Is the World's Largest Airline Forming?

Bloomberg has reported the possibility of a merger between Emirates and Etihad, although Reuters has quoted officials from both companies denying this possibility. Nevertheless, speculation suggests that behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding this significant event in the aviation industry are underway. Bloomberg reports that Emirates intends to take over Etihad. With the merger of these two companies, the world's largest airline would be formed. Together, they could have a fleet of over 400 aircraft and have also ordered 350 new planes. If merged, these two companies would control about five percent of all flights worldwide. However, some experts say this merger will not be simple, as Abu Dhabi officials view Etihad as their regional power in the UAE. On the other hand, the denial of this merger by the officials of both companies has raised further doubts; nonetheless, aviation experts believe the proximity of the two companies' headquarters and increasing financial losses could lead them to reduce costs by merging. Internal political rivalries in the UAE regarding these two companies could prevent this union, yet some media outlets suggest that the merger model of KLM of the Netherlands and Air France could serve as a suitable template for these two Emirati companies. Currently, Emirates and Etihad are among the most important airlines in the world, consistently ranking among the best airlines in various categories each year. Emirates is headquartered in Dubai, while Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi. In recent years, Arab airlines have been striving to offer very luxurious services, competing to outdo one another in this regard. Among these airlines, Etihad offers the most luxurious amenities. Emirates and Qatar Airways are also trying to expand their services on a broader scale. These two airlines have been recognized as the best airlines in the world for several consecutive years. In 2017, in the 'First Class' category, Etihad ranked first and Emirates second. Etihad Airways has managed to create a small room for each wealthy passenger in this class by utilizing the spacious Airbus A380. Etihad Airways was launched in November 2003 by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and currently operates direct flights to about 100 airports across the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia daily. The company's headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi International Airport serving as its hub. Etihad has 111 modern aircraft and has ordered approximately 164 new planes to expand its routes. The new orders include 26 Airbus A321neos, 40 Airbus A350-900s, 22 Airbus A350-1000s, 25 Boeing 777s, and 51 Boeing 787s. About 20,000 people work for this company, many of whom are non-Emirati technical engineering crew members. The company generates approximately $9 billion in annual revenue. In 2018, Emirates was recognized as the fourth-best airline in the world in terms of quality. This company has consistently been among the best airlines in the world for the past ten years. Emirates is currently the largest airline in the Middle East, employing over 64,000 people, many of whom are non-Emirati. The company has about 258 aircraft and has ordered over 200 new planes. It possesses one of the largest fleets of Airbus A380s in the world, which is the largest passenger aircraft globally. The company has 101 Airbus A380-800s and has ordered over 70 more of this aircraft, which primarily covers the long-haul routes of the airline and features the most luxurious cabins in the world. Emirates is the largest operator of Boeing 777s in the world, currently having 151 Boeing 777s, which is the longest-range passenger aircraft in the world. The range of the Boeing 777 can reach up to 17,000 kilometers. The diameter of a 777 engine is the same as that of a Boeing 737. This aircraft is also considered to have one of the strongest engines in the world of passenger aircraft. It has a capacity of 450 passengers in two classes of service. The Boeing 777X is Boeing's most advanced creation. This very large aircraft will be the longest-range aircraft ever built by mankind. Boeing is currently conducting ground tests for this model. Necessary tests for the construction of the composite wings of this highly advanced aircraft are also underway. Emirates is one of the major pre-buyers of this model, having pre-ordered about 150 units.