In brief

Cathay Pacific turnover increases 1.1pc
THE Cathay Pacific Group has announced an attributable profit of HK$2,620 million ($ million) for 2013. Turnover for the year has increased by 1.1 per cent to HK$100,484 million ($ million).

The improvement in the group’s performance in 2013 was largely due to the strengthening of its passenger business and the positive impact of measures introduced in 2012 to protect the business from the high price of jet fuel. 

Passenger revenue in 2013 increased by 2.4 per cent, capacity decreased by 1.8 per cent due to the continuation of 2012’s reduction in long-haul frequencies and the accelerated retirement of Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft. However, capacity began to increase towards the end of the year as frequencies were restored and new routes were introduced.

The price of jet fuel remains a concern for Cathay Pacific and the industry as a whole. Fuel remains the group’s most significant cost, accounting for 39 per cent of total operating costs in 2013.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qatar Airways, members of the oneworld alliance, have announced a strategic agreement on services operated by both airlines between Hong Kong and Doha, effective 30 March 2014.

Ryanair: the first time in a decade
RYANAIR, Europe’s favourite low fares airline, and Travelport, a leading distribution services and e-commerce provider for the global travel industry, have announced a landmark global distribution agreement that will see the low-cost carrier’s content made available solely to Travelport-connected travel agencies, in advance of any other GDS, for the first time in over a decade.

Ryanair, which operates one of the world’s largest airline fleets with 300 Boeing aircraft, and 175 more on order, will carry over 81.5 million passengers this year on Europe’s largest airline route network connecting 186 airports in 30 countries.

Through the agreement, Ryanair fares, as well as their extensive ancillary products and services, have been introduced to Travelport travel agencies in a phased approach from March 19. 

Codeshare for Qantas and Bangkok Airways
QANTAS has recently announced a new codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways, which will significantly improve travel options for Qantas customers travelling across South East Asia.

From March 30, Qantas customers have been able to book on Bangkok Airways services from Bangkok and Singapore to six new destinations in Thailand, including Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

This announcement follows other recent initiatives to boost the strength of Qantas’ offering into Asia, including a new codeshare with China Southern, new premium lounges in Singapore (April 2013) and Hong Kong (March 2014) and a major upgrade of the airline’s A330 fleet starting from end-2014.

SaudiGulf orders four Airbus A320ceos  
SAUDIGULF, a new Saudi Arabian airline wholly owned by Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al Qahtani & Sons Co. has signed a firm contract with Airbus for four A320ceos, to be delivered early 2015. The aircraft is equipped with Airbus “Sharklet” fuel-saving wing tip devices.

As one of the two airlines to obtain carrier licenses to operate domestic and international flights from Saudi airports, the airline will contribute to increase the Kingdom’s air transport links with the region and the rest of the world. SaudiGulf plans to launch its operations out of Dammam, in the first quarter of 2015 before expanding to Riyadh and Jeddah.