Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Precious Jewel

Not a single diamond is perfect. Every tiny bits and pieces of it has flaw but still it is one of the most valuable jewels in the world. Perfection doesn't exist. It is true and we all know that. It's just how we look at things and make them special. Sometimes we won't know what is valuable to us until we lose it and I have to learn that the hard way. I realized that there are more greater things important than the issues we are encountering every day. For the past three months, exactly today, I have found what I've been wanting to find but I think I let it slip. Hoping that I can still get it back and just revive what we have. I just realized that love will be more than enough to move us forward. Can't say more except that, he misses you too......

Monday, February 4, 2013

A silent hum

I'm not going to start this entry with a cheesy opening line again. No "love is" this, that and whatsoever. For the past years, I've experienced a lot in terms of having joys in relationship, dramas, heartbreaks and moving on. It wasn't exactly what I had envisioned and it certainly wasn't a walk in the park for me. We always say that we deserve to love and to be loved. It may be true for many but some just want it for fun. I have no clue how fate works but I may have an idea how it manifests itself. We met in a place where no one seems to be taking one another seriously. For most of them, they were just looking for a one three letter word. Sex. Yes, sex. I'm not gonna play a innocent when that was the fact why I created that account. Tried being adventurous for a bit while passing the time away. I loved the attention while I was there. But there's one person I liked but never really had the courage to talk to, just because I don't think I'm good enough for him. Fear of rejection, I just ignored his profile and carried on flirting, playing (whatever you wanna call it) with others. It took quite some time and I think it was just a mistake when I sent him a message just because he had a different picture (Yes, didn't notice it was him and thank God I changed picture as well). I never regret the moment I did that because that was the point in my life where everything started. After chatting and texting for a while, we decided to meet. We met last year (11/12) at a coffee shop near my workplace. I never really got used to meeting up so you could imagine what I was feeling that time. It was like going to a job interview not knowing what will the result be. The worst kept playing in my head and kept saying to myself that it will be okay if he doesn't like me too. The time came for us to see each other for the first time. As my nerves were really killing me, I decided to go to the toilet located on the 2nd floor of that mall. Freshen up a bit, checked my clothes, practiced smiling and wiped my sweaty palms then my phone beeped. I went out and saw him instantly near the escalator and it became silent. No spotlight, No bells rang, No choir in the background. Let's face it, we had doubts the first time we met. Anyway, said Hi, How are you and the usual questions then went on to our date. I'm kinda expecting that awkward moment where you'll just look-at-each-other-and-smile just because nothing good pops out of your head. How can you tell when a date is not going well? If you have to think what you are going to ask and will ask next. Funny but that how it was going that time. I don't exactly remember how it started but our conversation got on the track when we started talking about our exes. Time flew by and we spent four hours that night. talking. over a coffee. I'm not new to rejection but I knew this one would work and boy I was right! Texting went on, the going out for dinner and movie, and so on.

It was after a month when I invited him to sleepover at my place after going to Tagaytay. Everything was perfect. The weather, the timing, and even the stars were. We both had a blast while we were driving around. The night went on and finally we went home. There's something I did/said that night that made him upset and it was a big mistake. I misjudged him. He was different and I really felt ashamed of what happened. When we woke up, he was ignoring me, and was so cold. I knew I fucked up. We still texted that day but something is really off. I was at my aunt's wake that night when he decided to call it off. I started to feel weird like I was going to throw up. After pleading, I decided to make my "last phone call" (I'm glad I did). When he picked up, I was already in tears. I didn't have any idea on what he was thinking about me that night until a few months later. Being the pleaser I was, I decided to make it up to him. Called up a local flower shop for a dozen red roses to be delivered to his office. It doesn't make everything right but at least it made him smile. There's a few more stupidity that I have done but will not elaborate further.

We all put ourselves in a risky situation every once in a while. But those risks can sometimes turn in to something beautiful. If I had not done what I did that night we went to Tagaytay, everything could have been different. Again, I never regret that moment I did that.

Sometimes there are things that will tend to get us off track and lose sight of what is ahead. We must always bethink that we are not perfect human beings. Cliche but no one really is. Be spontaneous for we have no idea what will happen next. Relationships have to have mystery because otherwise it will be boring. All it needs to work is trust. Trust that your partner won't lie, cheat or hurt you. Trust that he will hold your hand every step of the way. Learn to love without inhibitions just because your'e afraid you will get hurt again. As from the movie Narnia "Things never happen the same way twice".

Three months have gone through and we're still dating (exclusively. Though not in an official relationship, we certainly do act like we are in one and we cherish every part of it. I must say that sharing laughter (with our stories that never seem to end) is the pinnacle of our dates. Sometimes we are acting immature but that's good because at least we are still getting to know each other and hey, we are all kids at times. We are so different in so many ways but it doesn't really matter.

After numerous story-telling sessions, We had connected all the people who became a part of us separately. In a way, I can't still understand how fate works but it is surprising how six degrees of separation does its magic through an ex, a friend, a colleague, a schoolmate and a relative.

As my opening line goes, I'm not gonna close this entry with a cheesy line either. I just want to say thank you.

Thank you God for giving me a hum that finally Echoed.





P.S. There's a lot of things I still want to write here but I keep on forgetting it. Sorry!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Until It Beats No More

On Monday, I will be single for two months. The first month had been really hard for me. I didn't get over it unscathed. I've tried different approach to move on but this one is by far the most successful. It's been two weeks since I signed up in a dating/networking sites which I was really trying to avoid. I'm single so it wouldn't hurt, and besides I told myself if ever I get in to a relationship again, I would delete my account there. So there, I've been meeting and talking to a lot of people lately and I must say I'm really enjoying this. And then there's this one person who really captured my attention. The one you're calling DINOsaur. I know I don't have to explain anything but for goodness sake! We are not together! It just happened that we both have the same story. Both left by someone we love during the last week of September and supposedly be turning one by December. Anyway, Why am I writing this? I don't know too. I guess I just have to write something just to clear my mind up. I've been wondering why are you still texting me every now and then after you made it clear that you don't want to hear from me again. I don't know your motives and it's confusing me. You left me like I was nothing to you when I gave you everything of all that I am. I loved you until the very last tear. I don't hate you. I just hate how you treated me after you left me. All those heartbreaking words you said really left a scar on me. But I know how to forgive. That's something you really need to learn. YOU ARE NOT GOD! Lower your pride and learn to forgive. What I went through was really traumatic and I really need someone to help me cope up or else I would have lost it ages ago. Nevertheless, I may change a bit but it never damaged my spirit. I know I will love again. And when that time comes, I won't be scared. I will take risk and I will give him the same treatment as I gave to you. I will make him feel loved and cared for everyday of his life. The one thing you just thrown out because you were so weak to handle it. I know I'm not perfect but I am definitely not the worst and someone knows that. I love you so much that it still hurts every time I think of the things you said to me. I hope you're happy, now that you left me wounded and in tears. I have paid my dues and now we're even. We both wasted each other so I really don't know who is at fault this time. Don't blame me if I wanted to be happy. You know sooner or later I will find someone. I've tried to wait for you but every time I try to show it to you, you shove me further away from you. I wanted to fix us but you tore me to pieces.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Why?

Lord,
Last year, you gave me something great. It might be a Christmas gift from you. I know I wasn’t looking that time but it happened. I was so happy but why did you have to take it away after 9 months? If I knew you would take it away, I would’ve returned him to you immediately. Lord, why me? Why do I have to suffer like this? Every time I mask the pain, it just finds its way back and I bounce back to the first day when he left me. This is too much. I beg you to please take it all away or make my heart as hard as a stone. I never knew that loving so much will become this unbearable. Why do you have to test me over and over again? All I wanted is to pass the test, not to perfect it. Take it back. I know I’m not perfect but there are other people who deserve this pain I’m going through. I’ve been a loyal, loving and caring partner for him so why me? Why did you give me a sensitive heart? You could have given me the heart of a criminal but you made me weak. I’m in so much pain right now. Please take me. Lord, stop testing me. I can’t do this anymore. Don’t you think I’ve suffered enough? What did I do to deserve this? Tell me and maybe I will understand. I want my heart to stop beating. Lord, make it all go away please. I’m on my knees now. What else do I have to do? I trust you Lord but please make it bearable. I don’t know if chances still exists coz’ right now I’m so confused. We’re ok one day and then we’re not. You’re making me happy one moment and then you’d take it all back. WHY? Just give me the answers. Talk to me. I’m so tired but you won’t let me give up. Take my life if that’s what you want. I’m ready.

Sincerely,
Cedric

Sunday, November 6, 2011

I'll do it all over again

39th Day, Sunday

I'm planning to get out of the house anyway so I asked my cousin(Sarah) to watch a movie. Still feeling sick, I took a shower and went out. As I queue to get the tickets I can't help but wish that you were still there beside me. The lady told me that the seats for the movie isn't reserved seating but only guaranteed. I waited for her til it's 4:15pm (5 minutes before the movie starts). Sarah told me that she's going to treat me a popcorn so I said OK. I was surprised to see she was only carrying one bucket of cheese flavored popcorn. I said, "alam mo ba na pag nanunuod kami ni Legenn eh laging dalawa binibili namin?" ( Did you know that every time Legenn and I watch a movie, we always buy two?) and then laughed. As we entered the cinema, I looked straight for seats R19 and R20 (we own those seats) but someone is seating at R19 with R18 (couple) so we had to settle for the seats directly in front of it. We were just in time for the movie because as we took our seats, the opening credits begun to roll. I know we were supposed to watch "Puss in Boots" together but you're not here with me. The movie was funny but at some point it kept on reminding me about you. The first part of the movie showed a tattoo "LEGENDARY" and the magic beans and Sarah laughed. And oh boy, that word popped out a lot on that movie. I still remember how you used to laugh whenever you see "Puss" lick the milk of the glass. I wish I could hear that laughter once again. Anyway, as the film progresses, there were three girls talking loudly near us. I almost wanted to stand up and approach them to tell them to shut up. Last time I was supposed to do that, you shoved me back to my seat. I just let it pass this time. I miss you. BTW, as usual, the popcorn didn't last up to the middle part of the movie and if you were there beside me, my hand will be on your bucket of popcorn. After the movie, I decided to stay at the mall to walk around. I bought a necklace for our ring. If I can't wear it on my finger, at least it's close to my heart. I also had it cleaned so it looks brand new. The saleslady was asking for the cleaning card but I said I lost it when in fact I wanna say, I lost the person who has it. I almost bought the watch I wanted but I have to hold back for another month because I still need to pay something. I'm now wearing the necklace with the ring as a pendant so people will know that I'm waiting for someone. Someone close to my heart. I keep on wondering how our story will end. Will it end like the story of Carrie and Big? amidst the problems they encountered they still ended up together? Can you still remember how I say "through thick and thin" to you? I hope you do. So there, that's how my Sunday went. I still need to recover from a Flu but going back to work tomorrow. I wish you're doing good with your job. Be a good boy as I always knew you were.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

