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Kuwait based budget carrier Jazeera Airways said on November 17 that it has signed a deal worth $70 million (Dh256.9m) with European banks DVB and Natixis Transport Finance to fund the purchase of two Airbus A320 planes that have been recently delivered to the airline. The airline currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A320s from its hubs in Kuwait and Dubai to destinations across the Middle East, Europe,…
From January 2, British Airways will add a 4th service that will operate five days a week on its Dubai-London Heathrow route. The five additional weekly services will increase the airline's flights between the emirate and Britain's principal airport to 26 per week. The flights will fly to British Airways' Terminal 5 home at London Heathrow. Source: www.ameinfo.com
Dubai Airports has officially launched the all new premier VIP terminal and executive travel facility at Dubai International- the Executive Flights Centre (EFC). The announcement was made by the CEO of Dubai Airports Paul Griffiths at a Press conference held on the sidelines of the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA 2008) on Sunday. EFC terminal has its own dedicated immigration and customs sections — it is…
Aldar Properties yesterday said on November 12 that the company has signed an exclusive agreement with The Ritz-Carlton Hotels Company to develop a number of luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, that will be managed by The Ritz-Carlton. The contract signed was for the Ritz Carlton Reserve hotel on Aldar's Nareel Island development, which is currently under construction. Paul Bell, Managing Director of Aldar Hotels and…
The effects of the Boeing strike are finally being felt. Boeing said on November 14 that it is delaying deliveries of its 747-8 freighter and intercontinental airplanes due to design changes, limited engineering resources and an eight-week strike that shut down the company's factories. The first freighters will now be delivered in the third quarter of 2010 instead of in late 2009, as previously scheduled. The…
Sharjah-based budget carrier, Air Arabia, said on November 12 that it has signed a contract with European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, for 10 additional single-aisle A320 aircraft to serve its new hub in Morocco, in a deal worth about $770 million (Dh2.82 billion). With the launch of a new airline called Air Arabia Maroc in early 2009, the airline is scheduled to begin operations from its second hub in…
Saudi-based low-cost carrier Sama plans to lease up to five new aircraft in 2009, thereby expanding its fleet to 12. The Saudi low-cost carrier will however, wait for lease rates to decline further in 2009 before finalising the deals. Sama will also take on at least four aircraft on a wet-lease arrangement to cope with extra demand during the time of the Hajj pilgrimage in December. Source: www.ameinfo.com
The Business Standard has reported that Mubadala Development Co, the investment arm of Abu Dhabi's government has granted a loan of 10 billion rupee ($208m) to India based airline, Jet Airways. The Indian carrier had earlier reported a loss of 3.8 billion rupees in the quarter through September. Source: www.ameinfo.com
On Sunday, November 16, Air France passengers faced more cancellations as French pilots voted to press on with their demands and continue their strike. The agitation by the pilots has hit the national carrier hard with almost 35% of their long haul flights and half of all other files cancelled. The pilots are opposed to new pension and retirement rules that would come into effect in 2010 and would end the…
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) will be investing more than Dhs200m to create additional facilities at the City Airport, the Emirate's new dedicated private jet airport. The corporate jet facility will soon have stand capacity of over 120 jets and there will be specific areas in hangers for the maintenance of different sized aircraft. Source: www.ameinfo.com
Germany's leading operator of business jets, DC Aviation, and Al Futtaim Group on Sunday signed a joint venture agreement to establish, what they promise, will be one of the foremost executive business jet companies in the region. Omar Al Futtaim, chief executive of Al Futtaim Group and Dieter Heinen chief executive of DC Aviation signed the agreement under which the new aviation company will seek to serve the…
Al Jaber Aviation (AJA), the aviation arm of the Al Jaber Group, on November 16 placed an order for 12 private jet aircraft in a deal worth about $450 million (Dh1.65 billion). The company plans to launch operations in February 2009 with one Embraer Legacy 600. According to the company COO, Dr Mark J Pierotti the company expects to receive one aircraft every three months over a five year period. Pierotti also…
The Dubai Mall, the newest addition to Dubai’s shopping and entertainment scene is breaking one record after the other. Just five days since its launch, the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre has attracted a record turnout of more than 60000 visitors. More than 5000 skating buffs also visited the Dubai Ice Rink. Mr Yousif Al Ali, General Manager, The Dubai Mall, said "The impressive visitor turn-out to The…
At a charge of SR5000 per person, approximately 8000 local pilgrims will be accommodated in new buildings in Mina, Saudi Arabia. The decision came after 14 days of negotiations between the Ministry of Hajj, domestic pilgrim service companies and the company in charge of the Mina foothills project. It was decided that buildings would be rented to 32 Tawafa domestic pilgrim companies for a period of two years,…
Movement in and out of Palm Jumeirah will be strictly restricted on Thursday, when galaxy of stars and A-list invitees will join pop star Kylie Minogue for the official opening of the Atlantis Hotel. In a circular to the residents, Nakheel Asset Management, which manages Palm Jumeirah, said that residents should reach their properties by 4pm on Thursday after which they will be required to carry special passes…
Qatar’s most popular and the award winning Indian restaurant chain “The Garden” launched its first overseas outlet in Dubai, Qusais. The outlet has been named “The D’Garden Casual and Xprez Restaurant”. The restaurant has been designed with dual dining sections- one section will serve authentic Indian cuisine and the other section will serve a mix of Indian fast food combined with international cuisines, with…
Bahrain Air announced the opening of its Sales office in Dubai on November 13. The airline has also appointed Al Majid Travel as their General Sales Agent (GSA). The airline said that it has plans to add another aircraft to its fleet in the last quarter of 2008 and expects to launch three new destinations namely Kuwait, Asyut and Luxor in Egypt, in November. Source: Khaleej Times
Despite not being fully ready, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort in Florida opened over the weekend amid much fanfare and some high profile guests and performances. Dubai based Nakheel Hotels; a business unit of Nakheel announced in April that they had bought a 50 per cent stake in the iconic Florida hotel in a deal worth $375 million. The hotel was subsequently closed for major renovation and was relaunched…
