Airport

Emirates and united airlines request Dot codeshare approval

Emirates and United Airlines have asked the US Department of Transportation (DoT) for permission to codeshare 300 flights. The request was made in a joint application on January 5th, following the announcement of the two airlines’ comprehensive alliance on September 14th. The Emirates/United codeshare deal includes 300 routes.

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Emirates President and CEO Sir Tim Clark and United CEO Scott Kirby said back in September that their customers would be allowed to connect on United’s network starting in November, but the codeshare won’t go into action unless the DoT gives its clearance. Emirates and United requested that the Department speed up the approval of this application because they wanted to start advertising their codeshare service as soon as feasible.

In the application, it is stated that: “Granting this application is in the public interest since it will significantly improve the service options available to the US travelling public for travel between the US, UAE, and other destinations. By providing convenient extra online services, United will be able to increase competitiveness and the range of travel alternatives accessible to customers between the United States and locations in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. Additionally, in recognition of the significant public benefits created, the Department has given comparable authority to a number of codeshare agreements involving US and foreign carriers.

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In order to facilitate international air travel between these locations and the UAE and other locations, Emirates plans to use the codeshare agreement to place its “EK” code on

a) United and United Express flights operating from specific United US hubs to points in the US and points beyond the US across North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean.

b) on United flights that are run from intermediate locations to the US in order to facilitate international air travel from the United Arab Emirates to the US and other destinations.

This codeshare includes 126 flights from Chicago, 105 flights from Houston, and 41 flights from San Francisco. Although there is no restriction on the destinations, phase 1 is the only one that includes them. The parties agree to give future non-open skies points 30 days’ notice before engaging in any additional codesharing.

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Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.