If it takes a lifetime

It's been 38 days since I last saw your face, last heard your voice and last felt your touch. Frankly, people think I am okay because that's how I want them to see me. But everyday that I am away with you kills me inside. Not knowing what the end holds for me. For now, I really don't have anything to hold on to except the memories we had created together. Thinking about the times how you and I made each other smile without saying a word helps put a smile on my face. I know I have to stop stressing about what could have been because chances are, if it would have been, it should have been. I really miss you a lot and no matter what people say about you not coming back. I'm still hoping that you do. We we're both blinded by what we had that we got lost. Suddenly, waking up every Saturday morning is different. No more post its everywhere, No more morning hugs and kisses and No more popcorn movies. Regrets never came across my mind for because when I'm with you, I have nothing to fear and nothing to worry about. You became a best friend, a confidant, a partner to me. I love looking after you and taking care of you because you were never a brat and it made me feel I am needed in a relationship for the first time. I also love how you throw your tantrums and how you gave me a hard time making it up to you because whenever I put a smile on your face makes all the challenge worth it. We both lost time for some things that we used to have time for. Time for friends, families and personal activities because for us, being together filled it out when we are together. But we were wrong. We both failed at something that I always say the most important and that is communication. It's not always about us exchanging messages every now and then but it's also the time where we should have talked about the problems we are encountering in our relationship. Too bad we just found that out when we broke up. As bad as it may seemed, I really think you needed to release that so we can both fix ourselves. For when the time comes for us to be reunited, we know how to work it out. I've been thinking a lot lately about what happened. Blaming each other wouldn't help ease the situation because it only makes it worse. Pride isn't different because it kills something that we both could possibly have. I love you and I will never get tired of saying that to you. People get angry because they get disappointed all the time and I know that you got disappointed at me too. I should have listened to what you're not saying but I can't do that all the time. You have to speak what's on your mind so I can do something about it. Let's face it, you are still mad at the things I did. That’s why you said some pretty mean things about me but I know you didn't mean it. If I am to fill your shoes, maybe I would feel the same toO. There isn't a night that I pray for a tomorrow when we are in each other’s arms again. I also pray that no matter how that hatred you are feeling, it will be gone soon. I know you have a good heart LNC, being angry all the time is not the real you. I wish one day I could see your smile again when I wake up in the morning and maybe when that time comes, we'll make it perfect. Remember how you played "Don't Matter" by Akon one day I woke up? It should be like that. It doesn't matter if nobody wants to see us together because we got each other. For now I think we both need Time to heal all the wounds we incurred during the battle. Patience for everything that is happening and Forgiveness for what we had done with our relationship. I miss Nemo and I hope you miss your Toyo. I love you and I'm sorry. I don't know if you would read this at all but I have to release how I feel because you won't let me talk to you. For now, I hope you listen to this song.

"So baby I will wait for you
Cause I don't know what else I can do
Don't tell me I ran out of time
If it takes the rest of my life
Baby I will wait for you
If you think I'm fine it just ain't true
I really need you in my life
No matter what I have to do I'll wait for you
"

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Emirates to open Dublin next year

DUBAI, U.A.E., 8th September 2011: Emirates announced today that it will begin daily flights to Dublin from January 2012, marking its first route to the Republic of Ireland.
The daily service, from 9th January next year, will leave Dubai at 0700hrs and arrive in the Irish capital at 1130hrs. The return flight leaves Dublin at 1255hrs and gets into Dubai at 0025hrs the next day. An Airbus A330-200 will be deployed between Dubai and Dublin, offering First, Business and Economy class.
"Dublin will be our 29th route in Europe and Emirates' customers in Ireland who currently travel through some of our UK gateways will be able to fly non-stop to our industry leading hub in Dubai and conveniently connect onwards to our broadening route network," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. "We see strong potential in Ireland through its industry, technology, tourism and the huge number of Irish nationals living overseas."

Ireland has a population of around 4.5 million, but it's estimated more than 15 times that live overseas, including somewhere in the region of 80,000 Irish nationals in Australia and about 5,000 in the UAE. Other key markets are predicted to include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, South Africa, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The Republic is a popular tourist destination and last year received 6.7 million visitors, drawn by the rich ancient history, spectacular countryside, traditional Irish music, thousands of miles of scenic coastline and renowned fresh air.



“We are delighted to welcome Emirates Airline to Dublin,” said Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) Chief Executive Declan Collier. “The significant improvements we have made to our facilities in recent years, including the opening of a new passenger terminal, was a major factor in helping to win this new business and we look forward to a successful partnership with our newest customer.”
Emirates SkyCargo is already active in Ireland, mostly carrying goods through Manchester, and with 14 tonnes of bellyhold capacity becoming available on each passenger flight, activity in the market will intensify. Pharmaceuticals, which make up nearly a quarter of Ireland's exports, are expected to be amongst the commodities carried, along with electronics.

With a fleet of 157 aircraft and the largest A380 operator in the world, Emirates currently flies to 114 destinations in 67 countries.

Services to Basra, Geneva and Copenhagen have already started this year. Flights to St Petersburg begin on 1st November with Baghdad following suit as of 13th November. Rio and Buenos Aires become new links into South America from 3rd January 2012.

Source: Emirates.com

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Emirates to Buenos Aires via GIG




Emirates will start daily services to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro from January 3, 2012.

The service will be operated by a B777-300ER with eight First Class private suites, 42 lie-flat Business seats and 304 Economy seats.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, said both cities are renowned as world-class leisure destinations as well as important business and trading centres.

"Our research has shown that there is a high demand for these cities from across our network," he said.

"Our first service to Argentina is a much-anticipated addition to our network which will open important new markets for us."

Brazil has been part of the Emirates network since 2007 when it began flights from Dubai to Sao Paulo.

With the country set to host both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil will be further catapulted into the world’s spotlight - an additional allure for the sports sponsorship-loving airline.

EK 247 will leave Dubai daily at 0705hrs and arrive at Rio’s Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 1535hrs.

It will depart Rio at 1720hrs, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) at 1930hrs.

From Buenos Aires, EK248 departs at 2130hrs, arriving in Rio at 0120hrs the next day. The aircraft will depart Rio at 0255hours, arriving in Dubai at 2235hrs.

Source: Businesstraveller

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Austria is refusing for Emirates' landing rights

Austria’s air traffic control centre has rejected Emirates Airline’s bid to almost double its daily flights to Vienna under its planned summer flight schedule, amid a wider row between Austrian Airlines and the Dubai carrier over access to the European market.
Emirates, the Arab world’s largest airline, had planned to increase lights on the route to 13 a week from March 27 in response to high customer demand, but the request was denied by Austrian authorities over what Emirates has called a “technical disagreement.”
The state-backed carrier told Arabian Business it is still in talks with Austrian authorities to secure the landing slots and is optimistic of the outcome.
“Emirates is confident that from 27th March 2011, a total of 13 flights per week will be operated from Vienna to Dubai in response to a high demand for our services,” a spokesperson said.

“Talks continue with the Austrian authorities to resolve a technical disagreement concerning the air services agreement between the UAE and Austria and our additional flights, which passengers have booked on, Emirates has invested in promoting and hired new staff for.”

The refusal follows explosive comments from the co-chairman of Austrian Airlines (AUA) who this week accused Emirates of leveraging its state links to undercut its European rival.
“It’s not a match of airline against airline – it’s a game between a state and AUA,” Peter Malanik told Austria’s Kurier newspaper Tuesday.
“The hub Dubai is being expanded regardless of the project’s profitability. It’s just about the location. The owner is also the lawmaker, the regulator, it owns the airline and the airport and is in charge of air traffic monitoring. It also provides the kerosene. Money doesn’t matter.”
Malanik said labour rights rules and consumer protection regulations in Europe prevented the region’s airlines from being able to compete fairly with Gulf carriers.
“The situation is similar to the production of T-shirts using child labour. AUA would need to hire 1,000 staff from Bangladesh immediately to be able to compete. Do we want that? Certainly not,” he said.

Austrian Airlines is one of a number of European carriers, including Air France KLM, British Airways and its parent company, Lufthansa – which earlier this year was accused of lobbying its government to stop Emirates securing new landing slots - to call for curbs on the expansion of Gulf carriers on long-haul routes.
The carriers claim Gulf airline use unfair subsidies to finance aircraft deals and to take market share from existing airlines.
A number of US and European airlines are impacted by a so-called 'home market rule,' which states that countries where Boeing and Airbus build aircraft cannot use export credit agencies to help their carriers buy passenger airliners.
The rule, which impacts carriers in the US, UK and France, among others, is seen as offering an unfair advantage to Gulf carriers unaffected by the law.
Malanik said AUA had scrapped flight routes to Mauritius and Australia due to competition from Emirates.
“[The airline’s] next target is to kill our link to Bangkok," he added.

Emirates Airline’s president Tim Clark said in February that European carriers must address their own failing business strategies rather than attacking the growth of Gulf airlines.
“It has taken European carriers donkeys’ years to adapt their business models to the changing dynamics of global civil aviation,” he said. “They haven’t been able to align their traffic flows to what is going on, whereas we have.”

