Turkish Airlines expects passenger numbers from Dubai to grow by more than 9 per cent this year after curtailing its operations last summer because of runway repairs at Dubai International Airport.
Despite reducing its flights from 14 to 11 a week for 80 days last year, Turkish carried 336,746 passengers from Dubai to Istanbul, reflecting a growth of 9 per cent year on year.
“This year growth will be better than last year,” said Emre Ismailoglu, Turkish Airlines’ general manager for Dubai and Northern Emirates.
“We have two flights daily, but last year there was construction at the airport, so we decreased our flights from 14 to 11 per week. This year there’s no problem.”
From Abu Dhabi, Turkish Airlines grew its passengers by almost 4 per cent last year. The airline operates four flights per week from the capital.
He did not provide expected growth figures from Abu Dhabi.
Turkish Airlines growth ambition mimics the trajectory of Arabian Gulf carriers – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. The airline aims to almost double its fleet to 450 aircraft by 2023, up from its current 263. By the end of this year, it plans to operate 300 jets.
However, Mr Ismailoglu ruled out the possibility that Turkish Airlines would be soon operating the world’s biggest passenger aircraft, the A380.
In March, it was reported that Turkish Airlines was considering the lease of six A380s from Malaysian Airlines. That would have given the carrier significantly increased operational capacity without the hefty financial outlay of buying the planes.
Mr Ismailoglu disputed that.
“Ataturk airport is not suitable for this aircraft [the A380]. Now they are not buying this type of aircraft,” he said.
The double-decker aircraft requires special gates. Not all airports across the world are able to accommodate it.
Mr Ismailoglu added that Turkish Airlines growth is currently limited by the capacity of Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, but the country is preparing to open Istanbul’s new airport in 2017.
The US$35 billion airport will have six runways, 500 aircraft parking spots and capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers a year.
"It is hard to grow at Ataturk airport because of the lack of capacity, so we need a third one," said Mr Ismailoglu.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice