Etihad Airways and airberlin have agreed to integrate their Boeing 787 Dreamliner programmes, affecting a total of 56 firm aircraft – which is more Dreamliners than are on order with any other airline – and saving millions of dollars for both carriers.
A combined Etihad Airways-airberlin team, led by Etihad Airways, will oversee the integration program, which will see the two airlines share infrastructure, pool maintenance, develop joint training programs, and streamline purchasing activity for engines, rotables, avionics and inflight entertainment systems, as well as work jointly on product development for the new aircraft type.
Etihad Airways president and CEO, James Hogan, said: “This program is the first of a range of initiatives that will bring significant cost synergies and savings for both airlines.
“It is an ideal solution for reducing the costs associated with the introduction of a new aircraft type, and an excellent example of the value of our partnership, enabling Etihad Airways and airberlin to achieve economies of scale and avoid duplication in areas like design and certification.
“It makes both operational and commercial sense to work together on common fleet issues and we expect the synergies we achieve through this integration to result in significant efficiency benefits for both airlines.
“We will also be able to deliver a level of commonality across our B787 fleets in relation to onboard cabin specifications, which will provide passengers with a consistent product experience when they travel across the airlines’ extensive networks.”
CEO of airberlin, Mr Hartmut Mehdorn, said: “Together with our strategic partner Etihad Airways, airberlin saw an opportunity to work as a team in developing the introduction into service of this innovative aircraft.
“airberlin is already the most fuel efficient network carrier in Europe and has brought down fuel consumption in 2011 to the record value of 3,5 litres/100 passenger kilometres. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the perfect match to our eco-efficient fleet and we are hugely impressed by the improved fuel efficiencies which this aircraft delivers and look forward to making the next step of fuel efficient flying.”
In December 2011 Etihad Airways increased its stake in airberlin to 29.21 per cent, making it the single biggest shareholder in Europe’s sixth largest airline.
The move came just days after Etihad Airways announced it was buying 10 more B787-9 Dreamliners, taking its total order to 41, with 25 options and purchasing rights, making the UAE flag carrier the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.
airberlin has 15 B787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 15 aircraft. Delivery will begin in 2015.
Etihad Airways president and CEO, James Hogan, said: “This program is the first of a range of initiatives that will bring significant cost synergies and savings for both airlines.
“It is an ideal solution for reducing the costs associated with the introduction of a new aircraft type, and an excellent example of the value of our partnership, enabling Etihad Airways and airberlin to achieve economies of scale and avoid duplication in areas like design and certification.
“It makes both operational and commercial sense to work together on common fleet issues and we expect the synergies we achieve through this integration to result in significant efficiency benefits for both airlines.
“We will also be able to deliver a level of commonality across our B787 fleets in relation to onboard cabin specifications, which will provide passengers with a consistent product experience when they travel across the airlines’ extensive networks.”
CEO of airberlin, Mr Hartmut Mehdorn, said: “Together with our strategic partner Etihad Airways, airberlin saw an opportunity to work as a team in developing the introduction into service of this innovative aircraft.
“airberlin is already the most fuel efficient network carrier in Europe and has brought down fuel consumption in 2011 to the record value of 3,5 litres/100 passenger kilometres. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the perfect match to our eco-efficient fleet and we are hugely impressed by the improved fuel efficiencies which this aircraft delivers and look forward to making the next step of fuel efficient flying.”
In December 2011 Etihad Airways increased its stake in airberlin to 29.21 per cent, making it the single biggest shareholder in Europe’s sixth largest airline.
The move came just days after Etihad Airways announced it was buying 10 more B787-9 Dreamliners, taking its total order to 41, with 25 options and purchasing rights, making the UAE flag carrier the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.
airberlin has 15 B787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 15 aircraft. Delivery will begin in 2015.
Industry Analyst Saj Ahmad said: "As part of Etihad's ongoing commitment to expansion and investment in partner , the deal to partner the German carrier for integrating a raft of programs related to their dual 787 fleets comes as little surprise.
With a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s between them, airberlin will not only benefits from a greater cost reduction in pooling training and procurement activities together, both airlines will be able to learn at a faster rate of how to induct and operate the 787 when the 787-8 enters service withairberlin.
Growing the knowledge base will by default yield significant cost and labour savings as well as driving synergies between operations in the UAE and Germany through the homogenous 787 fleet. The next step may well be greater and deeper MRO cohesion as the installed fleet grows. In its own right, expanding MRO activities will allow both carriers to market their expertise to other 787 customers around the globe."
With a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s between them, airberlin will not only benefits from a greater cost reduction in pooling training and procurement activities together, both airlines will be able to learn at a faster rate of how to induct and operate the 787 when the 787-8 enters service withairberlin.
Growing the knowledge base will by default yield significant cost and labour savings as well as driving synergies between operations in the UAE and Germany through the homogenous 787 fleet. The next step may well be greater and deeper MRO cohesion as the installed fleet grows. In its own right, expanding MRO activities will allow both carriers to market their expertise to other 787 customers around the globe."
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