As the Gulf's long-haul airlines face growing resistance to expansion into Canadian and European destinations, they are being welcomed with open arms at a major US airport keen to boost passenger traffic. Officials from Los Angeles visited Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha this week to assure the big three Gulf long-haul specialists - Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways - that they could serve the Southern California gateway airport profitably.
"We think there is a great synergy and a lot of possibility for growth for the Gulf carriers," said Gina Marie Lindsey, the executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. "There is room for all three." In 2008, Emirates opened the first non-stop, direct services between the Middle East and Los Angeles with a service three times a week. Citing heavy demand, the airline soon offered daily services. It is expected to start a twice-daily service within weeks.
The carrier has been working with Boeing to operate its largest capacity 777 aircraft, the 300ER, on the route. This would allow it to fly an additional 75 to 100 passengers on each flight as well as a full load of cargo, compared with the aircraft it currently uses, the 200LR. Los Angeles International Airport officials touted the airport's catchment area of 20 million residents and an investment programme worth US$6.4 billion (Dh23.5bn) including 1 million square feet of new terminal space, opening in 2012.
One of the airport's selling points is the diversity of Los Angeles. There are an estimated 450,000 travellers flying between India and Los Angeles each year, in addition to 100,000 to and from Iran and 180,000 to Vietnam. In addition to marketing the airport for Etihad and Qatar Airways to add daily services, airport officials are also working to convince Emirates of the potential to utilise the Airbus A380 double-decker aircraft on the route.
This week, the UAE Government took the rare public step of declaring its disappointment with the Canadian government after five years of fruitless talks to expand the number of flights by Etihad and Emirates. Meanwhile, the head of Air France called on fellow European airlines and governments to develop a strategy to counter the perceived threat posed by the Gulf carriers, which have been able to grow market share in the eastern and western long-haul markets, through a combination of newer aircraft and updated passenger cabins, shorter transit times and luxury lounges.
Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, yesterday sought to deflect criticism that the emirate's aviation industry was growing due to unfair advantages such as state support. "The only thing Dubai is guilty of is providing an environment that actually supports aviation. Most governments around the world treat aviation as a pariah, choking its growth with costly, misdirected regulation," he said. In contrast to many countries, the US, like the UAE, has an "open skies" policy that allows unlimited flights by foreign airlines, as long as airport slots are available. This is also the case in the UK, where Gulf airlines have expanded rapidly.
Last week, Andrew Crawley, the director of sales and marketing at British Airways, said his airline did not get involved in lobbying the government against new competition. "The government is very much aligned to a free market approach," he said during a visit to the UAE. "There is no protectionism whatsoever - it's a free-for-all in the UK and anyone can come and go." igale@thenational.ae
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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if you go
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THREE
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South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate