Emirates adds Guangzhou to its global list of A380 destinations

Guangzhou will be the third A380 destination in Mainland China after Beijing and Shanghai

Emirates, voted the World’s Best Airline 2016 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, announced today that it will operate its flagship A380 on services between Dubai and Guangzhou from 1st October 2016, the 67th National Day of People’s Republic of China. This follows the airline’s recent announcements of A380 deployment on its Milan and Johannesburg routes.

Guangzhou will join more than 40 destinations on Emirates’ extensive global network served by its highly popular A380 aircraft, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, London, Paris, Sydney, Toronto, Auckland, Bangkok, and Seoul.

Since the route’s inauguration in 2008, Emirates has been flying a two-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its daily flights between Guangzhou and Dubai, and the airline has seen steady growth for its service on the route. Once the A380 service commences, it will increase capacity by 15% to meet the growing travel and trade demand from Southern China to Dubai and beyond.

Emirates will deploy its three-class A380 on the Guangzhou route, offering a total of 491 seats, with 14 private suites in First Class, 76 mini pods with lie-flat seats in Business Class and 401 spacious seats in Economy Class. Flight EK362 will depart Dubai at 10:20am and arrive in Guangzhou at 22:05. The return flight, EK363, will depart Guangzhou at 12:15am and arrive in Dubai at 03:50*.

Emirates was named the World’s Best Airline 2016 and the airline with the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards recently. All Emirates customers travelling on the A380 can access more than 2,500 channels of on demand audio and visual entertainment, which includes Chinese content on its ice entertainment system, featuring the latest movies, music, TV programmes, podcasts and games, as well as free Wi-Fi to stay in touch with family and friends during flights.

In addition, First Class and Business Class customers can comfortably socialise or relax in the renowned Onboard Lounge on the upper deck of the Emirates A380. Emirates EK362/363 offers First Class customers the exclusive service of the on-board shower spas during flights, which makes Emirates the only airline in the Guangzhou market offering this premium customer product on an A380.

Emirates is keen to support China’s economic, trade and connectivity ambitions as China looks to connect the world through the Belt and Road Initiative. With its wide network across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, Emirates serves 56 cities in 31 of the 65 countries identified as part of the Initiative and is a ready-made connector of people and trade. The Emirates A380 service from Guangzhou will provide leisure travellers with ideal connectivity to popular destinations such as Prague and Warsaw. It also connects traders conveniently for business trips to cities such as Cairo, Kuwait, Doha, Amman, Al Medinah and Riyadh.

The double-decker A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft in service, and it is extremely popular with travellers around the globe, with its spacious and quiet cabins. Emirates is the world’s largest operator of A380s, with 81 currently in its fleet and a further 61 on order. Guangzhou will be the third destination in Mainland China for Emirates to deploy its flagship aircraft, after Beijing and Shanghai. Emirates currently operates flights to five destinations in Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Yinchuan and Zhengzhou, connecting Chinese travellers to Dubai, and onwards to more than 150 destinations around the globe.

*Flight times are as per summer schedule.

Red Star Express Plc. posts N6.6 Billion turnover

                                   …Declares dividend, Changes Management Structure…

            L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Red Star Plc, Mr Obabori Olusola ; outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Red Star Plc, Mr Sule Bichi and  Chairman, Dr. H. Koguna, Red Star Plc and Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs Frances Ndidi Akpomuka during the 23^rd AGM of the company held recently in Lagos.

A leading logistics Company, Red Star Express Plc, today announced a total sum of N6.6 billion turnover for the financial year ended March 31, 2016 and a profit after tax of N334.4 million. This was stated at the 23^rdAnnual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held recently.

Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman, Dr. Mohammed H. Koguna noted that in spite of the challenges of decline in oil prices, immense pressure on the Naira, rising inflation, volatility and uncertainty in the foreign exchange market, regular flight cancellations and upsurge in general cost of living, the staff and management worked assiduously to ensure that the company achieved a satisfactory result.

"In spite of the challenges outlined, our company posted a turnover of N6.6 billion in the year under review. Our company has maintained its commitment in the creation of wealth for shareholders. To this end, the Board of Directors is recommending a gross cash dividend of 35kobo for every 50 kobo share translating to N206.3million. We demonstrated our commitment during the financial year to the Red Star Foundation policy by awarding 20 additional scholarship to secondary school students from the Eastern, Western and Northern part of Nigeria", he reiterated.

With a view to optimizing emerging opportunities in the domestic and international business environment, there have also been changes in the company's management structure. The former Executive Director, Mr Olumuyiwa Olumekun, and Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr Sule Umar Bichi, both had their contracts expired on August 31^st 2015. After one year of extension for Mr Bichi to facilitate smooth transition to new leadership for the company, the company made new appointments which took effect from April 1, 2016.

The Board appointed three (3) Executive Directors, and four (4) Divisional Managing Directors. Mr Sola Obabori assumed the position of the Deputy Managing Director (and will take over from the outgoing Group Managing Director from September 1), Mr Victor Ukwat assumed the position of Executive Director Sales and Marketing while Mr Auwalu Babura assumed the position of Executive Director Finance and Admin. Other appointments were Mr Charles Ejekam who became the Divisional Managing Director of Red Star Express, Mr Ocholi Etu became the Divisional Managing Director of Red Star Logistics, Mr Enoma Ojo assumed the position of Divisional Managing Director Red Star Support Services and Mr Tonye Preghafi assumed the position of the Divisional Managing Director of Red Star Freight.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Red Star Plc, Mr Obabori Olusola ; outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Red Star Plc, Mr Sule Bichi and  Chairman, Dr. H. Koguna, during the 23^rd AGM of the company held recently in Lagos. 

Sir Sunny Nwosu, Rep Obuchi Limited in his statement, commended the outgoing management for building a positive financial statement which the incoming management should take note of. In his words “to whom much is given, much is expected”.

Speaking on these appointments, Dr. Koguna thanked the outgoing staff for their contributions towards the growth and success of the company, while also wishing the new management the best in their performance in the years ahead.

On future outlook, he pointed out that the Company is committed to ensuring sustained and steady growth of its operations and returns on investments. "Regardless of the volatile economy, we will continually invest in our resilient employees, optimize our processes, refine our strategies, engage in cost efficiency, focus on new initiatives and increase our market share across the emerging economic sectors. We believe our commitment will give us the thrust we need to achieve maximum benefits for our esteemed shareholders", he added.

Red Star Express Plc has four subsidiaries – Red Star Freight Limited; Red Star Logistics Limited and Red Star Support Services Limited, as well as Red Star Express, a licensee of FedEx, world leading air express company with over 650 aircrafts and more than 270 delivery destinations globally. FedEx has consistently been rated among the top 10 most admired companies in the world over the past 10 years.