Latest news with #EtihadAirways
Independent Singapore
11 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore Airlines tops Travel + Leisure's 2025 international airlines list again
FB screengrab/ Singapore Airlines SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines has taken the top spot in Travel + Leisure 's World's Best Awards survey for best international airlines in 2025, based on votes from the magazine's readers around the world. The airline earned a score of 91.32, slightly up from last year's 90.89, when it also topped the list. This year, it was also recognised as a WBA Super Hall of Fame honoree. A Hall of Fame designation means the airline has been voted onto the World's Best Awards list for the past 10 consecutive years. Last month, the airline also ranked second in the 'Oscars of the aviation industry' by United Kingdom-based airline consultancy Skytrax . According to the magazine, one traveller said she would choose Singapore Airlines for every trip if she could. Another described it as their 'best travel experience to date.' Middle Eastern airlines dominated the list, with Qatar Airways placing second with a score of 90.59, Emirates coming in third with 89.98, and Etihad Airways taking the ninth spot with 84.93. Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines followed closely, ranking fourth and fifth with scores of 89.72 and 89.53, respectively. Rounding out the top 10 were France's La Compagnie (87.81) at sixth, Air New Zealand (85.30) at seventh, Virgin Atlantic Airways (85.17) at eighth, and Fiji Airways (84.89) in tenth place. The World's Best Awards survey gathered responses from nearly 180,000 T+L readers, who rated airlines based on cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and value. For each category, they selected a rating from excellent to poor, and the final score was the average across all categories. Singapore Airlines' home base, Changi Airport, was also recognised in the magazine's favourite international airports of 2025. It ranked second on the list, scoring 95.20, and was a WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Last year, the airport also ranked second with a score of 94.32, with the same WBA Hall of Fame designation. /TISG Read also: Cathay members to get S$160 off economy round-trip flights as Cathay Pacific celebrates top Skytrax 2025 ranking () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Manchester City's record £1bn deal with Puma and the value beyond bottom line
Manchester City had a billion reasons to celebrate the new kit deal with Puma announced last week, yet beyond the bottom line the value of the contract may prove priceless. The Guardian has learned that the 10-year deal, worth £1bn, contains clauses giving the German sportswear manufacturer options to extend the partnership way beyond that, but most significant to City may be what Puma's endorsement and huge financial commitment say to independent brands and the Premier League about the club's value. The Premier League has twice accused City of using related-party companies to artificially inflate the value of their sponsorship revenue. It blocked proposed deals with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank in 2023, sparking an acrimonious legal battle that remains ongoing. In a significant victory for the club, an independent panel ruled in February that the Premier League's associated party transaction (APT) rules in operation at that time were 'void and unenforceable'. City have since launched a legal challenge against amended APT regulations voted through by 16 clubs last November. Another independent panel is expected to rule on that matter later this year, with City reserving the right to sue the Premier League, depending on the outcome. The kit deal with Puma could prove an extremely useful weapon in City's armoury, as well as opening the door to other lucrative contracts, which has not gone unnoticed at other clubs. 'This is a huge deal for City, in terms of what it says about the size of the club and their ability to attract independent sponsors,' a senior executive at another club told the Guardian. 'City have submitted two legal challenges to the Premier League's APT rules after having two sponsorship deals blocked. But maybe those deals weren't overvalued after all?' The reported value of the Puma deal has attracted some scepticism because, at £100m a year, it is a huge rise on City's existing £65m-a-year Puma contract. The increase does not reflect City's recent merchandising sales which, according to figures collated by Uefa, brought in £69m last year, just over half the revenue generated by Manchester United and Liverpool, and far behind the world leaders, Real Madrid, whose merchandising income was £170m. City's ability to generate more than the £90m and £60m annual payments United and Liverpool will receive from Adidas next season has been widely questioned given their north-west rivals have larger global fanbases, but independent experts are adamant that Puma would not overpay. 'Puma's strategy is based upon having a smaller number of iconic clubs so Manchester City fits this profile,' Ricardo Fort, a former head of sponsorship at Coca-Cola and Visa who now runs his own consultancy firm, told the Guardian. 'They also have kit deals with other clubs in the City Football Group, including Palermo and Melbourne, but City will be their priority. 'Puma are very disciplined about what they will pay for sponsorship deals so will not have overpaid, or at least not by more than they had to. They are very rigorous.' Puma's relationship with City goes back to 2019, when they signed a group-wide deal that also covered Melbourne City, Girona FC, Club Atlético Torque and Sichuan Jiuniu FC. Despite this Puma had to beat off rival offers from Adidas and Nike to agree an extension, which may also go some way towards explaining its value. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion City's income and global profile have also increased significantly since 2019 on the back of the extraordinary achievements of Pep Guardiola's side, who have won 14 major trophies, including four Premier League titles in a row, and in 2023 became the second English team to claim the treble. In their annual report published last December, City announced a Premier League record revenue of £715m for the 2023-24 season, with commercial income accounting for £344.7m. Over the past five years City's revenue has grown by 50%, an increase which broadly tallies with the value of the Puma contract. For branding expert Marcel Knobil of BrandGuru, the partnership makes sense. 'Brands want to be associated with success and Manchester City can boast a record that no other club has achieved,' he said. 'The club also has an extremely wealthy owner behind it, which will also provide some future-assurance for Puma. Kit sponsors want teams to be both successful and packed with stars – and only deep pockets can secure the latter.' Puma's renewed commitment is also a confidence boost for City while they await the verdict of the Premier League's 130-plus charges related to alleged breaches of financial fair play rules. Numerous industry sources told the Guardian that the contract would almost certainly include so-called 'bad faith clauses' enabling Puma to terminate if the club are found guilty of serious wrongdoing. City declined to comment. The club have denied the charges, so do not consider early termination to be a possibility.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi first-half passenger traffic rises 13% despite regional challenges
Abu Dhabi Airports reported on Monday a 13.1% increase in passenger traffic to 15.8 million in the first half of the year, defying periodic disruptions to air transport in the Middle East caused by conflicts. Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH), the travel hub of the United Arab Emirates' capital city, accounted for the vast majority of the traffic, handling 15.5 million passengers, up 13.2% from the first half of last year. The number of flights at AUH increased by 11.4% to nearly 94,000 in the six months to June 30. Abu Dhabi Airports said some new airlines had joined its network of airports, which had increased the number of destinations, particularly to China and India, and noted demand for both tourism and business travel, without giving details. The increases came despite disruptions including a 12-day war between Israel and Iran last month that triggered airspace closures in some Gulf countries, and forced airlines to suspend and reroute some flights. Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi's main carrier, suspended Israel-bound flights for several weeks in June and faced temporary cancellations on routes to Kuwait, Doha, and Saudi Arabia's Dammam. Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said last week that it would exit its Abu Dhabi operation starting September 1, citing factors including geopolitical instability. "The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges," Abu Dhabi Airports CEO Elena Sorlini said in a statement, adding that the company's results demonstrated the resilience of its network. Abu Dhabi Airports also operates Al Ain International Airport, Al Bateen Executive Airport, Delma Island Airport and Sir Bani Yas Island Airport, besides AUH.
