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The United Arab Emirate’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and “open” Air Services Agreement with Turkmenistan on Sunday. Under the agreement the airlines of the designated countries are allowed unrestricted frequency of operations on the routes between Turkmenistan and UAE. The agreement specifies capacity and types of aircraft.
Swiss International Airlines (SIA), the national carrier for Switzerland, began services to Dubai on their new A330-300 aircraft from Zurich. Passengers from Dubai made the inaugural flight to Zurich soon after midnight. An SIA sales executive said Dubai is the second market to receive the A330-300 plan and “this reiterates the importance of servicing passengers from the region.” SIA is investing more than…
Qatar Airways will move into the air charter jet market this year with three Bombardier business aircraft. The airline’s chief executive made the announcement at the Paris Air Show. Akbar al Baker said they are launching the new corporate jet division with “a Challenger 300, which is already operating, and two new Challenger 605s”. The Challenger 605 carries up to twelve passengers and the Challenger 300…
Dubai International Airport (DIA was awarded the Aerodrome License by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The Aerodrome Interim License Extension Program was designed to enhance and strengthen operational standards and safety at UAE’s international airports. Director General of GCAA said DIA complied with regulations and demonstrated total commitment to increasing “the performance of its aviation…
Emirates Airlines expressed no interest in Boeing’s proposed larger wing for the 777 widebody jet. The Dubai based carrier, the regions largest airline, will be the biggest user of the 777 airliner. They have ordered 70 A350s and have signed a letter of intent buy another 30. Emirates Airlines chief executive said at the Paris Airshow said instead “I’d be thinking seriously about an all new aircraft.”,…
Etihad Airways closed one of the biggest, most far reaching engine deals in the history of airlines at the Paris Air Show Tuesday. The engine deals include long term service contracts and are worth up to $14 billion (Dh51.41). The new deals underscore the importance of the Gulf Region in global aviation. While it is estimated the industry will lose an estimated $9 billion, airline performance in the region has…
A Saudi Arabian Airlines scheduled flight aborted take off after the pilot discovered damage to two of the planes rear tires. The flight was about to depart from the Prince Muhammad Airport in Madinah and was carrying 83 passengers bound for Riyadh’s King Khaled International Airport. An overheated brake system caused the damage. General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) spokesman said flight number…
Gulf Air finalized an agreement to purchase engines from Rolls Royce worth $1.5 billion (Dh 5.5 billion). The Trent 700 enhanced performance (EP) engines will power twenty Airbus A330 aircraft and deliveries will begin in 2012. TotalCare long-term service is included in the agreement and a current long-term service agreement for Trent 700’s powering A330s already in service has been renewed. Gulf Air Chairman…
Germany’s Bavaria Airspace cluster signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) to create a world class aerospace center in Al Ain. Under the agreement, ADAC, Mubadala, and government agencies will invest as much as $1 billion over the next three to five years to build the aerospace center. ADAC board member Fahd Al Shamsi told a news conference that “Abu Dhabi is part of a region that is…
Doha based Qatar Airways finalized a contract at the Paris Airshow to purchase 24 Airbus aircraft for $1.9 billion as part of its business expansion strategy. Twenty A320’s and four A321 aircraft are included in the agreement. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2009 and will be completed in 2012. Currently Qatar Airways operates four A320 family aircraft. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al…
Etihad Airways will announce at the Paris Air show this week that they will place engine orders, including service, valued at $6.7 billion. Sources say the engines will be for 100 Airbus SAS and Boeing Co.aircraft. According to an invitation for the Paris Air Show, Etihad Chief Executive Officer James Hogan will hold two press conferences on 16 June in Le Bourget, the location of the Paris Air Show. The…
Jet Airways introduced a new economy class service in order to compete with the growing number of budget carriers. India’s leading private commercial airline launched Jet Airways Konnect offering fares that are 20% lower than legacy carriers. Jet Airways General Manager for Dubai and Northern Emirates said Konnect will focus initially on the Indian sector in order to meet the needs of the fast growing low…
President of Emirates Airlines Tim Clark is confident they will remain profitable through next March, even though last year its net profits plummeted 72%. During an interview on the sidelines of the two day International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Malaysia, Clark said “I like to think we will be in the black.” Clark said they have enough cash, have made profits for 24 consecutive years,…
Sudanese carrier Sun Air will start flight service to Kuwait on 18 June 2009. The KUNA news agency reported the Khartoum to Kuwait route will be operated on a Boeing 737 and the flight will run three times per week to Kuwait International Airport. In addition to its domestic routes, Sun Air flies to Sharjah, Nyala, Port Sudan, Elgenana, El Fashir, and Juba. Sun Air began operations in June 2008 with three…
Airlines in North America and Asia complained at an international conference in Malaysia that they are losing market share to airlines in the Middle East. The industry is experiencing its worst recorded slowdown and there have been accusations of predatory pricing and capacity dumping. The regions carriers reject their competitor’s complaints and counter that by opening up untapped markets they are…
Emirates Airlines enhanced the online booking and payment process on its website www.emirates.com. An Emirates statement said payment options have increased because recent research provided information about which payment method customers prefer. Payment may now be made in one of 14 currencies. Emirates partnered with GlobalCollect to enhance the online payment and bookings system. GlobalCollect is the…
Middle East carriers face more turbulence according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) revised annual forecast. IATA said airline industry losses will reach $1.5 billion (Dh5.5 billion) by the end of the year. Previously IATA forecast losses of $200 million (Dh734 million). IATA explains that the region’s geographic location is the centerpoint for several international hubs which means it…
Airline executives gathering at an industry event in Kuala Lumpur dismissed talk of “green shoots” and signs of recovery in the slumping airline industry. Executives maintain it will be at least two years before resurgence will take place. Replying to a question about evidence of a recovery, President of Emirates Airline Tim Clark said “Green shoots? That’s something which has been trotted out for the last…
