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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised its financial forecast for airlines in 2009 downward – to a global loss of $9 billion. This almost twice the $4.7 billion loss estimate in March, demonstrating that the revenue environment is quickly worsening. IATA also increased its last 2008 loss estimate from $8.5 billion to $10.4 billion
Low cost carrier flydubai, which began operations just one week ago, will add two new flight services this week. Service to Damascus, Syria will begin today when flydubai’s flight FZ229 departs from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 at 7:10 pm. The flight will arrive in Damascus three hours and twenty minutes later at about 9:30pm local time. The new service to Alexandria, Egypt will begin with the…
The UAE and Columbia signed a memorandum of understanding that will increase the number of flights between the two countries. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UAE and its counterpart in Columbia reached an agreement to add as many as 28 passenger flights between the two countries. The CAA said there are plans to begin an equal number of cargo services each week. This is the first such agreement…
Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali announced they are planning to add up to 80 aircraft to their current fleet of 20 planes. Ali said they will also add two new hubs in the Middle East. He said the number of business travelers using Air Arabia will likely double in the next 12 months. Ali said they expect to have 100 planes operating in the region in the next five years. He said they are currently investigating five…
Etihad Airways launched flight service to Istanbul, Turkey on Monday, 1 June 2009. Flight EY097 took off from Abu Dhabi Airport at 9:15 am and landed in Turkey’s capital at 12:50 pm the same day. The Formula 1tm liveried A320 aircraft was used for the inaugural flight to Istanbul, to to mark two Grand Prix events. The Formula 1tm ING Turkish Grand Prix took place this weekend and the inaugural Formula 1tm…
RThe troubled airline Rak Airways has halted all operations and is no longer in service according to reports on Sunday. The airline has not offered flight services since December because of the economic downturn and has now reportedly stopped all services. The airlines chairman said there was no longer any reason to keep the airline in business and the decision to end operations was purely commercial. An…
Royal Jordanian Airlines will increase the frequency of flight services to Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Bahrain in June. The services are being increased in order to meet increasing demand between between Aman and these cities. Royal Jordanian is also adding flight services to Lebanon, Beirut - increasing their daily flight service to Beirut’s capital to four, and weekly operations to 28. The new flights…
The new CEO of the troubled airline RAK Airways said they “are in no way closing”. Kristian Kirchheiner, who joined the airline on 18 May 2009, said they will resume operating charter flights after halting scheduled services late in 2008. He said while commercial operations are currently suspended they are investigating all opportunities for the airline going forward. He said “We are working on a plan for the…
FJazeera Airways will be the first Middle Eastern airline to fly to Antalya when it begins service to the Turkish city in June. The Kuwait based budget carrier will launch the new service on 4 June 2009, and non-stop flights are scheduled for Thursdays and Saturdays. The cost of the flight service starts at KD29 ($100) inclusive of all taxes and fees. Jazeera Airways chief commercial officer said Antalya’s…
Flydubai will launch operations with its inaugural flight from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport on 2 June 2009. The budget carrier will be the first low cost airline to take off from Dubai. The airline will fly to Beirut and Amman on 2 June and services to Damascus and Alexandria will be introduced soon. Flydubai chairman and CEO presided over the unveiling of their first aircraft, a 737-800 NG…
Virgin Atlantic is reviewing its Dubai operations and may increase services if passenger demand stays high. During the worst trading environment in the British carrier’s twenty five year history, Virgin Atlantic announced their profits nearly doubled last year. Between 28 February 2008 and March 2009 their pre-tax profit increased to $109 million from $55 .4 million. An airline spokesman said they constantly…
Dubai based Emirates Airlines said it does not have immediate plans to begin services to Fiji, but did not rule out beginning the service later this year. There were reports in the news in Fiji on Wednesday that the airline would begin flight services to Fiji later this year. Fiji’s civil aviation director has been quoted as saying authorities have been approached by Emirates officials regarding air service…
Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways announced it will begin two additional daily flights from Kuwait to Dubai beginning on 1 June. The airline provided a 48 hour special promotional offer on Thursday to celebrate the launch of the new services. Tickets purchased can be used for flights between 1 June and 15 September. Under the promotional offers passengers can purchase one way tickets starting at AED 119 which is…
International Air Traffic Association (IATA) data shows that Middle Eastern airlines achieved double digit growth last month even as global growth declined 3.1%. Passenger demand increased 11.2% in April 2009 compared to the same month last year and airline capacity increased 12.3%. IATA increased its projected loss figure for Middle Eastern Airlines to Dh 3.3 billion - more than four times the previous…
Flydubai has partnered with Emirates Post to sell tickets through post offices across the UAE. Emirates will act as selling agent for Dubai’s budget airline, via the phone, internet or in person at 121 post offices. They will take reservations, accept payment and change booking information. Flydubai CEO Al Gaith said “Our aim is to change the way people travel by making the process simple, convenient, and…
Hainan Airlines will begin its direct flight services connection Beijing with Dubai on Monday, according to Dubai based Sharaf Travel, LLC. The new service will operate twice a week and Hainan Airlines has appointed Sharaf Travel as the general sales agent (GSA) for the UAE and Gulf region. Hainan Airlines was established and launched operations on May 2, 1993 in Hainan Province, China’s biggest economic zone.…
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued flydubai its Air Operators Certificate after meeting strict GCCA requirements. GCCA is the regulatory body responsible for ensuring safety and standards within the airline industry. Flydubai is now ready to launch its first flight to Beirut on Monday. GCCA Director General said there are many rigid checks and balances to make sure that there is strict…
British Airways next week will restart flight service to Saudi Arabia from London Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The carrier is resuming service to Saudi Arabia following a four year hiatus. Five weekly flights will operate to Jeddah and Riyadh, bringing British Airways summer schedule in the region to 66 weekly flights- from eight GCC destinations. This is an increase of 35% compared to the same period last…
