Ryanair's $4bn investment promises 2,500 new jobs

Irish-owned low cost airline Ryanair has announced placing an order for a 140 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft.The $4 billion investment involves a firm order for 70 new aircraft and will result in the eventual creation of more than 2,500 jobs, principally for pilots, cabin crew and engineering staff. Half of these jobs will be generated at the airline's existing 12 European bases, with the remainder at the 10 or more new bases that Ryanair plan to develop over the next seven years.Ryanair said that a firm order had been placed for 70 aircraft and that the company has an option on 70 further aircraft.While subject to shareholder approval at an EGM, this agreement would make Ryanair Europe's largest airline based on projected passenger traffic.Announcing this agreement in London this morning, Ryanair's Chairman, David Bonderman said: "The Boeing 737-800 series aircraft is the most efficient narrowbody shorthaul aircraft in the world. Since its introduction into the Ryanair fleet in March 1999 it has transformed our technical reliability, making Ryanair the number one on-time major airline in Europe."At the same time, the 737-800 has significantly reduced our unit operating costs and allowed us to reduce air fares each year for the last five years. With this new order and new pricing in place, Ryanair expects that unit operating costs (excluding fuel) will continue to fall each year for the next five years. This will enable Ryanair to offer even lower fares and underpin our growth strategy as we plan to double traffic from 34 million passengers in 2005/06 to over 70 million passengers in 2011/12."Ryanair's partnership with Boeing has been central to our successful growth as the lowest fare and lowest cost airline in Europe. Today's order for 140 additional aircraft (70 firm units) gives Ryanair access to lower aircraft costs, which in turn reduces operating costs and reinforces our determination to drive air fares in Europe even lower".This increased $4 billion aircraft order is the result of a Ryanair-Boeing agreement on improved pricing from 2005 onward. The company said that this investment will enable "planned double-digit growth during the latter years of this decade" to be maintained.The agreement reinforces the Ryanair-Boeing partnership as it delivers the lowest per seat aircraft cost in Europe.The transaction also includes agreement on winglet modifications to Ryanair's entire fleet (delivering a 2% reduction in fuel consumption) and improved support terms.As a result of the agreement announced today, Ryanair expects to be able to offer the lowest per seat operating cost in Europe.(SP/MB)

Ryanair Orders 70 New Planes From Boeing

Ryanair Orders 70 New Planes Worth $4 Billion From Boeing, Takes Option to Buy 70 More

LONDON (AP) -- Ryanair Holdings PLC said Thursday it has ordered 70 planes valued at $4 billion from Boeing Co. and has taken the option to buy 70 more, signaling that the budget airline is continuing its rapid growth across Europe.
The deal is also a coup for U.S. manufacturer Boeing in its long-running rivalry with European consortium Airbus to dominate the aerospace market.
Ryanair said most of the 70 firm orders for the Boeing 737-800 series of aircraft will be delivered between 2008 and 2012, allowing the carrier to maintain its planned double-digit growth during the latter years of this decade. The list price for the planes is $4 billion; the company declined to say exactly how much it paid for the planes.
The agreement, which is subject to shareholder approval, brings the total Ryanair order book with Boeing to 225 firm orders and 193 options.
Ryanair said it will have taken delivery of about 100 new Boeings -- from an original order of 155 -- by the end of 2005.
Ryanair Chairman David Bonderman said the airline considered the Boeing 737-800s -- introduced into the Ryanair fleet in 1999 -- to be the most efficient narrow-body short-haul aircraft available.
"The 737-800 has significantly reduced our unit operating costs and allowed us to reduce our air fares each year for the last five years," Bonderman said.
Mike Marino, chief executive of Aviation Partners Boeing, a Seattle-based joint venture, said the significance of the order "is huge and it really pushes us over the top as far as critical mass goes," given Ryanair's position as the largest low-cost carrier in Europe.
Chicago-based Boeing has staked its future on industry deregulation and smaller, long-range planes like its planned two-aisle 787 Dreamliner -- scheduled to debut in 2008 -- that will allow passengers increasingly to fly direct, spurning stopovers at hub airports.
France-based Airbus sees a future based on demand for massive planes to transport a growing number of passengers. It unveiled the world's largest commercial jet, the double-decker A380 "superjumbo," in January.
Ryanair said the new order of Boeing jets, combined with a new pricing structure, would help the airline push unit operating costs -- excluding fuel -- lower for the next five years.
"This will enable Ryanair to offer even lower fares and underpin our growth strategy as we plan to double traffic from 34 million passengers in 2005-06 to more than 70 million passengers in 2011-12," Bonderman said.
Ryanair said the 70 new aircraft will also create more than 2,500 jobs at the airline, principally at its existing 12 European bases, with the remainder at the 10 or more new bases it plans to develop over the next seven years.
The carrier has been aggressive in opening new routes in recent months. It currently operates 220 routes across 19 countries.
Shares in Ryanair rose 3.4 percent to 6.35 pounds ($8.42) in afternoon trading on the London Stock Exchange.