Source: arabianbusiness.com

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

QR's A380 First Class

Qatar Airways has reversed course and will include first-class cabins on its coming fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbos to try to woo wealthy leisure and business travellers.

Airline officials are tight-lipped about what offerings will be in store for the airline's version of the double-decker aircraft, but passengers choosing to fly first class will be chauffeured to the plane in BMW 7 Series cars.

Qatar Airways will compete directly with the A380s operated by Emirates Airline, with their enclosed suites and showers, and Singapore Airlines, where first-class travellers are treated to a full-sized bed, desk, seats and personal storage.

The plans come as the Doha-based airline carries out a wide-ranging programme elsewhere in its fleet to rely only on business and economy cabins as the global economy recovers from the recent downturn.

The A380 "will be the only model in our fleet which will have a first-class cabin", Akbar al Baker, the chief executive of Qatar Airways, said last week.

Mr al Baker added the premium cabin would have eight seats in first class from a total of 517.

A typical layout on the A380 accommodates 525 passengers, with 10 first, 76 business, and 439 economy-class seats, Airbus said.

But the European aircraft maker has long marketed the superjumbo as having enormous potential for customising to an airline's specifications. The superjumbo's size led to Airbus at one stage touting the scope for features such as relaxation areas, bars, duty-free shops and beauty salons.

Configurations for the world's largest commercial airliner vary widely, from Korean Air's 407-passenger fit-out to the all-economy set-up for 840 passengers planned by Air Austral, a carrier based in the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.


In terms of luxury appeal, Air France installed an electronic art gallery exclusively for first class and business class on its A380s, while Virgin Atlantic has said it plans to put casinos, double beds and gymnasiums on its superjumbos.

Qatar has ordered five of the jets, which cost about US$300 million (Dh1.1 billion) each before standard industry discounts, and plans to order several more, possibly this year, Mr al Baker has said.

It has one of the fastest-growing fleets in the world with 93 jets, up from 80 one year ago.

First-class cabins are not being installed on its new Boeing 777s and are being removed from its fleet of Airbus A330s. In 2009, the airline ripped out the first-class lounges on its Airbus A340-600 jets to make more room for economy seats, with plans to eventually retire the planes.

The appeal of flying the A380 has led passengers to pay a premium for the flights, with Emirates charging nearly Dh40,000 for first-class travel between Dubai and New York.

The first commercial flight of the A380, by Singapore Airlines in October 2007, included a charity auction for seats. Passengers reportedly spent between $560 and $100,000 for the short flight between Singapore and Sydney.

Source: thenational.ae

Etihad to start flights to MLE

Etihad Airways announced today that it will commence operations to Malé, the capital city of the Republic of Maldives, on November 1, subject to government approval.

Etihad will operate a daily return service from its home base in Abu Dhabi to Malé International Airport, operating Airbus A320 aircraft on the route, configured with two cabins and offering 1,904 seats each week.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: "Malé is the gateway to the premium leisure destination, the Maldive Islands, and given the strong increase in visitation numbers we are seeing in the market, the time is right to launch services to this popular holiday destination.”

Mr Hogan said the commencement of the services in November was perfectly timed to coincide with the start of the busy Northern winter period.

“We expect the services will appeal to UAE leisure travellers, as well as customers from our major European markets, particularly with the strong connectivity options on offer and following the additional frequencies that will come online on a number of our key European routes this summer,” he said.

“Etihad’s schedule, which offers an attractive afternoon arrival and evening departure, has been carefully designed to offer customers maximum leisure time at their destination. In fact, European travellers can take advantage of our overnight flights in both directions, offering them a full extra day in the Maldives.”

The Maldives is made up of close to 1,200 islands grouped into natural atolls; including 200 inhabited islands and 97 resort islands, with a population of close to 300,000 people*. The region features deep blue seas, sandy beaches and turquoise reefs, and with its tropical climate and warm temperatures year round, is a renowned honeymoon and leisure destination.



Etihad Holidays has special packages on offer for the most spectacular of the islands. Offering a wide range of experiences for all budgets, Etihad Holidays has developed tailored packages for honeymooners or families, sun worshippers or divers. The packages include flights, hotel accommodation and island transfers. For further information, call 800 2324 or visit an Etihad shop for more details.

Etihad Guest Members who book early and fly during the first 30 days of operation will be rewarded with twice as many Etihad Guest Miles. For further information, go to etihad.com. Terms and conditions apply.

Malé will become the 67th destination on Etihad’s global network.

EY 278 AUH - MLE 0915 1430 4hrs 15mins
EY 279 MLE - AUH 2040 0005+1 4hrs 25mins

source: arabianaerospace.aero

airliners.net forum

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Emirates is going for A350-1000 instead of A350-900

Emirates is considering swapping its order for 50 Airbus A350-900s to A350-1000s as Airbus works on finalising design of the stretched variant.
In November 2007, the carrier ordered 70 A350 XWBs, initially specifying 50 of the baseline -900s and 20 -1000s. But Emirates president Tim Clark says over the last three years the carrier's network has matured to the point where it "can no longer tolerate anything under 300" seats.
Emirates is slated to take 290-seat A350-900s from April 2015. The A350-1000s would be a better fit, but the longer wait must also be considered.
"It [the -900] is now appearing too small," says Clark. "So we may slip the order to the -1000, but the -1000 hasn't been frozen yet. We haven't decided quite yet which one we'll take. We're actually playing around with how this order fits."

The A350-900 is scheduled to enter service in 2013, while Airbus has provided a 2015 entry into service date for -1000 stretch. Clark says the only option if Emirates wants to take A350s in 2015 is to stick with the -900.
Delivery dates for the A350-1000 are not likely to be firmed up until the design is frozen, which could take time as airlines continue to press Airbus for changes. Clark says with the current design the -1000 will not have a range or payload comparable to the Boeing 777-300ER.
"Airbus compares the -1000 to the 777-300ER. I've told them in no uncertain terms it does not. I see it as a 320-, 330-seater which will be very economical on missions up to 10 or 12 hours," he says. "The notion that it would fly from Singapore to European gateways in the winter months with 100 knots on the nose is a bit of an ask. We've suggested they need to come to grips with that, which means they need to increase the takeoff weight and they need to increase propulsion."
The aircraft is slated to be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines but Clark is "not sure they will do the job".
If its -900s are delayed beyond 2015 or it elects to wait for the -1000, Emirates can avail of the "safety net" of 30 additional 777-300ERs ordered last year. The airline's original thinking was for the A350-900s to replace its 777-200s, A330-200s and A340-300s, but it has the flexibility to retain these aircraft for longer.
In 2007 the airline ordered 70 A350 XWBs: 50 -900s and 20 -1000s

src: flightglobal.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Emirates - Airline of the Year!!

DUBAI, U.A.E., 9th February 2011: Emirates has been conferred the prestigious ‘Airline of the Year’ award for 2011 by the leading industry title Air Transport World, in recognition of the Dubai-based carrier’s “strong commitment to safety and operational excellence, trendsetting customer service and superb financial performance”.
Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, received the award at a gala dinner in Washington D.C. on 8th February 2011.
“The last few years have been among the most demanding in our industry’s history but despite the challenges, we have kept our focus on delivering the very highest standards of product, passenger comfort and operational efficiency,” said Tim Clark. “This recognition is testament to our commitment to innovation and service excellence as we continue to grow our global network and offer customers more opportunities to discover the world from Dubai.”

“Customers have a choice to fly Emirates, given that more than 125 airlines serve Dubai. The route network appeals to travellers not only in the UAE, but to those in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America who value the efficiency and connectivity of the Dubai hub,” said Perry Flint, Editorial Director for ATW.
“A cornerstone of EK's (Emirates’) success has been a relentless drive for cabin innovation not just in premium class but in economy,” added Flint. “The decision to award Emirates ‘Airline of the Year’ is in recognition for its strong commitment to safety and operational excellence, its trendsetting customer service and its superb financial performance including a 22-year consecutive annual profit streak.”
Since launching services in 1985, Emirates has grown into one of the largest and most dynamic airlines in the world, transforming Dubai into a world-class hub for global air travel. The airline is a leader in developing flexible air routings that save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions. These advances, combined with a host of other achievements have resulted in more than 400 international awards recognising the airline in almost every category.
Some of the Emirates’ pioneering innovations include becoming the first airline to introduce individual seat back videos and to enable passengers to make authorised onboard mobile phone calls. Emirates' flagship A380s are the only commercial aircraft to feature onboard Shower Spas for First Class passengers.
The airline has experienced rapid and consistent growth, above 20 per cent a year on average. Financially self-sustained and unprotected, Emirates carried 27.5 million passengers in the 2009-10 financial year – almost 4.7 million more than the previous 12 months.
Emirates currently flies to 110 cities in 66 countries across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. So far this year, the airline has launched a new route to Basra, Iraq on 2nd February and will start new services to Geneva on 1st June and Copenhagen on 1st August.

SRC: Emirates.com

Friday, January 21, 2011

GVA first then CPH (EK Routes)






Award-winning airline launches its second destination in Switzerland
DUBAI, U.A.E., 1st December 2010: Emirates will be increasing its commitment to Switzerland on 1st June 2011 with the launch of non-stop, daily flights between Dubai and Geneva.

Geneva, one of the most important banking and financial cities in the world, will become Emirates’ 111th international destination and its 26th destination in Europe. Geneva is also the home to over 300 international governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Switzerland has been part of the Emirates network since 1992, when we began flights from Dubai to Zurich. The announcement of Geneva as our newest European destination underlines our commitment to this important country,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

“Our research has shown that there is a high demand for this route from across our network, from both the business sector, particularly financial, and the leisure travellers who are looking for both summer relaxation and winter sports,” added Sheikh Ahmed.

Starting 1st June 2011, EK 089 will leave Dubai each day at 0855hrs and arrive in Geneva at 1410hrs. From Geneva, EK 090 departs at 1540hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2359hrs.

