DXB: 66M passengers and counting!

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Dubai International. Dubai Airports Photo.

Another year, another record for Dubai International (DXB)!

Almost nine million more passengers used Dubai’s main airport last year than in 2012, data released by Dubai Airports showed Wednesday.

Passenger traffic topped 66.4 million, up from 57.7 million in 2012. That included a record six million plus passengers in December alone.

Only London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), with 72.3 million passengers  in 2013, is ahead of Dubai International, a lead many believe Dubai will breach this year.

“Dubai International continues to benefit from the efficiencies offered by the large number of wide-body jets that operate into it with the average number of passengers per aircraft movement rising to 198 in 2013, up 4.5 per cent from the 189 recorded in 2012,” Dubai Airports said.

It said aircraft movements in 2013 reached 369,953, compared to 344,245 in 2012.

The operator also noted that 28 new destinations were added last year, bringing the total passenger destinations served by Dubai International to 239.

Once again, India was Dubai’s single largest destination country with 8.4 million passengers.

The airport is the home base of Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates and the discount airline flydubai.

Last year it opened a new custom-built concourse for Emirates’ large fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbos.

Another Dubai airport, known as Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, began operations last fall.

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A350 XWB to make airshow debut

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High-altitude testing of the A350 in Bolivia. Airbus photo.

Airbus is taking its newest aircraft, the A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body), to next month’s Singapore Airshow.

The European aircraft manufacturer says a test aircraft will be on both static and flying displays from Feb. 11 through Feb. 12.

The Singapore debut is crucial for Airbus because airlines in the Asia-Pacific region have ordered 244 A350s, representing 30 per cent of the total orders.

In all, Airbus has received 812 orders from 39 customers worldwide.

The A350 is currently at an advanced phase of flight tests and is due to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The crew of MSN003. Airbus photo.

Three aircraft, MSN001, MSN003 and MSN002, are now involved in the test program.

“The A350 XWB will set new standards in the mid-size category and will consolidate our position as the provider of the world’s most modern, comprehensive and efficient widebody product line,” Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Bregier said Thursday.

The aircraft features an extra-wide cabin with a non-stop flying capability of more than 15,000 kilometres. It will be built in three versions – A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000.

Abu Dhabi to produce aviation biofuel

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An artist’s impression of Masdar City. Masdar City photo.

Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s largest oil producers, is also a leader in environmental initiatives.

Its most ambitious project is the solar-powered Masdar City, which is being built about 20 kilometres east of the United Arab Emirates capital.

One of the institutes behind the project, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, is now joining state-owned Etihad Airways, U.S. aircraft maker Boeing and French oil giant Total to produce aviation biofuel in the UAE.

Oil refiner Takreer will also be a partner in BIOjet Abu Dhabi.

“BIOjet Abu Dhabi will engage a broad range of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive framework for a UAE biofuel supply chain, including research and development and expanded investment in feedstock production and refining capability in the UAE and globally,” the companies said Sunday.

A day earlier, an Etihad Boeing 777 took off on a 45-minute demonstration flight, powered in part by biofuel produced in Abu Dhabi.

“Our goal is to support and help drive the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel in Abu Dhabi, the region and also globally,” said James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad.

The BIOjet Abu Dhabi initiative comes just days after Boeing said it was awaiting regulatory approvals to use green diesel on its airplanes.

“Boeing works with partners around the world to advance sustainable biofuel development and sees great opportunity for BIOjet Abu Dhabi to have a positive impact in the UAE and globally,” said Jeffrey Johnson, president, Boeing Middle East.

Air NZ, Singapore Airlines sign deal

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Air New Zealand is returning to Singapore eight years after pulling out of the city.

The resumption of Auckland-Singapore service is part of a major deal announced today by Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

The agreement will also enable Singapore Airlines to operate the Airbus A380 superjumbo to Auckland for the first time. The deal also calls for codesharing on several sectors.

Both airlines praised the alliance.

“An alliance with Singapore Airlines clearly fits our business objectives of working with the right partners in the right markets to deliver seamless customer journeys,” said Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon.

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong called the deal another example of the carrier’s commitment to the Southwest Pacific market.

“This is a genuine win-win partnership, enabling Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand to work together to provide more flight frequency and enhanced travel options to our customers.”

The Competition Commission of Singapore and the New Zealand Minister of Transport have yet to approve the deal.

Boeing wants to fly on green diesel

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Going green: Biofuel research at a Boeing laboratory in Seattle.

Boeing wants to use green diesel on its airplanes to reduce the environmental footprint.  The American aircraft maker says it has identified green diesel as “a significant new source of sustainable aviation biofuel.”

Green diesel is made from oils and fats and is already used in ground transportation.

It emits at least 50 per cent less carbon dioxide than fossil fuel over its lifecycle, Boeing said Tuesday.

“Boeing researchers performed analysis that found green diesel… to be chemically similar to today’s aviation biofuel. If approved, the fuel could be blended directly with traditional jet fuel,” the company said.

Efforts are already underway to gain regulatory approval for aircraft to fly on green diesel, it said.

“Green diesel approval would be a major breakthrough in the availability of competitively priced, sustainable aviation fuel,” said James Kinder of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Propulsion Systems Division.

“We are collaborating with our industry partners and the aviation community to move this innovative solution forward and reduce the industry’s reliance on fossil fuel.”

Boeing noted that significant green diesel production capacity already exists in the United States, Europe and Singapore that could supply as much as one per cent of global commercial jet fuel demand.

Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, engine manufacturers, green diesel producers and others are now compiling a detailed research report that will be submitted to key stakeholders in the fuel approvals process, the company said.

Images are courtesy of Boeing.

Oops! Airbus prices go up

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In case you wonder how much those Airbus aircraft cost, here’s the list price announced today by the European manufacturer.

By the way, nobody buys airplanes at the list price.

At US$414 million, the A380 is the most expensive. Airbus photo.

Often, the selling price will be a lot lower.

The company says it has increased the average list price by 2.6 per cent.

The new price ranges from US$72 million for the A318, the smallest member of the A320 family, to US$414 million for the A380 superjumbo, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

It was a highly successful year for Airbus — the company won 1,619 gross orders in 2013 and delivered a record 626 aircraft to 93 customers.

In all, Airbus has sold nearly 14,000 aircraft to more than 360 customers, delivering 8,000 airplanes.

In the aftermath of the ice storm…

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Canada, News, Photography, Toronto, Transport, Travel, Weather

All photos are by the author. All rights reserved.

Boeing 787-9 makes international debut

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The test aircraft lands in Auckland. Boeing photo.

The new version of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has made its international debut.

The 787-9 flew to Auckland, home of launch customer Air New Zealand, this week from the United States as part of a test program.

The aircraft, codenamed ZB002, took off from Seattle at 9:55 a.m. Friday and landed in Auckland 13 hours, 49 minutes later, marking its longest flight since the program began, Boeing said.

The airplane is scheduled to continue on to Alice Springs, Australia, for testing in hot weather, the company said.

The ZB002 is the only 787-9 fitted with elements of the passenger interior.

The 787-9 is 20 feet longer and can seat 40 more passengers than the Dreamliner 787-8, which went into service in October 2011.

Air New Zealand, which has ordered 10 aircraft, will get its first 787-9 in the middle of this year.

The airline plans to use it on the Auckland-Perth route, starting October.

In all, 26 customers, including Air Canada, have ordered 402 787-9 Dreamliners.