Etihad Airways will cancel all flights to Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas next year after the US carrier American Airlines said it will terminate its codeshare with the Abu Dhabi-based airline in March.
The flights from the UAE's capital to Dallas will become "commercially unsustainable" once the codeshare arrangement is severed in 2018, Etihad said on Thursday, adding that operations on the route will end as of March 25.
American Airlines in July announced it will end its business relationship with both Etihad and Qatar Airways. However, the UAE's national flag-carrier said it "remains open" to the US aviation operator reversing its decision. Like other US carriers, American Airlines has been emboldened by president Donald Trump's protectionist rhetoric that has escalated an ongoing battle to curb Gulf carriers' expansion in the US.
The three largest US carriers – American, Delta and United Airlines – claim expansion of airlines from the Arabian Gulf in the US breaches Open Skies agreements to regulate market competition. They also argue that airlines from the oil-rich region receive subsidies from their governments to "unfairly" spur their growth.
All three of the largest Gulf carriers - Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways - deny the claims and insist they have brought substantial economic benefits to the US. A 2016 report by Oxford Economics found Etihad had contributed a total of US$3.8 billion to the US economy, and supported more than 30,000 American jobs.
"The unfortunate decision by American Airlines to terminate a commercial relationship that benefited both carriers has left Etihad with no choice but to suspend flights between our Abu Dhabi home and Dallas/Fort Worth," Etihad Airways chief executive Peter Baumgartner said.
“We are open to American Airlines reversing its decision to cancel our codeshare agreement so that Etihad Airways can continue [to operate on] the route and together protect and support American national interests and global connectivity while driving commercial value for both airlines.”
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The statement added that Etihad had "invested heavily" in the Dallas route since its launch in December 2014. It started with a thrice-weekly service and was upgraded to a daily flight in February 2017 in response to demand.
More than 235,000 travellers have flown on the route since its launch, and almost half of Etihad Airways’ Dallas-Fort Worth customers connect on US codeshare flights operated by American Airlines, Etihad said.
“The cancellation of the Dallas route is one of several adjustments that we are making to our US network in 2018 in order to improve system profitability. Further changes are possible as we monitor the full impact of the American Airlines codeshare cancellation on summer 2018 bookings," Mr Baumgartner said.
“Etihad Airways is grateful to the state of Texas, its authorities, including the mayors' offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW International Airport, local businesses, the travel trade, and the travelling public for their partnership throughout the years of our operation.”
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The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
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October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
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Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
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