The service will be operated with a combination of Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in a three-class configuration, offering Private Suites in First Class, lie-flat seats in Business Class, and a spacious cabin in Economy Class.

Passengers in all classes can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ice (information, communication, entertainment) Digital Widescreen inflight entertainment system, which features over 1,200 channels of the latest blockbuster movies, TV programmes and music from around the world.

In addition to the entertainment, passengers can enjoy the delicacies from a gourmet menu served to them by Emirates Cabin Crew from over 120 nations including Switzerland.

Emirates expects to use the full 15-20-tonne cargo capacity per flight and will be transporting valuable cargo such as luxury watches and high-end fashion goods; diplomatic cargo and relief shipments for the International Red Cross; as well as chemicals, pharma products and electronics.

Emirates currently offers double-daily flights between Dubai and Zurich.

emirates.com

EK is doing it again!!


Denmark to become the 67th country served by Emirates


DUBAI, U.A.E., 20th January 2011: Emirates is set to add a new European country to its ever expanding route network when the Dubai-based international airline launches non-stop, daily flights to Copenhagen in Denmark on 1st August.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital city which attracts 1.3 million tourists a year, will become the Emirates’ 112th international destination and the 27th destination in Europe.

“Copenhagen is an important hub for the whole of Scandinavia and the launch of our non-stop service will open up a new market for Emirates. It will also offer Denmark’s businesses with easy connections to previously untapped markets,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group. “Dubai and Copenhagen both have a strong maritime and trading tradition and Emirates is looking forward to adding this dynamic city to our European network and also welcoming Denmark as the 67th country that we fly to from Dubai.”

Starting 1st August 2011, EK 151 will leave Dubai each day at 0830hrs and arrive in Copenhagen at 1310hrs. From Copenhagen, EK 152 departs at 1455hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2315hrs.

Emirates will be operating an Airbus A330-200 on the Copenhagen route in a three-class configuration. On board, passengers can enjoy the delicacies from the exclusive menu served to them by Emirates’ cabin crew from over 120 nations.

Passengers on all Emirates’ flights also have the added bonus of extra baggage allowance with 30 kilogrammes for those travelling in Economy, 40 kilogrammes for Business and 50 kilogrammes for First Class.

Copenhagen, with a population 1.2 million people in the metropolitan area, has a compact city centre which has developed into a major regional centre of culture, business, media and science.

Copenhagen is the third new route announced by Emirates for 2011, following Basra on 2nd February and Geneva on 1st June.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Moveover LH - EK (LH's petition to block EK in Canada

Germany’s Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline, is encouraging Canadian authorities to block Emirate Airline’s bid to expand the number of flights it operates to Canada, the vice chairman of the Dubai-based carrier told Arabian Business.
“They are targeting Emirates, being egged on by Lufthansa… It is purely the protection of Air Canada,” Maurice Flanagan, vice chairman of Emirates Airline, told Arabian Business of Canadian authorities refusal to allow the Dubai-based carrier to increase the number of flights it operates to Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
“We have perfect open skies to the United States, we can fly anywhere we wish with any capacity and any frequency so we go to New York, San Francisco, Los Angles they are all non-stop. Canada we are restricted to three flights a week [which is] absolutely ridiculous when the market is there for double daily Toronto, double daily Vancouver, and double daily Calgary. The market is there,” Flanagan added.
The breakdown of talks between the two governments in October has resulted in the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the UAE recently increasing visa restrictions for Canadian visitors.

While Canada has said the current number of flights are enough to service the market between the two countries, Flanagan disagreed: “They know it’s simply not true, there are 26,000 Canadians working here, enormous trade between just Dubai, not just the UAE, that’s ten times as much with Switzerland but they’ve given Switzerland open skies, all in protection of Air Canada.”
Canadians travelling to the Middle East currently have to transit through major European airports, such as Frankfurt, which is the main hub for Germany’s Lufthansa. Lufthansa and Air Canada are linked through their membership of the Star Alliance airline association.
“(Air Canada) would rather its passengers be diverted through hubs in Europe to access these destinations; no matter how inconvenient, costly or time-consuming… Why should Canadian consumers be dictated to by the narrow interests of Air Canada’s and its fellow Star Alliance member Lufthansa?” Emirates said in a press brochure issued last month.
Looking to the future, Flanagan believes the issue is no longer just about landing right and is now a bigger diplomatic issue: “It is heavily political now; we are almost out of the picture.”
GCC airlines, such as Etihad, Dubai’s Emirates and Qatar Airways have recently been criticised by European airlines, which say government subsidies and access to cheap financing have allowed Gulf carriers to expand rapidly.
Emirates overtook Lufthansa last year as the biggest carrier on international flights, following a sixfold increase in traffic since 2000, when it ranked 24th.

src:http://www.arabianbusiness.com/lufthansa-encouraging-canada-block-emirates-expansion-claims-flanagan-365633.html

Friday, December 3, 2010

EK ramps up flights to EU

I just found out yesterday that Emirates will add GVA (Geneva, Switzerland) to it's EU network. Being the second route to Switzerland after ZRH (Zurich, Switzerland). The flight will commence on June next year utilizing the 77W/77ER equipment.

In addition to this EK also ramps up its services to SIN, SYD, and HAM.

Dubai – Bangkok eff 30MAY11 28th weekly frequency resumes, EK374/375 operates Daily instead of Day x6
Dubai – Hamburg eff 01SEP11 Increase from 1 to 2 Daily. 2nd Daily flight operates with 3-class 777-200ER
EK059 DXB0900 – 1340HAM 773 D
EK061 DXB1500 – 1940HAM 772 D
EK060 HAM1525 – 2340DXB 773 D
EK062 HAM2125 – 0540+1DXB 772 D
Dubai – Sydney eff 02OCT11 2nd Daily nonstop service (3rd Daily overall) to be resumed
EK414 DXB0140 – 2230SYD 77W D
EK415 SYD0600 – 1330DXB 77W D 03OCT11-
Dubai – Singapore eff 30OCT11 Introduction of 3rd Daily NONSTOP with 3-class 777-300ER (non-suite; overall SIN service increase to 4 Daily)
EK354 DXB0325 – 1445SIN 77W D
EK355 SIN0200 – 0510DXB 77W D

Source:http://airlineroute.net/2010/11/30/ek-s11-update2/

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Emirates asks Airbus for longer-range A350

I've been very busy with work that's why I'm not able to update this blog anymore. But since my friend Twisted Dichotomy updated hers, I'll update mine too... =)

For now, update about EK =) Happy Landings!


Emirates, the world's biggest airline by international traffic, urged Airbus SAS to boost the range of the biggest version of its new A350 wide-body plane as Boeing ponders a redesign of the competing 777 model.

Emirates, whose outstanding orders for the 777 will make it the twin-jet's biggest user, needs higher-capacity aircraft for its longest intercontinental routes, Tim Clark, the Dubai-based airline's president, said today in an interview in Paris.

Clark has ordered 20 350-seat A350-1000s, a model he says can't reach Los Angeles from Dubai in the three-class layout that Emirates prefers. The Boeing planes that it currently uses on the route are based on a less efficient 20-year-old design, with the 354-seat 777-300ER at the limits of its range, curbing the payload, and the 777-200LR limited to 266 people.

Advertisement: Story continues below
"We're finding that the smallest aircraft that's useful to us needs to be 340 seats," Clark said. "We're trying to persuade Airbus to realign the A350-1000 more toward the ER, increasing both its capacity and its range."

With the A350-1000 still undergoing development and not due for delivery to Emirates until 2015, Toulouse, France-based Airbus may still be able to reconfigure elements of the design. Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath declined to comment today.

Emirates has ordered a total of 70 A350s, including 50 of the -900 variant, which can fly 200 miles further than the -1000 but which carries only 300 people in the three-class configuration. The biggest Arab airline also has options on an additional 50 A350s and signed a letter of intent firming up 30 of those in 2008.

777 Revamp

Clark said Emirates is equally interested in a new 777 if Boeing revamps the model enough to deliver significant savings.

With its 787 Dreamliner yet to enter service, Boeing plans to decide next year whether to commit to a full redesign for the 777 or build a new wing to boost performance, something the Chicago-based manufacturer began discussing in June 2009.

"We would like to see an aircraft that's lighter, with or without composites, and more fuel efficient," Clark said, adding that the plane would need to fly from Dubai to Los Angeles in 16 1/2 hours with a payload of 35 to 40 metric tons, compared with a maximum 30 tons today. "It's a big ask. In the end they'll come up with something, but I doubt they'll quite achieve that."

'Room for Both'

Clark said Emirates may place more orders for both the A350 and the 777 for use on its longest routes if the competing aircraft are developed to its satisfaction.

"There's room for both planes, quite frankly," he said.

For Boeing, a revamped or all-new 777 would fill a gap in its lineup above the 290-seat Dreamliner. Emirates has about 90 777s in operation or on order, making it the model's top user.

Boeing is regularly seeking the input of Emirates and other customers and has the time "to make the right product decisions" that are aligned with available technologies and airlines' needs, said Jim Proulx, a spokesman in Seattle, home to the company's commercial headquarters.

"We are committed to maintaining our leadership in this segment and providing customers a product offering to do that for another 20 years or longer, whether it is a 777 derivative or possible new airplane," Proulx said.

Airbus's A380 superjumbo may also feature in Emirates' reckoning on very-long-haul flights as the aircraft's weight is gradually reduced, Clark said. The Dubai-Los Angeles route is within the model's range, according to the Airbus Website.

Emirates will introduce the A380 to Tokyo's Narita airport as soon as next September, when it begins taking the next batch of six to nine jets, due for delivery through March 2012, the CEO said. That will take the fleet to between 21 and 24 planes.

Bookings remain "very strong" on routes already served by the A380 and show no sign of suffering from the Nov. 4 engine blowout on a Qantas Airways Ltd. plane powered by Rolls-Royce Group Plc turbines. Emirates' superjumbos are equipped with engines from a General Electric Co.-Pratt & Whitney venture.

