which will increase our fleet to a total of 7 aircraft.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation of Abu Dhabi and of Royal Jet, explains, “We have had 50 percent more demand than expected.” While most of the airline’s flights are to destinations elsewhere in the Middle East and in Asia, Royal Jet has made 4 flights to the United States over the past few months and can provide non-stop flights to London. With access to over 100 times more airports worldwide than any scheduled airline, Royal Jet can fly its customers to their preferred choice of airports.

The company maintains its competitive edge by offering exceptional services, including the Middle East’s only emergency medical flights, provided through Royal Med, a division of the parent company, which the government created to benefit local residents as well as international patient transfers. Medical evacuation (Medevac) in Royal Med’s “Air Ambulance”, now represents around 40-45 percent of Royal Jet’s business.
Royal Jet is the only private company employing the Tempus 2000 remote medical monitoring kit, linked by satellite to top medical professionals, including at the Mayo Clinic in case of medical emergencies during any commercial or VIP flight. Sheikh Al Nahyan adds, “We are also different from the competition because we own our own aircraft, facilities and terminal, and everything is brand new. We are building a new terminal with an even better VIP lounge.”

Royal Jet is based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, from which, as Sheikh Al Nahyan points out, “people can travel to any part of the world within a few hours.” To readers in the United States, Sheikh Al Nahyan says, “In this part of the world, we like Americans, and we invite them to come to see everything that we have accomplished here in only a few years.”
For further information please contact:
Mr. Ammar Balkar, Director of Sales
and Marketing, Royal Jet
Tel: +971 2 5757000, Fax: +971 2 5755222
Email: abalkar@royaljetgroup.com
Or visit us on: www.royaljetgroup.com

Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO)

“GAMCO has the determination and formula for a very promising future.”

Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) is a leader in supplying world-class services to the aviation industry. GAMCO services military aircraft and all types of Airbus, Lockheed, and Boeing aircraft, except the Boeing 777 which it will soon be able to handle as well. It is also the only service center in the Middle East authorized to work on Lockheed C130 aircraft.

The company’s core activities are aircraft, engine and components maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and industrial engine repair and overhauling. GAMCO has established an outstanding reputation for service, safety, reliability and attractive prices. Its client list includes Gulf Air, Amiri Flight (the UAE President’s royal fleet), the Royal Air Force (UK), Emirates Airlines, Air France, DHL, Federal Express, and Iberia Airlines and, most recently, Etihad Airways, the new National Airline of the United Arab Emirates.
According to GAMCO’s chairman, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, “As chairman, I am pleased to tell you about my own as well as the entire management team’s commitment to GAMCO’s long-term success.” Dr Ahmed continued that it is his unwavering belief that a strong management team and a well-constructed business plan will serve the company well in its future plans.

GAMCO General Manager Saif M.A. Al Mughairy points out that GAMCO is maintaining its competitive edge through diversifying into new areas while maintaining a high level of quality and service. The company is increasing its component capabilities; is branching out into industrial gas turbine engines through a partnership with General Motors; has formed a joint venture with the global Amadeus reservations system concerning Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman and Qatar; is working on a partnership with British Aerospace concerning Hawk Trader aircraft and with Rolls Royce on smaller engines; has recently begun a partnership with CFC Canada to install glass cockpits for Lockheed Hercules C130 aircraft; and is working with Thales on a project for flight simulators.

One of GAMCO’s goals is to become a leader in servicing large engines. Al Mughairy says, “The real change that is going to happen in terms of basic, core GAMCO business is that we are going to enter the market for servicing very large engines quite aggressively. We expect to establish a substantial presence for ourselves in this market within the next four years.”

Other goals are to begin servicing the Rolls Royce Trent 700 engine in the near future and to handle F16 components and engine overhaul within the next year. “In this area, we are in discussion with a number of companies for joint ventures in specific areas,” Al Mughairy says.

Explaining GAMCO’s outstanding success, Al Mughairy says, “We are very accommodating and flexible, tailoring our activities and approaches to the customer.

We ensure our customers receive superior value than they get from our competitors. We also meet our agreed delivery target dates.”

GAMCO achieved profits of USD 9.89 million in 2003 compared to USD 3.69 million in 2002 and USD 1.47 million in 2001. Al Mughairy comments, “If you look at the profit sheet, it is very strong. We are doing a good job for our customers, our chairman and our shareholders.”