Emirates Airline is estimated to have contributed over US$848 million annually to India’s GDP, according to the results of an economic impact study conducted by the New Delhi-based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
NCAER estimates that Emirates’ operations have contributed over US$848 million annually to India’s GDP, supporting over 86,000 Indian jobs and generating almost US$1.7 billion in Foreign Exchange Earnings.
With India’s aim to become the thirdlargest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030, the NCAER study emphasises the important contribution that Emirates makes to India’s economy and aviation sector. The report also forecasts the increased contribution that Emirates would be able to make if capacity entitlements were expanded.
“The NCAER study underlines the importance of air transport and its role as an economic driver in India,” said Adnan Kazim, divisional senior VP – strategic planning, revenue optimisation and aeropolitical aff airs, Emirates Airline.
“Aviation facilitates trade and tourism, and creates employment in many diff erent industries. Emirates’ annual operations alone support more than 86,000 jobs across India and contribute US$848 million to the economy. We are confi dent that with increased capacity, we can contribute even more to India’s economic growth and development by opening new conduits for trade and investment, through our growing worldwide network.”
Qatar Airways first carrier to fly A350 to US, readies Philly service Qatar Airways became the first airline to fly the A350 to the US with the ferry flight leaving Hamad International Airport on the morning of 8 December, landing at JFK International later in the same day. Qatar Airways was the global launch carrier of the A350 and is the first to fly the aircraft to three continents; the airline’s fleet of seven A350s currently flies twice a day to Frankfurt, daily to Munich and three times a day to Singapore from Doha.
An eighth A350 will join the fleet before the end of the year and is scheduled to fly daily to Philadelphia from 1 January 2016. As further A350s join the fleet throughout 2016 the new generation aircraft will be put on routes to Boston launching on 16 March and the new second daily flight to New York from 1 April, followed by Adelaide, Australia from 2 May.
“We are proud to be the first commercial airline to land the Airbus A350 in the United States,” said Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker. “As the global launch customer of this new-generation aircraft, we are excited to introduce it to the American market, where we will commence commercial flights from 1 January 2016 on our route from Philadelphia.”
As part of its on-going expansion plans, Qatar Airways will also launch further destinations to North America in 2016. Currently flying to eight key locations – Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Houston, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC – the airline will commence flights to Los Angeles in January, Boston in March and Atlanta in June.