Monday, November 8, 2010

EK near miss at DXB

A major air disaster was averted on Sunday morning in Dubai when an Emirates flight took off mere seconds after touching down because another carrier was already on the same runway.

"Emirates flight EK523 from Trivandrum to Dubai landed at 0722 on November 7, 2010. The aircraft initiated a go-around sequence at the time of landing, after momentarily touching the runway. This is a standard procedure initiated by crew or Air Traffic Control to ensure the safe operation of the flight," said an Emirates spokesperson.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance and will not be compromised,” the spokesperson added.

The near miss involved flight number EK523, arriving at 7am from the South Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. A passenger onboard the carrier confirmed the incident with Emirates 24|7, saying the pilot made this announcement over the public address system.

Dr Ashok D, 43, who was aboard the A330-200 flight, said: “The flight had already been delayed considering we were scheduled to arrive at 6.20am, but made landing at 7am. Yet, as soon as the plane touched down, it was airborne again within seconds.

“Many passengers were still asleep at the time, but the few of us who were awake were quite alarmed by this as the plane took off at a very steep angle – almost 45 degrees.

“It was within five minutes that the pilot announced over the PA system, apologising for the inconvenience, and saying that because there was another plane already on the runway, he was forced to take off immediately.”

Dr Ashok said the plane circled the airspace for another 20 minutes, before it landed “in a different area from where we normally land; the bus ride to Terminal 3 took another 20 minutes”.

When contacted, both Emirates airline and Dubai Airports said they are investigating the matter.

“All of us are grateful to the pilot’s vigilance, because had he hesitated even for a second, who knows what could have happened,” the passenger stated.

source: http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/emirates-plane-in-near-miss-at-dubai-airport-2010-11-07-1.314446

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Solo Online Model Search

I'm helping out a friend (the photographer) and his friend (the model) win a contest. Just simply rate the photo on the link below and that's it (make sure its 5 stars! :D).
You may need to register to vote. You can also leave a comment if you like. Voting ends on November 15. You can use multiple emails if you have more than one. Anyway, Here is the link for their entry. =)

http://www.solo.com.ph/modelsearch/gallery/teachers-pet

Thanks!

-princedevy-

Note:

Email confirmation might take some time to appear on your inbox.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Property/ies For Sale

My Friend's Family have decided to go back to the United States for medical reasons. They are selling their properties here in the Philippines. The sooner it gets sold, the better.

If you know someone who might be interested, or if you are interested, please leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as possible

Here are the details

Here are the pictures of the house and lot for sale in Tagaytay! =)|| Tagaytay House and Lot for Sale!! Everything in the house goes with the house! Fully furnished, 4 bedrooms, 2 common bathrooms, 1 master bedroom, 1 master bathroom, kitchen, living/dining room, dirty kitchen, appliances all in! Washer/Dryer... complete!

For photos, please click the link below:

http://garciaproperties.multiply.com/


Also for sale: A Toyota Altis and a Toyota Innova

Monday, October 25, 2010

Emirates to fly A380 to Munich from next year

I've been very very busy lately so I can't blog much about my personal life but I can still update you about the industry. =)

Dr Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich International Airport, said that Emirates airline plans to launch Airbus A380 flights from Dubai to Munich next year.

He said that the airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the most modern and the best in the Gulf and the world, attributing that to the vision of leadership.

He said in an exclusive interview with Wam that Abu Dhabi International Airport has achieved a giant leap in the growth of travel and air cargo from Abu Dhabi to the world after the construction of the third terminal building for passengers and that the co-operation projects with Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) have yielded positive results, notably, the co-operation in expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Kerkloh noted that "we are willing to put our expertise to develop the airports of the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the next stage", adding that the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have placed themselves in prominent places on the world map thanks to the development of their airports as per the latest international standards and regulations.

Kerkloh expressed his wish for further co-operation with the airports' authorities in the UAE in the next stage.

"We will put our technical expertise and human resources to provide the country's needs in this area," he added.

He explained that Munich International Airport Company operates from Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman where a number of advisors work through the company's regional office in Abu Dhabi.

Kerkloh pointed out that there is strong demand from national carriers and the Gulf on the Munich International Airport, which he described as the region’s gateway to Germany and the European continent.

He said translation services are provided free to visitors through the Arab-Bavaria Friendship Society in Bavaria and the allocation of restaurants offering Arab halal food, in addition to the presence of a mosque at the Munich International Airport.

Kerkloh stressed Etihad Airways has become a major player in the tourism and travel in Europe and surpassed the majority of major companies due to its success in the transport of passengers from European cities to the Middle East, through the airports of Munich and Abu Dhabi.

He said the international airport of Munich took part in the construction operations of the new building in Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal 2 for Etihad Airways.

Kerkloh said that the Munich airport carried out the latest programme on running the airports in the world in the new building of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

SRC:http://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/emirates-to-fly-a380-to-munich-from-next-year-2010-10-23-1.307855

Friday, October 15, 2010

Early Christmas Present from Tim Clark!

Emirates Airlines, the Dubai-based airline, wants to buy a total of 120 Airbus A380s. These suckers have an average price tag of $325 mln a pop. Assuming they pay list price, that would total a cool EUR 28 bln….

Emirates also says it is working with Boeing on replacing its fleet of 777s.

These things take years to build, so any immediate impact on the euro would be modest, but it would be a macro plus for the euro zone if it comes to fruition.

src:http://www.forexlive.com/138688/all/emirates-wants-to-buy-120-super-jumbos

Friday, September 10, 2010

Good News for EK FA wannabe's

Emirates Order for 90 A380s ‘Not Enough,’ Clark Says
September 09, 2010, 10:13 AM EDT
By Steve Rothwell


(Updates with analyst’s comment in seventh paragraph.)

Sept. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Emirates, the world’s biggest airline by international traffic, said the 90 Airbus SAS A380 superjumbos it’s buying won’t be sufficient to meet the carrier’s projected demand.

The aircraft “are well spoken for and frankly, the way things are going for us at the moment, the 90 certainly won’t be enough,” President Tim Clark said today in a phone interview. “Demand for our services seems to be continuing to grow apace. We’re moving forward very robustly.”

The carrier, already the biggest customer for Airbus’s 517- seat plane, has expanded its traffic sixfold in the last decade by connecting international passengers through its Dubai hub. Emirates is also the biggest operator of Boeing Co.’s 777 long- range airliner.

Emirates has 12 Airbus A380s in its fleet, with another three to go into service by November. Deliveries will restart in September 2011, with the carrier receiving the remaining planes through November 2017.

The pace of development at Dubai airport, which last year handled 41 million passengers to rank as the 17th-busiest hub in world, was one of the main obstacles to growth, Clark said. The executive estimated that the airport, growing at about 15 percent a year, will handle as many as 100 million passengers by the end of the decade.

“There is no point trying to bring airplanes at a time when you have no place to put your passengers,” Clark said.

Second Airport

Dubai is developing a second airport, Dubai World Central- Al Maktoum International, which opened to cargo carriers in June and will start serving scheduled passenger flights in March. The government aims to make Al Maktoum the world’s busiest airport, with eventual capacity for 160 million travelers, and Emirates will shift its base there.

Al Maktoum will need 10 to 15 years before enough carriers have moved there to make it Dubai’s main airport, Clark said.

Emirates’ ability to maintain expansion may also depend in part on competitors in the Persian Gulf region that are pursuing a similar strategy, said Andrew Lobbenberg, a London-based aviation analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

Qatar Airways Ltd., half-owned by the state, has orders and options for more than 170 Boeing and Airbus planes to build up its base in Doha, about 235 miles (380 kilometers) west of Dubai. Etihad Airways, government-owned by Dubai’s neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi, also has expansion plans.

“A lot depends on what happens with the other Gulf carriers,” Lobbenberg said in a telephone interview. “If Dubai survives as the sole hub in the Gulf, then you could justify a more aggressive outlook.”

The expansion of the three airlines has helped boost traffic in the Middle East by 19 percent in the year to August, making it the fastest-growing region in the world this year, according to data compiled by the International Air Transport Association.

--Editors: Tom Lavell, Jerrold Colten.

source:http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-09/emirates-order-for-90-a380s-not-enough-clark-says.html

YM Virus

In case you are not aware of the "IQ Virus" as I call it. Here;s what you need to know to avoid being attacked or being hacked by this malware. Basically, you will receive a greeting from a contact saying either "Hi" or "Hey" or "Hello". Once you reply, you will automatically get a message saying "I just took an IQ quiz here" blah blah. It really annoys me because in a few minutes of being online I receive as much as five messages. Whatever you do, Don't click on the link the malware might send you. To check if you're infected, do what I do. Ask a contact if they've been receiving the messages from you. If you are infected follow the instructions below.

Note: You might be infected without you knowing it.


Source:http://www.nackvision.com/talk/showthread.php?t=3837
There is a very bad virus attack on Yahoo Messenger where it will take control of your messenger and without your knowledge sends some messages with a website links which contains the virus, to your friends list..So within a few hours many of your friends will get infected with it.
It is one of the most powerful Trojan /virus I have ever seen.. (I don't know the actual target of the idiot who created it. May be to advertise his site or to steal very imp data from your computer. )
If you are infected with it what is going to happen? :
1: It sets your default IE page to nsl-school.org, you can’t even change it back to other page. If you open IE from your comp some malicious code will automatically be executed into your computer.
2: It will disable the Task manager / reg edit. So you can’t kill the Trojan process anymore.

3: Files that are gonna be installed by this virus are svhost.exe , svhost32.exe , internat.exe.
you can find these files in windows/ & temp/ directories.
4: It will send the secured & protected information to attacker

How to remove this manually from your computer ?
1: Close the IE browser. Log out messenger / Remove Internet Cable.
2: To enable Regedit
Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste)
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
3: To enable task manager : (To kill the process we need to enable task manager)
Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste)
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

4: Now we need to change the default page of IE though regedit.
Start>Run>Regedit
From the below locations in Regedit chage your default home page to google.com or other.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Just replace the attacker site with google.com or set it to blank page.

