PARIS: Airbus reached a target for at least 50 deliveries of its A350 wide-body jetliner in 2016, two industry sources said.
Widely watched deliveries of the newest European long-haul jet had been delayed by problems in supplies of cabin equipment, notably from France’s Zodiac Aerospace.
Airbus declined to comment ahead of an annual news conference on orders and deliveries on Jan 11.
It has predicted more than 670 total deliveries for 2016, including at least 50 A350s.
It has also predicted it would sell at least as many planes as it delivered in 2016.
In another development, budget carrier EasyJet said it transported a record 74.5 million passengers last year thanks to low oil prices and full planes, but it slipped further behind industry leader Ryanair.
The 6.6 increase kept EasyJet in second place in Europe in terms of passengers carried behind low-cost rival Ryanair, but the Irish no-frills airline on Thursday reported a 15 percent gain to 117 million passengers in 2016, also a record.
An EasyJet spokeswoman said the acquisition of new Airbus A320 aircraft helped it offer more destinations and attract more clients.
The airline kept the percentage of filled seats nearly steady at a high 91.5 percent, with low fuel prices allowing it to offer attractive fares.
However, the drop in the value of the pound after Britain voted to leave the European Union has hit the airline as much of its costs are in dollars or euros.
Its heavy exposure to the uncertain British economy and weak pound saw investors shun the airline’s shares, which fell 42 percent last year, a drop much worse than its rivals, according to Bloomberg.
The airline is also exploring obtaining EU operating certification to ensure smooth operations once Britain does leave the bloc.
EasyJet didn’t make any forecasts for passenger numbers in 2017, but has said previously it expects a 9 percent increase in the number of seats offered during its 2017 fiscal year that ends in October.
Airbus reaches A350 delivery target
Airbus reaches A350 delivery target
Citi shuts most UAE branches temporarily as banks evacuate offices in region
DUBAI: Citibank will close most of its UAE branches and financial centers until March 14 as a precaution, its website showed on Thursday, as banks in the region sent staff home in response to a deepening Middle East conflict.
The US financial group’s measures are the latest sign of growing concern among banks after Iran threatened Gulf banking interests linked to the US and Israel.
The Citi branch in the Mall of the Emirates in central Dubai is exempted from the closure, the bank said on its website, adding it plans to reopen all affected branches on March 16.
Citi had moved to a fully remote model for all UAE-based staff and was continuing to serve clients without interruption, a spokesperson for the bank told Reuters.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has so far killed around 2,000 people and thrown global energy markets and transport into chaos as the conflict has spread across the Middle East, with Iranian strikes against Israel, US bases and Gulf states.
Citi told its staff to evacuate offices in the Dubai International Financial Center and Dubai’s Oud Metha district this week and to work from home until further notice.
“The decision to evacuate three of our buildings and to close branches in the UAE was responsive to information we received and is consistent with our commitment to prioritize the safety of our colleagues,” the spokesperson said.
HSBC, another major global bank, has closed all branches in Qatar until further notice, a customer notice said, to ensure the safety of staff and customers.
The war has dented Dubai’s sales pitch to international businesses as the region’s most reliable economic hub, prompting concerns of capital flight, layoffs and firms relocating elsewhere, Reuters reported last week.
Citi said on its website that its phone banking service in the UAE was currently operating at a limited capacity and the processing of cheques would experience delays.
