Question:
> Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is > a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a > sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much > further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It > is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with > footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous > new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, > including the parallels with Changi and SQ. All three carriers however > are exploiting their geographical position, just as SQ did 30 years > ago. Even EK has only just started, and the others will follow. The > question is what will happen to GF? They really need to re-invent > themselves to compete.
For Europeans who want to travel to the UAE on holiday, it’s worth pointing out that the UAE legal system is quite different from the one they will be familiar with: http://www.travelwizard.com/middleeast/UnitedArabEmirates_Overview.html "Persons involved in an accident in which another party is injured automatically go to jail until the injured person is released from the hospital. Should a person die in a traffic accident, the driver of the other car is liable for payment of compensation for the death (known as "dhiyya"), usually the equivalent of $41,000 (US). Even relatively minor accidents may result in lengthy proceedings, during which both drivers may be prohibited from leaving the country." There was an incident a while ago where a UK citizen on a jet ski badly injured a swimmer. The jet ski driver was jailed for quite a long time while things were sorted out. I’m not trying to put people off: Dubai is a fabulous place and well worth a visit. But it’s as well to be forewarned. — Simon Elliott http://www.ctsn.co.uk
Response:
>Hints? It is reality. Emirates have created a major hub at DXB which >is already serving the Europe-Asia/Australia/NZ market, have started >to add North America, and will include South Africa and South America.
Will include? Last year, someone flew out to meet me on a LHR-JNB via DXB with Emirates. She liked it even though it was a bit out of the way. Jim.
Response:
>>Hints? It is reality. Emirates have created a major hub at DXB which >is already serving the Europe-Asia/Australia/NZ market, have started >to add North America, and will include South Africa and South America. >Will include? Last year, someone flew out to meet me on a LHR-JNB via >DXB with Emirates. She liked it even though it was a bit out of the >way. >Jim.
Good grief. It’s already started. I can’t keep up with their expansion! –==++AJC++==–
Response:
> How is the gay life in Dubai, I wonder…
The population is overwhelmingly male, for whatever that’s worth. > could I bring my Jewish boyfriend for a visit…???
Yes, there is no rule preventing Jews or boyfriends from visiting Dubai. It’s actually a very nice place and I’d recommend it to almost anyone. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
>> Hints? It is reality. Emirates have created a major hub at DXB which > is already serving the Europe-Asia/Australia/NZ market, have started > to add North America, and will include South Africa and South America. > They are already like airlines such as Singapore, KLM, Icelandair, > where the size of the airline far outweighs the size of population of > their home country. Qatar and Etihad will do the same. > Singapore has significant O&D traffic as it is a regional financial > centre (like HKG and Tokyo in Asia, London and Frankfurt in Europe) and > has a pretty good industrial and regional HQ base too. Middle East > doesn’t have any of that other than oil workers?
Tourism is big and growing in Dubai (though not really elsewhere in the Gulf). Throughout the region there are huge numbers of foreign workers – not just oil workers, not by a long shot – who visit their homes in Asia as often as they can manage. On almost any flight between the Gulf and points east you’ll see that most of the passengers are blue and white-collar workers, not holidaymakers. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is >> a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a >> sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much >> further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It >> is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with >> footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous >> new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, >> including the parallels with Changi and SQ. >Does Singapore ban holders of Israeli passports and discourage Jews in >general from visiting? > No idea. I suggest you’d be better off addressing your query to an > embassy or consulate of Singapore. I haven’t heard of any problems > with Singapore, but I’m sure you are aware that New Zealand is > extremely displeased with Israel at the moment. New Zealand have just > jailed two Israeli spies, a third has fled, and apparently has been > working for the North Korean government of all things! New Zealand is > very unhappy with what they perceive to be Israel’s arrogant attitude > to the matter, they have imposed diplomatic sanctions against Israel, > but I suppose it is quite concieveable that they could impose > sanctions against ordinary Israeili citizens if things deteriorate > further. I suppose it is all part of the regular way of governments > falling in and out with one another.
AJC you are so cute when you are being "flip"… 
>All this fuss about Dubai reminds me of the brouhaha about the 1936 Berlin >Olympics, e.g. "Wow, what a fabulous place! These Germans have really got >things on the ball here!". > Well that’s far too long ago for me to have any experience of, but the > history I learned doesn’t throw up any obvious similarities.
Maybe you should study more history…just a thought >Let’s face it: Dubai is just another Muslim shite hole. A nicely glammed – >up shite hole, but a shite hole nonetheless. > Oh the world is full of shite holes, of all creeds and religions, > always has been, probably always will be.