5: Now we need to kill the process from back end. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del
Kill the process svhost32.exe . ( may be more than one process is running.. check properly)
6: Delete svhost32.exe , svhost.exe files from Windows/ & temp/ directories. Or just search for svhost in your comp.. delete those files.
7: Go to regedit search for svhost and delete all the results you get.
Start menu > Run > Regedit >
8: Restart the computer. That’s it now you are virus free.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

FYI....

Please be informed and be aware that someone is using Star's identity for personal gains.

Here's Star's post regarding this matter :

"Attention All:

It has been brought to my attention that someone is using my identity in many circumstances like offering discounted tickets the swindlers are able to take cash & credit card numbers from victims. There are also numerous reports that a lot of people are impersonating me or using my pictures in some dating sites. Other version of this scam includes the use of chat portals such as yahoo messenger using my identity and when you are yet smart enough to know that these schemes are scams and have paid them the amount that they’re asking, you will just realize that when they would just vanish out of the blue.

Please be informed that I only use yahoo messenger rarely just to speak with my family & friends and I’ve never had any dating site whatsoever. Please spread the news that this type of modus operandi exist to your friend and loved ones so no more individual will be victimized by this scam."


Don't tolerate this kind of M.O.'s. Report it immediately to concerned networking sites.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

EK capacity changes and Etihad's expansion this winter

I'd love to edit this but it might take some time...

EMIRATES :

As per 13AUG10 GDS timetable/inventory display, latest major network-wide changes to Emirates’ 2010/11 Winter operation, effective 31OCT10 as follows (latest operation overview also listed):

New Airbus A380 service
Dubai – Bangkok – Hong Kong A380 replace 777-300 from 01OCT10

For now, Bangkok service is 2 Daily A380. However, EK372/373, current A380 service, is to be switching to 777-300, but not updated in GDS yet (at time of 2nd update goes to press)

New Changes
Dubai – Amsterdam Daily 777-300ER, replacing -200LR/-300ER
Dubai – Bangkok EK374/375 Reduce from Daily to 6 weekly, Day x6 from DXB/Day x7 from BKK Canceled (overall reduce from 28 to 27 weekly)

Dubai – Houston NEW 2nd Daily service
EK213 DXB0240 – 0905IAH 77L x1
EK213 DXB0240 – 0905IAH 77W 1
EK211 DXB0930 – 1555IAH 77L D

EK214 IAH1145 – 1225+1DXB 77L x1
EK214 IAH1145 – 1225+1DXB 77W 1
EK212 IAH1825 – 1905+1DXB 77L D

777-300ER operates on this route once a week.

Dubai – Los Angeles NEW 2nd Daily service
EK217 DXB0315 – 0745LAX 77L D
EK215 DXB0820 – 1250LAX 77L D

EK218 LAX1000 – 1350+1DXB 77L D
EK216 LAX1600 – 1945+1DXB 77L D

Dubai – Moscow Domodedovo EK131/132 777-200LR replace -300ER on Day 6 and -300 on Day 7
Dubai – Perth EK420/421 777-300ER replace -200LR on Day x1
Dubai – Sao Paulo Planned Boeing 777-300ER service (replacing -200LR), postponed till 01DEC10
Dubai – Sydney 2 Daily NONSTOP service reduce to 1 Daily, EK414/415 temporary canceled. (Additional 1 Daily service via Bangkok unchanged)
Dubai – Tunis Reduce from Daily to 5 weekly (Day x46)

Previously noted changes:
Dubai – Amsterdam Flight number change from EK145/146 to EK147/148
Dubai – Athens EK103/104 A340-500 replace A330-200 from 02JAN11
Dubai – Beijing EK308/309 A340-500 replace -300
Dubai – Brisbane – Auckland 777-300ER replace A340-500 from 01JAN11
Dubai – Dhaka EK586/587 3 weekly service continues A330-200 operation
Dubai – Hong Kong 777-300ER operates 31OCT10 to 31DEC10, then switching to -200
Dubai – Kuala Lumpur EK342/343 continues 777-300 operation
Dubai – Luanda Boeing 777-200 replace Airbus A330-200
Dubai – New York JFK EK201/202 A380 service returns, replacing 777-300ER
Dubai – Perth EK424/425 777-200LR replace -300ER from 01DEC10
Dubai – Seychelles Increase from 6 to 7 weekly
Dubai – Tripoli EK743/744 Airbus A340-500 replace A330-200 from 01JAN11

As noted earlier on this blog this year, Airbus A340-500′s long-haul operation to Australia ends on 31DEC10 (DXB departure)

General overview:

Route

Dubai – Houston
7 77L EK211/212
6 77L 1 77W EK213/214

Dubai – Los Angeles
7 77L EK215/216
7 77L EK217/218

Dubai – New York JFK
7 388 EK201/202
7 77W EK203/204

Dubai – San Francisco 7 77W

Dubai – Sao Paulo
7 77L -30NOV10
7 77W -01DEC10

Dubai – Toronto 3 388
*
Dubai – Amsterdam 7 77W

Dubai – Athens
4 332 EK103/104 -31DEC10
4 345 EK105/106 -2JAN11
7 332

Dubai – Birmingham
7 77W EK037/038
7 77W EK039/040

Dubai – Dusseldorf
7 773 EK055/056
7 332 EK057/058

Dubai – Frankfurt
7 77W EK045/046
7 77W EK047/048

Dubai – Glasgow
7 77W

Dubai – Hamburg
2 77W
5 773

Dubai – Istanbul
4 772 EK123/124
7 77W EK121/122

Dubai – Larnaca – Malta
7 332

Dubai – London Gatwick
7 77W EK009/010
7 77W EK015/016
7 772 EK011/012

Dubai – London Heathrow
7 773 EK007/008
7 388 EK001/002
7 77W EK029/030
7 388 EK003/004
7 773 EK005/006

Dubai – Madrid
7 343

Dubai – Manchester
7 388 EK017/018
7 77W EK019/020

Dubai – Milan Malpensa
7 343 EK091/092
7 343 EK093/094

Dubai – Moscow Domodedovo
7 345 EK133/134
5 77W EK131/132
2 77L

Dubai – Munich
7 332 EK051/052
7 773 EK049/050

Dubai – Newcastle
7 332

Dubai – Nice
7 332

Dubai – Paris CDG
7 388 EK073/074
6 773 EK075/076
1 772

Dubai – Prague
7 332

Dubai – Rome
7 332 EK095/096
7 773 EK097/098

Dubai – Venice
7 343

Dubai – Vienna
7 77W

Dubai – Zurich
7 772 EK085/086
7 77W EK087/088

*
Dubai – Accra – Abidjan
7 343

Dubai – Addis Ababa – Entebbe
7 77W -31DEC10
7 345 -01JAN11

Dubai – Cairo
4 77W 3 772 EK923/924
3 332 3 772 EK927/928

Dubai – Cape Town
7 77W

Dubai – Casablanca
7 345

Dubai – Dakar
5 343

Dubai – Dar es Salaam
7 345

Dubai – Durban
7 332

Dubai – Johannesburg
7 77W EK761/762
7 77W EK763/764
7 77W EK765/766


Dubai – Khartoum
7 345

Dubai – Lagos
7 345 EK781/782
7 77W EK783/784

Dubai – Luanda
3 772

Dubai – Mauritius
4 773 EK701/702
2 773 1 77W EK3703/3704
2 77W EK3705/3706


Dubai – Nairobi
7 332 EK719/720
7 772 EK721/722

Dubai – Seychelles
5 345 EK705/706
2 345 EK707/708

Dubai – Tripoli

EK743/744 3 332
3 345 -02JAN11
03JAN11-
EK745/746 7 345

Dubai – Tunis 5 332
*
Dubai – Ahmedabad
6 332 EK538/539
4 332 EK540/541

Dubai – Bangalore
7 332 EK564/565
5 332 1 772 EK566/567
7 332 EK568/569

Dubai – Bangkok
7 388
6 773 EK372/373
EK374/375
Dubai – Bangkok – Hong Kong 7 388
Dubai – Bangkok – Sydney – Christchurch 7 77W
Dubai – Beijing 7 345
7 388 EK308/309
EK306/307
Dubai – Brisbane – Auckland 7 345
7 77W -31DEC10
01JAN11-
Dubai – Chennai
EK542/543 6 332 1 773
3 772
3 332
1 773 -28JAN11
29JAN11-
Dubai – Chennai
EK544/545 2 772
2 773
2 77W
1 332
EK546/547 3 772 4 332
Dubai – Colombo 5 77W 2 773
4 77W 3 773 -09EB11
10EB11-
Dubai – Colombo – Singapore 5 77W 2 773
Dubai – Delhi 6 772 1 77W
5 773 2 772
7 332
7 332 EK510/511
EK512/513
EK514/515
EK516/517
Dubai – Dhaka 7 77W
6 77W 1 772
3 332 EK582/583
EK584/585
EK586/587
Dubai – Guangzhou 7 77W
Dubai – Hong Kong 7 77W
7 772 -31DEC10
01JAN11-
Dubai – Hyderabad 7 332
7 332 EK526/527
EK528/529
EK524/525 4 332
1 773
2 772
Dubai – Islamabad 2 77W
2 77W 1 772 EK612/613
EK614/615
Dubai – Jakarta 7 77W
7 77W EK356/357
EK358/359
Dubai – Karachi
EK600/601
*
EK602/603
EK604/605
EK606/607
2 773 1 332
4 77W
2 772 5 332
7 332
6 332 1 77W
Dubai – Kochi
EK530/531
*
EK532/533
5 772 1 77W
1 332
4 772 3 332
Dubai – Kolkata 5 332
7 332 EK572/573
EK570/571
Dubai – Kozhikode 5 772
5 332 1 772 EK560/561
EK562/563
Dubai – Kuala Lumur 7 773
7 77W EK342/343
EK346/347
Dubai – Kuala Lumur – Melbourne 7 77W
Dubai – Lahore 3 77W
1 77W EK622/623
EK624/625
Dubai – Male 7 77W
Dubai – Male – Colombo 5 773 2 772
Dubai – Manila 7 77W
7 77W EK332/333
EK334/335
Dubai – Melbourne – Auckland 7 77W
Dubai – Mumbai
EK500/501
EK502/503
EK504/504
*
EK506/507
EK508/509
7 77W
6 77W 1 772
1 77W 3 773 3 772
7 332
7 332
Dubai – Osaka Kansai 7 77W
Dubai – Peshawar 2 772
Dubai – Perth
EK420/421 6 77L 1 77W
Dubai – Perth
EK424/425 7 77W
7 77L -30NOV10
01DEC10-
Dubai – Seoul Incheon 7 388
Dubai – Shanghai Pu Dong 7 77W
7 343 EK302/303
EK304/305
Dubai – Singapore – Brisbane 7 77W
Dubai – Singapore – Melbourne 7 77W
Dubai – Sydney – Auckland 7 388
Dubai – Thiruvananthauram 5 332
7 332 EK520/521
EK522/523
Dubai – Tokyo Narita 5 77W
*
Dubai – Amman
EK901/902
*
EK903/904
3 772 3 332
1 77W
4 332 2 772
1 773
Dubai – Bahrain
EK835/836
EK837/838
EK839/840
7 332
7 332
4 332 2 772
1 773
Dubai – Beirut
EK953/954
*
EK955/956
EK957/958
4 77L 2 345
1 77W
3 332
4 332 2 345
1 77W
Dubai – Damascus 7 332
4 772 3 332 EK911/912
EK913/914
Doha – Dammam
EK821/822
*
EK823/824
EK825/826
1 77W 1 332
1 772
2 332
1 77W 1 772
Dubai – Doha
EK847/848
EK841/842
*
EK843/844
EK849/850
EK845/846
7 332
2 77W 3 332
2 772
6 332 1 773
6 332 1 77W
3 332 3 772
1 77W
Dubai – Jeddah 7 388
Dubai – Kuwait
EK853/854
EK855/856
*
EK857/858
*
EK859/860
7 332
1 773 3 332
2 77W 1 772
2 772 1 773
3 332 1 77W
5 332 1 773
1 772
Dubai – Muscat 7 332
3 772 4 332 EK866/867
EK862/863
Dubai – Riyadh 4 77W 3 772
Dubai – Sana’a 7 332
Dubai – Tehran
EK975/976
*
EK971/972
EK977/978
1 343 2 77W
4 332
3 332 4 77W
2 332 2 77L
2 77W 1 772



ETIHAD:

As per 13AUG10 GDS timetable display, changes to ETIHAD’s planned 2010/11 Winter operation as follows:

Abu Dhabi – Almaty Day 6 service A320 replace A319 (overall remains 3 weekly)
Abu Dhabi – Cairo EY655/656 Daily A320 (instead of A320/330 mix)
Abu Dhabi – Chicago Day 3 service A340-500 replace -600
Abu Dhabi – Dublin Service maintained at 10 weekly
Abu Dhabi – Erbil Increase from 2 to 3 weekly
EY557 AUH0830 – 1035EBL 320 26
EY557 AUH1015 – 1205EBL 320 7

EY558 EBL1135 – 1515AUH 320 26
EY558 EBL1300 – 1640AUH 320 7

Abu Dhabi – Frankfurt Airbus A330-300 aircraft enters operation from 01DEC10
EY001/002 333 Day x357 332 Day 357
EY007/008 333 Day 246 332 Day x246

Abu Dhabi – Geneva Airbus A330-300 aircraft enters operation, gradually replacing -200
31OCT10 – 30NOV10 333 Day 4 332 Day X17
01DEC10 - 333 Day x17

Abu Dhabi – Islamabad Boeing 777-300ER operates 3 of 7 weekly, 4th weekly from 19DEC10, replacing A320
Abu Dhabi – Lahore Daily A340-600 service (selected dates operated by -500)
Abu Dhabi – London Heathrow By January 2011, all 3 Daily service are operated by either Airbus A340-500/-600 (EY017/018 Day 1 is A330-300)

Abu Dhabi – Manchester Airbus A330-200 replace 777-300ER during following periods:
01NOV10 – 05NOV10 / 16NOV10 – 09DEC10

Abu Dhabi – Manila Capacity increase, EY424/423 777-300ER replace A330-200 (total 12 weekly 777-300ER flight)

Abu Dhabi – Melbourne operating aircraft adjustment
345 Day x257 346 Day 257 (MEL departs following day)

Abu Dhabi – Paris CDG Operating aircraft changes
EY031/032 333 Daily
EY037/038 332 Day 13 333 Day 7

Abu Dhabi – Sydney EY454/455 operating aircraft adjustment
345 Day 15 346 Day 37 (SYD departs following day)

Abu Dhabi – Tokyo Narita 1 of 5 weekly operates with Airbus A340-500, replacing A330-200
332 Day x247 345 Day 7 (NRT departs following day)

As previously posted, ETIHAD is launching Daily Abu Dhabi – Seoul Incheon from 10DEC10


courtesy: airlineroute.net

Sunday, August 8, 2010

a sign or coincidence?

Qatar Airways will be having it's open day in MNL at the Diamond Hotel on August 21 just a week after my end-of-contract date with my present company. That made me think about signs. It worked for a friend so why shouldn't it be the same for me. Yesterday I had my facial cleaning check up done and went to the nearest computer shop right after, to check my mails. I always check IPAM's website for updates regarding OD's and AD's of QR and EK. I was happy to know that QR, as I've said, will be having it's OD here in MNL again. Being ecstatic and all, I went to the department store to look for a pinstripe business suit. It just happened that the particular suit I was looking for just came in that day. It was literally fresh from the box. I tried it on and well, it felt good so I decided to buy it. Whether I get QR or not, it's going to be just fine. After all, I just saw a sign today (for EK). Now, I've been cutting off from eating rice and tomorrow I will be starting to do a daily 2-hr cardio as a preparation for the OD on the 21st. I told my friend that no matter what happen, I'm still going. It's a do or die situation.

PAL is also hiring URGENTLY but that's a different story. :)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Ola Madrid!

It's finally August 1 (actually August 2). Emirates has commenced flights to Madrid (MAD) and it will be serviced by the A330 fleet. Another milestone for EK as it opens its first route to Spain which AFAIK will be followed by BCN (Barcelona). Ola Madrid indeed! I've been ecstatic since this morning to blog about this. And that's just it =)

Addt'l info:

EK has upgraded service to Beijing (PEK) by sending one of their superjumbos, the A380. Shanghai (PVG) will also be serviced by the same aircraft on 01/01/11... =)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

First Job, First Out

On June 23rd, I started working in a manufacturing industry as an FA Engineer. FA means Failure Analysis BTW. During my first week on the job I was having nostalgic moments regarding my dreams and that certainly added frustration to me. The point was, I really wanted to quit during that first week so bad, that I almost cried. During my 3rd week (last week), I can say that I was enjoying my job as I learn new things everyday from the job itself and from my workmates. Then IRONY happened. It was the day typhoon Basyang wreaked havoc in the country when my manager called me for somewhat I thought to be a meeting. There were only the two of us in the conference room when she started telling me about the status of the company. She had no choice but to tell me that I was one among the employees with probationary status to be axed from the company. It was really devastating to be in my position at that time. First job, yet this happened to me. Not to mention the adjusting I have to do again on the next job. I went home and told my mom the situation at work. I seriously cried while telling her my disappointments and how my plans will not be fulfilled. I kept on looking for signs why it happened to me and that somehow something much better will come my way. Only the assurance of my boss that she will help me find a more stable company for me kept me going. At least I won't look for jobs myself anymore and the referral could also assure me of securing the job. Oh well, they say that things happens for a reason and I am yet to know that reason. As I count my last days on the office, I'm just enjoying the company of my friends whom I befriended since I started working there.


BUT THAT WON'T STOP ME FROM UPDATING ABOUT EMIRATES... :D

England, July 17 (Reuters) - Emirates airline is set to place a $5 billion order for 20 Boeing (BA.N) 777 wide-body jets, aviation sources said on Saturday.

The order could be a key feature of the opening day of the July 19-25 Farnborough air show on Monday, when the Dubai-based airline is expected to hold a news conference.

Boeing declined to comment.

An order for 20 of the latest model of 777s, which seats 365 passengers, would be worth $5.4 billion at list prices.

Emirates, the largest airline in the Arab world, placed an order for 32 Airbus (EAD.PA) A380s at the Berlin air show last month and said it was likely to order more aircraft soon.

Source:
(Reporting by Tim Hepher, Editing by Andrea Shalal-Esa)((+331 4949 5452 paris.equities@reuters.com))

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE66G0AJ20100717

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Hopeless No More.. :)

It is true! Emirates has placed 32 more A380s on top of their 58 on order during the Berlin Airshow. They will be increasing frequencies to their current destinations and possibly adding more routes by the end of this year. With that additional operations, they are also looking for 700 pilots to cope up with the demand.

What are the odds that I won't be on one of those planes? I'm feeling a bit down lately and this is the boost I need to keep me going. Dubai will certainly be the Hub of the world and with that expansion, the possibilities are just limitless. There's a saying that good things comes to those who patiently waits-luckily, I'm very patient.

On Tuesday, a company here in Laguna will be offering me my starting salary. So I'm guessing that I passed my final interview last week. Finally, I will earn my own money but I'm still focused in achieving my true love and this will be my stepping stone. I know it's not related to the aviation industry but the work experience will somehow help me. It's a little bit funny because throughout the final interview, the words FA, Fly High (Flight High) were used by the interviewers during the interview. Could that be a sign? Honestly, my eyes lit up when I heard her said FA. I even ask what it meant but of course it's an engineering term so I really can't remember it anymore.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

On A Bad Luck Streak + EK and QR New Routes

Can't think of a much better introduction than I'm winning on a bad luck lottery! I blogged about my broken pc before, but that's just the start. Two days ago I had my rubber shoes stolen in my garage. My dad had left the gate open when he went to the store to buy something. It's not him to blame, I guess it's just about timing and the robber's timing was just right. I've been taking care of that shoes for one year now. No scratch and white as if it were brand new, and the reason why I'm keeping it that way is because it's the only pair I have (so not a grab-all-the-shoes-you-want person). Oh, and that's not the only thing stolen from me. Included is a Dunhill Cigarette case with one Marlboro Lights stick in it and a lighter. Give me a break already! Last night my PDA fell as I was looking for a place with a good reception while standing on my bed. It ricocheted when it hit the floor and the result was devastating. As I turned on the power, All I can see is a vertical red line on the center of the screen and then it turned pitch black. Can you imagine the horror I'm facing last dreaded night? I guess not. Well, unless you're facing the same dilemma. I just hope that there will be a light at the end of this very very long and dark tunnel. I'm now looking for a service center that can fix my phone. It's an Imate 8502 PDA phone, so if some of you know where I can get help, please do message me or comment below this blog.

EK Update:

Emirates has announced that they will be lauching a service to Baghdad, Iraq starting on July 1. Oh boy, I'm so excited to be waken up by your daily wake-up call explosions. I sure don't mind DEADheading on that destination :)

QR Update:

Qatar Airways will be upgrading its equipment and flights to Copehnhagen (CPH) from A319 to A330 and from four times to daily service respectively. It will also begin flying to Barcelona, Spain (BCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) and Sao Paolo, Brazil (GRU) this June. QR is also studying the feasibility of adding Oslo, Norway (OSL), Sydney, Australia (SYD), and Sofia, Belgrade (SOF) to its growing list of destinations.

Looks like Qatar Airways is not far behind Emirates...

It's just a matter of time before EK announce a new route again. DUB perhaps?? Btw, CPH is also on the plan. Review my previous post.

That got me thinking... Emirates or Qatar??

Well, wait for my next post. It's Pros and Cons time :)

Friday, May 7, 2010

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Dakar, Senegal

Starting September 1st, Emirates will start flying to the capital of Senegal, Dakar. Service will be five times a week every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Another plus one reason to join EK... and plus one to the continent of Africa! :D

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

BS prob

If you're having trouble seeing my chatbox, just browse all the way down. For some reasons I pressed a wrong button which made my page a complete chaos.. thank you! :D I'll fix it as soon as I find how to.. :D

AWOL

As you have noticed, I've been AWOL for quite some time now. It's just my stupid desktop gave up on me. And I have no internet connection at home coz' I'm thinking of switching to Globe's kickass 1mbps connection. Anyway, I would just like to update you guys what was happening in my life this past few months.

I just graduated last Mar. 26. Hurray finally! Now I can really concentrate on job hunting and on dieting. After extending a few years on a 5 year course, my hardwork finally paid off. Hardwork? yeah right! On the 29th I decided to go back to school to accomplish my clearance, as early as possible, to avoid long lines of students queueing for precious signatures of the concerned departments. One faculty definitely gave a new meaning to "precious" when we went to get our certificates for our EPP (English Proficiency Program, required for all students). He was really being bossy to the students and keep speaking English. I mean c'mon! I don't speak good English but I can tell who's being trying hard. I swear I was controlling myself to put my fist in his effin' face! He was the Director of the Language Department but hell, he doesn't deserve the respect we could have given to him. I know he is in somewhat "high" position but that doesn't mean he can boss people around. He has to learn how to respect other people regardless of their stature. I am so relieved that I finally got this out of my system. The lesson here is, You mess with my friends, You mess with me! BTW, I was just accompanying my friends that time. and one last thing. His signature wasn't even required for the clearance! Feeling much? so much for that.

I was supposed to go to NAIA last April 5 for my application as a PSA (Passenger Service Agent) or more commonly known as Ground Staff/Attendant. Unfortunately, I was having some issues with my face. You've guessed it! Pimple! :D So I decided to postpone it for a while until I finish my facial cleaning session on friday. I should probably go on Monday before boredom takes the best of me. If I get the job (I certainly hope so), this will be my stepping stone in becoming a cabin crew. I'm giving myself 6 months to be in shape and ready for the next assessment schedules. Some people just have to start somewhere before going to much larger venture. What's keeping me hype is the fact that QR and 5J are hiring males again. Woohoo! I'm actually considering applying for Duty Free positions in DXB. Desperation is to blame! I will do anything just to get to Dubai.

Emirates Update time!!

Emirates had just started flying to NRT on March 28! and I'm so looking forward for their first flight in AMS on May 1.
A380 will be replacing daily service of T7 in MAN starting on September
blah blah blah blah.. There are so many unfinished posts saved on my inbox here at BS but I was caught in a whirlwind where I seem to procrastinate stuff.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

On a Wing and a Prayer (an article from the wall street journal)

Hi fellow bloggers and readers!

I just want to share this article I read from WSJ..

When Dubai's ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum realized the full extent of the emirate's financial problems it was his uncle he asked to oversee the arduous recovery process. Few people have since become as synonymous with the U.A.E.'s efforts to emerge from the most difficult chapter in its 39-year history as Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of Dubai's most internationally recognized businessmen and one of the most senior members of its royal family.

As head of Dubai's Supreme Fiscal Committee, Sheik Ahmed is in charge of distributing the billions of dollars of bailout money that Dubai received from Abu Dhabi. And as chairman of Emirates Group he has been at the center of rumors that Dubai's airline, along with other key assets like the huge container port in Jebel Ali, might be handed over to Abu Dhabi in return for the larger emirate's help.

Speculation about behind-the-scenes bargaining mounted in January when Sheik Mohammed shocked onlookers by renaming the world's tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa after the president of the U.A.E. just weeks after receiving more funding from Abu Dhabi.

But according to Sheik Ahmed, sitting in his modest office on the first floor of the old Terminal 1 building at Dubai International Airport, such terms were never discussed during the bailout negotiations. "We never really talked about any of our strategic companies with Abu Dhabi," he says. "I know it's always been the rumor. When you think about what Emirates has achieved I think anyone would want to have equity in it. It's a very successful business for Dubai."

Far from handing Emirates over to Abu Dhabi, or merging it with that sheikdom's own airline, Etihad, Sheik Ahmed believes the carrier can be a catalyst for Dubai's revival. Unlike other government-owned companies in the emirate—including Dubai World and Dubai Holdings—Emirates Airline is highly profitable and isn't struggling to service its debt or secure more financing from international banks for fleet expansion.

"The airline put Dubai on the world map," he says, adding that the airline's 32,000-strong workforce makes it Dubai's biggest employer. "We've put a lot into the Dubai economy. The number of units we rent within the local market, the expenditure of the staff and how much it brings people to Dubai. If it wasn't for Emirates, this market wouldn't have been able to grow as it has. It's one of the core businesses of Dubai."

Sheik Ahmed and a close-knit group of long-serving executives—including group vice-chairman Maurice Flanagan and president Tim Clark—have built the company into a global player with $55 billion of plane orders in the pipeline and the world's largest fleet of giant A380 aircraft. Emirates indirectly contributes roughly 40 billion dirhams ($10.9 billion) to Dubai's economy each year, according to Sheik Ahmed.

Running parallel to the rumor that the airline might be handed over to Abu Dhabi has been speculation that Dubai might look to sell shares through an initial public offering and raise billions of dollars in much needed funds for the emirate.

"If Emirates decided to IPO I'm sure it will be good, especially if it's placed within the U.A.E. stock markets," says Sheik Ahmed. "It will see a lot of people trading in it. I will look at it as a positive thing. But as we speak today I don't have any direction from the government to do this."

Educated at the University of Denver, Sheik Ahmed is renowned as one of Dubai's hardest-working royals. Recently, more of his time has been taken up with meetings of the Supreme Fiscal Committee. He reports to Dubai's ruler and U.A.E. prime minister, Sheik Mohammed.

"I've been doing more work for my other responsibilities recently. I feel it's my duty being responsible for the achievement of Dubai," says Sheik Ahmed. "That's why I have to give Dubai my ultimate time doing any job that my boss gives me. I'm giving my time more to what's the most important thing. It's not that the other isn't important, but Emirates is straightforward."

For the time being this means focusing on fixing Dubai's economic problems and helping to restore confidence in a city that has suffered more than any other in the Persian Gulf from both bad publicity and bad management. But, despite these problems and given the lack of reform and opportunity in other Gulf cities like Riyadh, Doha and even neighboring Abu Dhabi, Dubai has not totally lost its luster for investors and the million or so expatriates who make up the bulk of its population. Sheik Ahmed believes that Dubai should look to its past in order to plot a sustainable course for growth in the future.

He says: "Dubai as a place was well known in the region, within the Gulf and the Middle East and the emerging markets mainly due to re-exports, being a logistic hub, tourism—a place to do business from. A lot of countries see that Dubai will continue to be that place for now and even for the future."

Sheik Ahmed says the main aim of the fiscal committee is to get Dubai's economic growth back on track by refocusing efforts on the sectors that were overshadowed by real-estate speculation.

Dubai's core businesses "are logistics, services and tourism and export," he says. "This is what made Dubai move forward, not what happened in the past seven years in opening the real-estate market."

Certainly, Dubai's economic problems were triggered by the bursting of Dubai's property bubble. Prices for newly built villas and apartments are as much as 50% lower than a year ago, while government-owned developers such as Nakheel have flirted with insolvency.

Much of Dubai's real estate was financed with debt, which now must be paid back. Dubai depends heavily on funding from oil-rich Abu Dhabi, which has pumped $15 billion into the emirate since the crisis took hold shortly after Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed in October 2008.

Sheik Ahmed's responsibilities on the committee recently took him to Washington, where he briefed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the steps that the emirate is taking to restructure the debts of some of its government-owned companies.

But while he concedes that there is plenty of work left to be done he is sanguine about Dubai's economic situation. "Some people think that they're not doing too well because they're taking 2007 as a benchmark, but sometimes we have to realize that you can't always achieve 30% to 40% growth," Sheik Ahmed says. "Now you have to be realistic given what is happening around the world."


WSJ please don't sue me for posting this... :D