Etihad has built up its reputation on the allure of the A380. With the aircraft on the chopping block and Etihad continuing to struggle, it’s time to merge with Emirates.
Emirates loves to sell the bling (golden showers and all…), but I’d argue that the even more premium product is on the Etihad…as long as you fly the A380.
(one of my favorite airline ads of all time)
First Class Apartments? Residence? White glove butler service? Those are Etihad distinctives. Oh yes, and Etihad has onboard showers in first class as well and a superior business class product throughout much of the fleet compared to Emirates.
But the rest of the Etihad fleet? I mean, it’s alright…but the brand itself was built on the A380. And now the future of that aircraft in the Etihad is under review.
Reuters reports that Etihad is now considering retiring its fleet of A380s, which would join the growing list of airlines that are suspending or retiring their A380 subfleets. Furthermore, Etihad may cancel its A350-1000 order, leaving it with 777s and 787s for longhaul operations.
Will Etihad Merge With Emirates?
Etihad and Emirates have tremendous route overlap. When I suggest that Etihad merges with Emirates, be sure that I am not talking about merging as an equal partner. Rather, I’m talking abbot Emirates taking over Etihad assets, hopefully keeping some pilots and crew members, but putting Etihad out of its financial misery.
Two airlines in one country, despite the politics, do not make sense. Dubai World Central is a beautiful new airport that can accommodate travelers from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Now merger may not be the answer. Perhaps Etihad should just go out of business. While it is possible Etihad could go the way of Gulf Airways in Bahrain and just shrink to a manageable size, the UAE simply does not need both carriers. Don’t the staggering losses Etihad reports each year make that clear enough?
CONCLUSION
I love Etihad. The uniforms. The in-flight service. Competition is good as well and it is nice to have a choice of flying Emirates or Etihad. But if Etihad retires its A380, it drives a dagger through its very soul. If it cancels its A350 order, it cancels its future. As much as I’d love to continue to fly Etihad, I just don’t see a way forward. Emirates should act quickly.
> Read More: Emirates Firmly Dismisses Rumor Of Etihad Merger
> Read More: Etihad Airways A380 First Class Apartment Review
Why?
Emirates already have too many planes and too many crew. Adding more makes their problem worse. EY should shrink to being a regional airline, maybe provide feed to EK via codeshares and even then, EK already have FlyDubai for their regional feed. I see no good reason for EK to buy them unless the local rulers decide on that as an expensive face saving exercise
I agree but here is the problem. Ego is something the rich but no sense arrogant arabs of that part of GCC REGION WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND OR THINK LOGICALLY
I’m booked in First on the A380 in Feb. In a situation where one airline takes over another. What usually happens to already booked flights?
Would probably be subbed to a 787 or 777 if the flight remains.
“(golden showers and all…)”
You’re going to get some interesting SEO results from your choice of wording there :-\
I was thinking he might want to reassess his wording there too. Matthew, if unsure, google those words and make sure to disable any website blocking software.
Personally, I wasn’t wowed at Etihad in either the hard or soft product when traveling in the Apartment AUD-SYD.
Politics man, politics.
The same principle as to why the USA is such a basketcase:
We don’t focus on logical solutions, we yell at each other.
We don’t act reasonable, we pander to our fans.
So will Emirates, and so will Etihad.
Yes, merging and putting them all at DWC makes sense.
But, it has as much chance of happening as a democrat not shouting down a republican point of view.
It’s just.. those days are over, it’s not something that will happen anymore. Sad but true.
But not as much chance as a republican not shouting down a democratic point of view?
The intense rivalry between Dubai and Abu Dhabi will never allow it. Those two dynasties are always trying to show they are the real leaders of the UAE. Why do you think there are two major airlines in one small country? If one city-state has something, then the other wants to out do them. It has nothing to do with economics. All those beautiful high-rises have only 30% occupancy, they are just built as show off projects.
It’s a given that Abu Dhabi is the real leader of the UAE, despite the glitz and media attention Dubai gets.
Emirates tries to streamline it’s onboard product as much as possible. Granted, it’s isn’t as streamlined as say, Lufthansa, but it’s definitely better than say, Air France.
Acquiring Etihad would put it closer to Air France than Lufthansa in that regard. Something I’m not sure Emirates wants to do.
Etihad may merge with Sharja’s Air Arabia.
I think the golden shower tape is safely ensconced in Moscow.
It’s sad to say but you’re absolutely right. Etihad was amazing for a very short while. Perhaps they would still be amazing if they hadn’t pursued a ridiculous investments in failing airlines with the plan to change the uniforms and hope that would make them profitable. I feel like an Emirates Etihad merger is inevitable now. The only thing standing in the way is the politics of Abu Dhabi and Dubai but it’s clear that Abu Dhabi are no longer willing to throw endless amounts of money at Etihad but the easy escape option probably comes with a lot of embarrassment for the rulers of Abu Dhabi.
It’s beyond obvious that will NEVER happen. It’s equivalent to Trump announcing that Mexico is so much better than the US so car manufacturing should move there.
If Abu Dhabi are intent on stemming their losses then they’ll downsize Etihad. Anyone who thinks they’d give up their prized airline to Dubai is living in Cloud Cuckoo Land!
A merger? Yes. Etihad Airways NEEDS to merge with Emirates. If they don’t, Etihad Airways will be a goner, and Abu Dhabi may have to make a new airline. Let’s hope that Emirates saves Etihad, otherwise, Etihad will be gone. For SURE.
Think about it. If Emirates is helping Etihad already, shouldn’t Etihad be the one asking for the merger?
For Emirates, it would be a cool thing to see Etihad’s planes painted in the Emirates livery.
1. Emirates canceled 787-10 Dreamliner order; Etihad has 9 787-10 Dreamliners with 17 more to come.
2. Emirates retired it’s A330-200 fleet; Etihad Airways has 10 A330-200s
3. Emirates can expand it’s HUMONGOUS A380 fleet from 115 to 125
4. Emirates has 30 787-9 Dreamliner on order; Etihad Airways has 30 787-9 and 11 more 787-9s to come.
5. Emirates can finally use Etihad’s narrow-body aircraft for it’s short-haul operations, like DXB-BOM or DXB-DOH. (Note that Etihad Airways has 18 A320-200s and 10 A321-200s), but there is a possibility those aircraft could go to Flydubai).
6. Etihad has 6 A350-1000s; meaning that Emirates could expand it’s A350 fleet by 56 aircraft, and for it’s long haul operations (Emirates has 50 A350-900s on order).
7. Emirates NEVER had the A330-300, so the airline can have 2 of them, since Etihad Airways has 2.
Would you love to see those aircraft that Emirates doesn’t have in their fleet? Also, Emirates would have a VERY different fleet than before.