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Emirates to benefit from US trade development agency grant
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman
of Emirates, has signed an agreement with the US Trade and Development
Agency under which a training grant will be made be made available for
Emirates personnel with the focus on UAE nationals.
HE Marcelle M. Wahba, US ambassador to the UAE, signed
the agreement, which runs until December 2005, on behalf of the agency. The
grant is for US$425,000 and has been made in recognition of Emirates’
commitment to buy GE-Pratt and Whitney Engine Alliance engines for its fleet
of Airbus A380 aircraft. The engines ordered have a list price, including
options, of approximately US$1.5 billion (Dhs5.5 billion).
Sheikh Ahmed said, “I welcome this agreement as a means
of providing greater opportunities to the UAE’s young professionals. I am
confident that the world-class technology and expertise that the Engine
Alliance provides will enable Emirates to become even more successful in the
future.”
The airline will direct this new training opportunity to
its UAE nationals and has already identified as suitable a number of IATA
training programs in North America and the UAE. The grant is funded by the
US government and is intended to support the development of US business
opportunities around the world.
The training being offered under the Trade and
Development Agency grant will help the airline to reach its goal of being a
carrier with a world-wide reach.
Emirates signed an agreement earlier this year with the
general Electric-Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance for the GP7000 engine
family to power the airline’s super jumbo Airbus A380-800 aircraft.
Emirates is the main launch customer of the A380
double-decker, with 22 on firm order and 10 options. Delivery of the first
aircraft is expected by September 2006.
Asia Miles introduces ‘Gift Miles’ program
Asia Miles recently announced the launch of Asia
Miles-Gift Miles, a new program feature which allows the purchase of Asia
Miles online. Asia Miles has become the first reward program in Asia to
introduce a gift miles concept.
Through a simple web interface, anyone - even non-members
of Asia Miles - can purchase Asia Miles online and have the miles credited
to a member’s account within 24 hours. The member can then redeem the
miles for free flights, upgrades and other exciting lifestyle rewards.
The idea behind Asia Miles -Gift Miles is to make the
purchase of miles easy and convenient, making it an ideal gift for family
and friends, or for the buyers to travel themselves. There is no paperwork
and everything is done online with just a few clicks.
Asia Miles is the first in Asia to introduce Gift Miles
as a feature. The ability to send Asia Miles as a gift to friends adds
utility and value to the Asia Miles currency. There are 14 airline partners
including Cathay Pacific Airways, Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Asiana
Airlines, British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Dragonair, Finnair,
Iberia, Japan Airlines, Japan Asia Airways, LanChile, Qantas Airways and
SWISS.
The 12 non-airline partner categories including financial
services, hotels, telecommunications car rental, insurance, dinging, tour
operators, luggage and travel accessories, health and beauty, florists, wine
merchants and Internet. Members can earn Asia Miles with any of these
partners and redeem for free flights, upgrades and companion tickets as well
as other exciting rewards.
Asia Miles is free to join, simply enroll online at
www.asiamiles.com or visit the web site for further information.
Thai tour agents roll out the red
carpet for tourism mogul
LTU Asia Tours changes management
LTU Asia Tours recently organized a cocktail party at the
Sofitel Bangkok in honor of the visit of Peter Landsberger, the president
and CEO of DER Tour Germany and managing director of LTU Tour Deutschland.
The giants of
the tourism industry: (from left) Hans P. Tuggener, Christoph Mueller,
Pantipyaporn Honings, Raymond Honings, Peter Landsberger and the general
manager of Sofitel, Gilles Cretallaz.
The REWE Group, one of the giants of the supermarket
industry, has also become a giant in the tourism industry, with more than
2000 tour offices in Germany alone.
REWE has, within the last few years, bought off several
renowned tour organizers, including DER Tour, Meyers Weltreisen, LTU Asia
Tours, ADAC Reisen, IST, Tjaereborg and Jahn Reisen. This group of tour
agents generates over 8.5 million euros per year.
Peter Landsberger expressed optimism about the future of
tourism in Thailand, and said that Thailand can expect more than 75,000
guests from his groups in Germany this year. "We have many competitors,
but we are not afraid of them. We will try to increase the number of
tourists who come to Thailand," said Landsberger, who has more than 30
years of experience with his company.
It was only the second time that Landsberger has paid a
visit to Thailand. The last time was a visit to Bangkok 28 years ago. This
time, his wife Anna, a Thailand fan, convinced him to come and he was truly
shocked by how everything had changed. He said that it is a shame that he
didn’t come more often, but working in the tourism business leaves little
time for vacation.
In his opening speech, Landsberger pointed out how
important the partners in Thailand are and thanked them all for their
untiring efforts. He also said that Germany sees big potential in Thailand,
as Thailand is one of the most popular holiday destinations, since it offers
everything a tourist needs.
He did, however, ask the partners in Thailand to keep a
watchful eye to ensure 100% security for tourists.
Hans P. Tuggener, who has been with the company for many
years, used the party as a platform to announce his desire to retire by the
end of this year. Landsberger pointed out that Tuggener will remain with the
company as a director of the board, and presented him with a gift on behalf
of the company.
The guests were amused when Landsberger, said that it was
time for the old pioneers of tourism to retire and make way for the younger
generation. He then introduced Christoph Mueller, director of product &
contracting, to take the top job as Tuggener’s successor.
Christoph thanked everyone for their good wishes and expressed his
optimism for an excellent future. He also expressed his confidence and
determination to lead the company for the next 33 years just as successfully
as Hans P. Tuggener.
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