By Jane Wardell, AP Business Writer

American Airlines Enhances Self-Service With New Locations and Smart Features

Canadian Deployment and Large Party Check-In Continue to Improve Automated Passenger Registration

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Starting today, passengers will be able to expedite their check-in from Vancouver International Airport and the Calgary International Airport for returning passengers to the United States. Additionally, Self-Service Check-In will be available in the next few months at the Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal's Trudeau International Airport.
A new Self-Service feature will allow check-in for groups of ten or more passengers booked in a single reservation on American's Self-Service machines. With this new feature, families and large parties will be able to avoid long lines at ticket counters in airports across the United States during check-in.
"We know that customers want different check-in options, and Self-Service Check-In continues to be an evolving platform that allows us to create additional solutions for our passengers," said Maya Leibman, Managing Director of Airport Automation for American Airlines. "Customer feedback and evolving technology let us deliver the best solutions for our passengers' needs. As always, our agents are available to assist all passengers at our ticket counters."
Building on proven solutions and customer feedback, American Airlines has developed new enhancements for its airport Self-Service Check-In solutions. American Airlines has deployed its Self Service Check-In at more than 94 airports across the United States and Canada, Paris' Charles De Gaulle International Airport and London's Heathrow Airport.
Passengers using a Self-Service machine can check-in, print and reprint boarding passes and check luggage in as fast as 30 seconds. In mid-2004, American updated its automated interface with a Spanish language option and a robust reengineered backend infrastructure that significantly speeds up the transactions. Currently, more than 65% of American passengers utilize an automated check-in option, including the Self-Service Check-In, Curbside Check-In and Flight Check-In on AA.com.
About American Airlines
American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) regional airlines serve more than 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 3,800 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award- winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 600 destinations in over 135 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR - News).
AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, AAdvantage and Net SAAvers & Special Offers are marks of American Airlines, Inc. AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(SM)
Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.
The address is http://www.aa.com
Source: American Airlines, Inc.

Dubai to have strong presence at two international travel exhibitions

Participation in major trade exhibitions and overseas promotions are vital to Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)'s campaign to strengthen emirate's foothold in the global tourism market.

DTCM pavilion at a previous exhibition.

This week, the department will showcase Dubai's tourism facilities at two leading international travel exhibitions – EMITT-2005 in Istanbul and Travel World-2005 in Mumbai, India. These exhibitions will offer DTCM an opportunity to network with the local travel trade and present a strong case for Dubai to be included in local travel agents' itinerary. This year, DTCM is participating in 31 exhibitions and conducting 12 road shows across the world to strengthen Dubai's image in the global tourism industry. EMITT-2005 (East Mediterranean Travel and Tourism Exhibition) is one the largest in that region, and attracted an average of 100,000 visitors last year. This year, the show will take place over a 20,000 square metre area, featuring more than 1000 exhibitors from over 50 countries. The show is being held between February 24 and 27. The department's co-participants at the show include Desert Link Tourism, Net Group of Companies, Desert Adventures Tourism, Alpha tours, Knight Tours, Sun & Sand Hotel Dubai, Sofitel City Center Hotel and Residence, Bin Majid Tours, Planet Travels Tours and Cargo, Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Coral Deira Dubai, Oasis Adventure, Accor Hotels World Trade Centre and Gulliver's Travel Associates. The department is also participating with a 49-square-metre stand at the Travel World 2005 to be held from February 24 to 27. The exhibition is South Asia's largest Business-to-Business tourism forum and features over 200 domestic and international exhibitors. The DTCM co-participants at the show are Desert Link Tourism, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Lama Desert Tours & Cruises, Seaview Hotel, Gulliver's Travel Associates, Oasis Adventures, Accor Hotels World Trade Centre, Arabian Dream Tours and Hotel Inter-Continental Dubai. Due to its proximity and strong trade ties, India is an important source market for Dubai's tourism industry.