Tourism Breaking News
a day ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Etihad launches ‘For business' portal to empower corporate travel
Post Views: 42 Etihad Airways launched the Etihad for Business corporate portal, bringing the airline's comprehensive business travel programme fully online. Companies can now access their complete corporate travel management suite through a single digital platform. The portal enables businesses to manage their travel programmes with enhanced tools, track performance data in real-time, and handle benefit redemptions with self-service capabilities. Corporate customers can now access contract details, monitor travel spend, and redeem Etihad for Business credits for a comprehensive suite of travel benefits. 'We've created a platform that puts control directly in our corporate partners' hands,' said Javier Alija, Vice President Global Sales & Distribution at Etihad Airways. 'Companies can now manage everything from performance tracking to benefit redemptions through one simple interface.' The Etihad for Business programme rewards corporate customers for their business travel, allowing them to enhance their employees' travel experience through a flexible credit system. Companies can use earned credits to purchase from a suite of benefits including seat upgrades, priority services, lounge access, and ground transportation. Key portal features include automated performance reports, transparent tiering requirements, and streamlined contract management. The platform eliminates administrative burdens while providing companies with clear visibility into their travel programme value. 'Business travel management should be straightforward, not complicated,' Javier Alija added. 'Our portal delivers exactly that: a user-friendly experience that makes it easy for companies to maximise the value of their travel programmes.' The platform offers different levels of support based on company needs. Enhanced analytics capabilities will follow shortly after launch, with additional features planned to expand the portal's functionality over time. Corporate customers can also access dedicated support through the platform, from online assistance to account management services, ensuring comprehensive support throughout their travel journey. The platform represents a valuable tool that can assist travel management companies and businesses in managing their corporate travel programmes more effectively, combining digital efficiency with personalised service. For more information about the Etihad for Business portal, visit
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Zayed International Airport handled 15.5 million passengers in first half of 2025
Zayed International Airport handled 15.5 million travellers in the first half of 2025, up 13.2 per cent annually, driven by home carrier Etihad Airways' growth and the addition of new airlines serving Abu Dhabi. Passenger traffic across Abu Dhabi's five airports grew 13.1 per cent year-on-year to 15.8 million in the January to June period, marking 17 consecutive quarters of growth, state-owned operator Abu Dhabi Airports said on Monday. The five airports are Zayed International, Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma Island and Sir Bani Yas Island Airport. "The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges, yet our ... mid-year results demonstrate the resilience of our network and the collaborative partnerships that underpin our growth," said Elena Sorlini, managing director and chief executive at Abu Dhabi Airports. The growth in airport traffic volume comes despite recent geopolitical tension in the Middle East. An Iranian strike on a US military base in neighbouring Qatar last month led to brief airspace closures in the Gulf. The reported increase comes shortly after Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announced that from September it would no longer be operating from the emirate. In the first half of the year, 16 new destinations were added to Zayed International Airport's network. New airlines and routes include China Eastern Airlines' Shanghai service, Air Seychelles' six weekly flights and Syrian carrier Fly Cham's flights to Damascus. IndiGo also expanded its presence at Zayed International, with new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar and Vishakhapatnam. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi last week said it would increase operational capacity by 40 per cent in 2025 with the addition of four Airbus A320s to its fleet. Zayed International Airport's traffic volume grew as home airline Etihad Airways carried more passengers and the emirate pushes to attract more international tourists. During the first half of the year, Etihad Airways carried 10.2 million travellers, a 17 per cent annual rise. The average passenger load factor for the year to date stands at 87 per cent. The airline is also revising its growth targets upwards to carry 38 million passengers by 2030, from a previous goal of 33 million, Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad's chief executive, told The National this month. The Abu Dhabi-based airline aims to expand by 15 per cent every year until the end of the decade as it carries more passengers, adds 20 planes annually and reaps the benefits of joint venture partnerships with Ethiopian Airlines and China Eastern, he said. Abu Dhabi is pursuing a strategy of drawing more international tourists and business visitors as it adds more attractions to its skyline and Mice events (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions). "As Abu Dhabi's tourism and trade prospects rapidly advance, our airports are well positioned to support and scale that growth," Ms Sorlini said.