How is the gay life in Dubai, I wonder…could I bring my Jewish boyfriend for a visit…??? — Best Greg "just wonderin’…"
Response:
> Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be > overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, > since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s > with just business travelers.
Pilgrimages to Mecca. Also, while it appears that they are being extremly optimistic, remember that there is a lot of money in the middle east and it is also well placed strategically to act as hubs. (but not perfect location on great circle routes).
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is > a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a > sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much > further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It > is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with > footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous > new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, > including the parallels with Changi and SQ. > Does Singapore ban holders of Israeli passports and discourage Jews in > general from visiting? > All this fuss about Dubai reminds me of the brouhaha about the 1936 Berlin > Olympics, e.g. "Wow, what a fabulous place! These Germans have really got > things on the ball here!". > Let’s face it: Dubai is just another Muslim shite hole. A nicely glammed – > up shite hole, but a shite hole nonetheless.
Well, at least they’re doing something constructive with their oil riches. Most of the region is indeed a corrupt and dangerous shite hole, but if any country in the area has a chance of becoming the next Singapore it would be the UAE. They are on a spending orgy, and with the current high price of oil they can afford massive fleets and mega construction projects. I think they are doing a noble thing. I wish them well, as we all should. However… the oil bidness is very finicky. In 1981, the entire world believed that oil prices would rise forever. Prices were far higher than they are today adjusted for inflation. The Middle East was awash in cash. Then the inevitable bust hit. IIRC, the price for a barrel of crude dropped below $9. What would happen to all of their grandiose construction projects and enormous aircraft orders if the cash spigot was suddenly turned off agai n? This should be a serious concern for any company relying heavily on sales from one tiny portion of the world that receives its entire revenue from one commodity. Those who think it can’t happen again are deluding themselves.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is > a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a > sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much > further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It > is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with > footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous > new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, > including the parallels with Changi and SQ. >Does Singapore ban holders of Israeli passports and discourage Jews in >general from visiting?
No idea. I suggest you’d be better off addressing your query to an embassy or consulate of Singapore. I haven’t heard of any problems with Singapore, but I’m sure you are aware that New Zealand is extremely displeased with Israel at the moment. New Zealand have just jailed two Israeli spies, a third has fled, and apparently has been working for the North Korean government of all things! New Zealand is very unhappy with what they perceive to be Israel’s arrogant attitude to the matter, they have imposed diplomatic sanctions against Israel, but I suppose it is quite concieveable that they could impose sanctions against ordinary Israeili citizens if things deteriorate further. I suppose it is all part of the regular way of governments falling in and out with one another. >All this fuss about Dubai reminds me of the brouhaha about the 1936 Berlin >Olympics, e.g. "Wow, what a fabulous place! These Germans have really got >things on the ball here!".
Well that’s far too long ago for me to have any experience of, but the history I learned doesn’t throw up any obvious similarities. >Let’s face it: Dubai is just another Muslim shite hole. A nicely glammed – >up shite hole, but a shite hole nonetheless.
Oh the world is full of shite holes, of all creeds and religions, always has been, probably always will be. –==++AJC++==–
Response:
> Hints? It is reality. Emirates have created a major hub at DXB which > is already serving the Europe-Asia/Australia/NZ market, have started > to add North America, and will include South Africa and South America. > They are already like airlines such as Singapore, KLM, Icelandair, > where the size of the airline far outweighs the size of population of > their home country. Qatar and Etihad will do the same.
Singapore has significant O&D traffic as it is a regional financial centre (like HKG and Tokyo in Asia, London and Frankfurt in Europe) and has a pretty good industrial and regional HQ base too. Middle East doesn’t have any of that other than oil workers?
Response:
> July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > as much as $7 billion.
Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s with just business travelers.
Response:
>July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger >aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab >Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth >as much as $7 billion. >Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be >overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, >since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s >with just business travelers.
Don’t forget the Middle East virtually "imports" *all* of their blue collar workers and some white collar ones. The locals rarely "work" per se. There’s an enormous amount of nationals from countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Philippines etc that work/live in the mid east and they all usually get a free trip home once a year as part of their contracts. With so many of them travelling over the year, there’s almost a guaranteed load factor for each flight. The mid east carriers are also now also making inroads into what the Asian carriers have been doing for years. Funnelling through and connecting traffic from the nether regions through to Europe. Another added attraction with Euro flights is the large number of senior white collar workers from there that work in the mid east as well. Don’t think of them using these craft as a to and from a Mid East port only – they fill a very big and ever growing niche peculiar to the mid east.
Response:
>> July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > as much as $7 billion. >Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be >overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, >since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s >with just business travelers.
Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, including the parallels with Changi and SQ. All three carriers however are exploiting their geographical position, just as SQ did 30 years ago. Even EK has only just started, and the others will follow. The question is what will happen to GF? They really need to re-invent themselves to compete. –==++AJC++==–
Response:
> Well in the case of Emirate’s home territory, Dubai is booming, it is > a fast growing tourist destination popular with Europeans seeking a > sun sea and sand holiday with a difference, and is set to grow much > further. Of course it is also a very popular stopover destination. It > is also developing in to a playground for the rich and famous with > footballers, pop stars and such like buying up some of the fabulous > new developments there. It is rather successfully doing a Singapore, > including the parallels with Changi and SQ.
Does Singapore ban holders of Israeli passports and discourage Jews in general from visiting? All this fuss about Dubai reminds me of the brouhaha about the 1936 Berlin Olympics, e.g. "Wow, what a fabulous place! These Germans have really got things on the ball here!". Let’s face it: Dubai is just another Muslim shite hole. A nicely glammed – up shite hole, but a shite hole nonetheless. — Best Greg
Response:
> July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > as much as $7 billion. > Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be > overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, > since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s > with just business travelers.
I’ve seen hints that BA, Qantas, Virgin, etc., are the ones to have worries. These hints say that the Middle-Eastern airlines buying the A380 are eyeing the Europe to Asia routes with [maybe] a tech stop at their home base. O/D traffic to/from their base wouldn’t be their prime motive according to these stories.
Response:
> July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > as much as $7 billion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3913493.stm and now Turkish, but it doesnt say which planes.
Response:
>> July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > as much as $7 billion. >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3913493.stm >and now Turkish, but it doesnt say which planes.
330s and 320 family, oh and some 737s. The idea is they buy from Airbus to get in favour with Europeans to support their application to join the EU, and buy from Boeing to keep in favour with the Americans so Bush will continue saying the EU should let them join. Or am I being synical? –==++AJC++==–
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger > > aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab > > Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth > > as much as $7 billion. > Am I the only who thinks all these Middle-Eastern airlines might just be > overreaching their grasp? I mean, how much of a tourist trade is there, > since I can’t imagine all the separate carriers filling all these A380’s > with just business travelers. >I’ve seen hints that BA, Qantas, Virgin, etc., are the ones to have worries. >These hints say that the Middle-Eastern airlines buying the A380 are eyeing >the Europe to Asia routes with [maybe] a tech stop at their home base. O/D >traffic to/from their base wouldn’t be their prime motive according to these >stories.
Hints? It is reality. Emirates have created a major hub at DXB which is already serving the Europe-Asia/Australia/NZ market, have started to add North America, and will include South Africa and South America. They are already like airlines such as Singapore, KLM, Icelandair, where the size of the airline far outweighs the size of population of their home country. Qatar and Etihad will do the same. –==++AJC++==–
Response:
July 20 — Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of passenger aircraft, won an order from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for 24 planes, including four A380s, plus 12 options worth as much as $7 billion. The order from the government-owned carrier, which plans to expand its fleet to 50 planes by 2009, also includes 12 A330-200s, four A340-500s and four A340-600s, the airline’s chairman, Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Saif Al-Nahyan, said at a press briefing at the Farnborough Air Show in the U.K. The order extends Airbus’s lead over Chicago-based rival, Boeing Co., which it overtook last year as the world’s largest plane maker. Excluding today, Toulouse, France-based Airbus has secured orders for 104 aircraft this year, while Boeing has orders for 86 planes, including four from yesterday from Emirates of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Middle East carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have been among the biggest drivers of orders during the last three years as they seek to build capacity. As well as wanting to boost international connections with their home base to encourage business and tourist travel, all three seek to use their Persian Gulf location as a hub for more traffic between Europe, the Middle East, and South and East Asia. Etihad Fleet Etihad operates a fleet of six, all but one of which are Airbus. It’s already agreed to lease four more planes, and buy two, all Airbus A330 twin-aisle aircraft. The carrier, which last month carried 50,000 passengers, serves eight destinations, including London, Geneva and Bangkok. It plans to add three more, including the London’s Gatwick Airport and Bombay, before the end of August, according to Kevin Steele, head of sales. From December, it plans to expand it Asian network, adding Delhi, Manila and Kuala Lumpur, Steele said in an interview in Abu Dhabi last week. Abu Dhabi produces about 2 million barrels a day of oil, making it the Middle East’s fourth-largest producer, and has a population of 1.1 million people.
Response:
Subscribe to Posts