Airline offers refunds

THE mysterious gas leak at Melbourne airport is expected to cost Virgin Blue more than $2 million, after it offered cash refunds and free flights yesterday to furious passengers left stranded this week.Investigators hope to identify by the end of the week the chemical substance that put 47 people in hospital and threw the travel plans of nearly 20,000 Virgin Blue and Regional Express passengers into turmoil.
Thousands of passengers converged on Virgin's south terminal at Melbourne airport early yesterday in a bid to fly out of the city, following delays forced by the terminal's closure on Monday for eight hours when 57 people experienced dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. Virgin cancelled 82 flights on Monday and a further 20 yesterday as it struggled to cope with massive disruption to its network caused by the closure and its aftermath. Rex cancelled at least 16 services.
About 75 per cent of the airline's flights were back on schedule early last night. The other 25 per cent were running late but airline officials said everyone booked yesterday would get to their destination.
Virgin also announced it was offering a full cash refund or a flight credit coupon for all people who had switched to another airline, as well as a free flight for all passengers delayed for more than four hours.
Angry Virgin officials now want answers about the cause of the biggest daily disruption to services in the airline's history.
Air Services Australia, which co-ordinated the emergency response to the situation, originally suspected a food poisoning outbreak, but it later became clear that the outbreak was the result of an unidentified substance in the air.
Extensive testing by Metropolitan Fire Brigade investigators has failed to establish the nature or location of the substance. But airport spokesman Geoffrey Conaghan said he was confident it could be determined by the end of a two-day debriefing on the incident beginning tomorrow.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks announced yesterday that Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin would conduct an inquiry into the incident, in which 47 people were taken to the nearby Northern Hospital for dehydration treatment and blood tests.
"We need to determine how the emergency response system operated," he said

Air France-KLM named airline of the year

WASHINGTON: European airline Air France-KLM, founded in May by Air France's merger with its Dutch rival KLM, has been named airline of 2005 by Air Transport World air industry magazine, for its "remarkable" transformation and "philosophy of aggressive global growth." Air France-KLM president Jean-Cyril Spinetta and vice president Leo Van Wijk accepted the award late Tuesday during a ceremony that also gave awards to regional low-cost air carriers Air Asia and Virgin Atlantic.



A combination of two pictures shows a KLM Boeing 747-400 and an Air-France plane

"The merger with KLM and the subsequent privatization of AF are worthy of special recognition," ATW Editorial Director J.A. Donoghue said at the ceremony. "Combining two of Europe's legendary flag carriers into the largest airline in the world should begin the much-needed rationalization of capacity while providing substantial benefits from the merger," he added. In a brief speech, Spinetta recalled what prompted the merger of the two companies: "we were at risk because we were middle weight champions in a heavy weight business." He also praised the United States as "a country that symbolizes optimism and dynamism," and stressed that as the largest economy in the world, "the US is a key market for us." Other air carriers to carry off awards from ATW included Air New Zealand for its remarkable resurgence after skirting with bankruptcy in 2001, and Luxembourg's airfreight carrier Cargolux and Mesa Air, which serves the North American region. - AFP

Enhanced hotel links in dynamic packaging sector

It appears that travel agents and tour operators will soon enjoy new, dynamic packaging opportunities, following an agreement by Multicom and Pegasus Solutions to offer accommodation through FindandBook, the first ever leisure Global Distribution System (GDS).

FindandBook, launched last year, is a complete travel booking engine for all tour operators and travel retailers. The solution plugs into any web site or can be harnessed within actual, physical agencies and call centres, where sales staff use the technology as a reservations system, calling up FindandBook within their own web site.
The deal, which entails implementing the electronic distribution technology and service of Pegasus, a global provider of technology and services to hotels and travel distributors, allows users of Multicom's FindandBook to sell Pegasus' worldwide network of more than 60,000 hotels through the GDS. In return, the hotels will now reach Multicom's network of agents, operators and online brands.
Agents and operators will also apparently be able to access their own contracted rates with preferred properties, allowing them to build relationships with hotels offering the best fit for their target customers, and focus sales on hotels suited to producing the highest margins.
"Agents and operators selling in the dynamic packaging sector are often totally indiscriminate, and instead of creating targeted offers they generate lists of hundreds of hotels their customers can book with,” claims Rob Howell, Multicom Managing Director.
"Our implementation of Pegasus' technology will enable our clients to focus on hotels worldwide that suit their markets, and negotiate preferential rates in return for driving bookings. This has to be the way forward for the industry."
Peter Fitzgerald, Pegasus Solutions' Vice President of Sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, adds that Multicom is playing a key role in powering the leisure travel industry's Internet marketplace. “This agreement is another step forward for the travel sector, and will help agents and operators manage their dynamic packaging opportunities."

Hilton Worldwide Resorts Expanding with 14 New Resorts to Open In the Next Two Years

21st February 2005 – Award winning Hilton Worldwide Resorts today launched its 2005 portfolio, which includes 13 additional properties, bringing the current number of resorts to 59 in 24 countries.
The upscale resort network has also announced further expansion with 14 new resorts, (over 3,000 rooms), planned to open around the world in the next two years.
14 new openings planned for the next two years
Hilton Whistler Resort, Canada (HHC) Hilton Portorosa, Sicily (HI) Hilton Evian Resort & Spa, France (HI) Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, USA (HHC) Hilton Krabi Resort & Spa, Thailand (HI) Hilton Venice, Italy (HI) Hilton Amazon Eco-Lodge, Brazil (HI) Hilton Seychelles, Indian Ocean (HI) Hilton Margaret River Vineyard Resort & Spa, Australia (HI) Hilton Denaru, Fiji (HI) Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa, China (HI) Hilton Ain Sokhna, Egypt (HI) Hilton North Miami Beach Resort, Florida, USA (HHC) Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort, New Mexico, USA (HHC)
Ian Carter, Chief Executive, Hilton International comments, “The expansion of the resort portfolio reflects the increase in leisure business and demand for our resort product. We will continue to explore opportunities to develop Hilton Worldwide Resorts and to offer guests an unrivalled global collection of upscale holiday destinations.” The expanded 2005 portfolio and new resort openings will see Hilton Worldwide Resorts double from just 36 resorts at its launch in 2002 to 73 resorts by 2007.
New to the 2005 portfolio are eight Hilton Hotels Corporation resorts in the US, the Conrad Phuket Resort & Spa in Thailand and Hilton International resorts in Italy, Barbados, Egypt and the Philippines. Philippa Gould, Product Development Director, Hilton International, comments on the growth; “Hilton Worldwide Resorts has gone from strength to strength. The 2005 additional resorts, which are a mixture of existing Hilton properties and new openings, further enhance our far reaching global choice and provide even more wonderful spa, golf, romantic, family and diving holiday experiences for guests to sample.
“We are equally excited about the 14 new openings planned for the next two years. These include a line up of resorts in new, exotic places for Hilton such as Whistler, Evian, Portorosa, Venice, Seychelles, Fiji, Western Australia and a specialist Eco-Lodge in the Amazon Rainforest.”
Currently, 37 resorts are operated by Hilton International, 19 by Hilton Hotels Corporation and three by Conrad.

Dhaka for more regional co-op to promote tourism

KOLKATA, Feb 21: State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin on Monday said more cooperation and concerted efforts of BIMSTEC countries are needed for achieving the goals of tourism in the region, reports BSS. He said this while addressing a workshop of the tourism ministers and travel and tourism industry representatives of BIMSTEC countries here. The workshop, first of its kind, would beckon a great prospect for BIMSTEC member countries to bolster their ties and explore potentials of tourism, he said. “It is a great desire of us and an urgent need of current global phenomenon of tourism,” he added. Referring to the unique feature of BIMSTEC, he said the group has established a bridge between South and South East Asia to enable the member states to forge integration.He said the region has numerous places of tourist attractions and through proper coordination and targeted promotional campaign BIMSTEC states would be able to capture the attention of major tourist generating markets. Mir Nasir also observed that there was a tremendous potential of promoting Buddhist Circuit Tourism among the member countries of BIMSTEC, including Bangladesh. Buddhist Circuit Tourism covering potential tourist attractions for the member countries should be developed as well as possible, he said. “The Buddhist Circuit Tourism would bring momentum in eco-tourism along with spiritual tourism in the days to come,” he said. Indian Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhury, tourism ministers of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and high commissioner of Sri Lanka to India and Tourism Minister of West Bengal Dinesh Dakua attended the workshop.

BAE calms fears over Airbus stake

AEROSPACE and defence group BAE Systems today denied it planned to sell its stake in European aircraft giant Airbus.Trade ministers had expressed concern about a potential sale, but BAE, based in the Farnborough, said it was not looking to dispose of its 20 per cent interest in the Toulouse-based group.A BAE spokesman said: "We never say never, but at the moment, our position is that a sale is not being considered."At a recent Cabinet sub-committee meeting on aerospace and industry issues, ministers were reported to have expressed "deep reservations" about any move by BAE to sell its stake in Airbus.Defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Industry secretary Patricia Hewitt were said to be concerned that any divestment by BAE would simply be a move to cash in on the success of the pan-European jet maker, which employs about 10,000 people at sites in Broughton, near Chester, and Filton, in Bristol.Ministers believed such a move would put the short-term interests of BAE investors before the longer term interests of one of the UK's few successful industrial sectors.An Industry Department spokesman said: "Airbus is a good UK manufacturing story and we want to ensure it has a long- term future."Airbus which makes the A380 superjumbo, has overtaken US rival Boeing as the world leader in commercial jet manufacturing.

Airbus A380 released by Abacus

The Airbus A380 made its first public appearance in mid-January and is scheduled to make its first test flight this Spring. This exciting aircraft has received tremendous attention and for good reason. The A380-800 seats up to 550 passengers and transports them up to 8000 miles. Due to the enormous size and weight of the A380, the Airbus Consortium is working with major airports to modify their runways, taxiways and loading gates to handle its two story passenger compartment.

Already, thirteen international carriers have placed firm orders for 135 of the new aircraft. The first A380 is slated to launch in 2006. Among the intial carriers are Lufthansa, China Southern Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad Airways, Qantas, Singapore Air, Federal Express, UPS and others.