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In an effort to cut costs and streamline operations, India ’s Jet Airways has terminated the contracts of 25 expatriate pilots. The hike in fuel costs and continued inflation has resulted in a downturn of the Indian aviation sector evoking drastic cost cutting measures by various airlines. Expatriate pilots have been sacked as their salary is almost 40% higher than the 15000-18000 monthly salary paid to…
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan has said that despite the economic slowdown advance bookings on the airline for the next 3 months are strong and growth targets will be met. James Hogan said that those airlines that were heavily dependent on corporate business were likely to be more affected by the downturn rather than airlines like Etihad whose consumer base was more diversified. He also added that the…
Magic Planet, the leading family amusement park, is now sporting a new look at Sharjah City Centre as it reopened its doors to the public recently. Now spanning a total area of 1,841 square metres, the refurbished facility promises to keep its visitors captivated with its newly added rides and games. Magic Planet was closed for renovation on April 9 this year and has now returned to entertain its fans like…
Dubai’s Kempinsky Hotel, located at the Mall of the Emirates, has been named Middle East’s leading leisure hotel at the 15th annual World Travel Awards. Source: www.ameinfo.com
Global cruise liner Royal Caribbean has announced a new route that will have Dubai as the home port. The cruise liner will sail 13 times between January 2009 and April 2010, with each cruise being of seven days duration. The Royal Caribbean will also sail to Oman and Bahrain. Source: www.ameinfo.com
FlyDubai, Dubai’s low cost carrier is in talks with Boeing about aircraft delivery after delays due to strikes at Boeing’s factories. The airline however, is still aiming at a mid 2009 launch of its operations. The budget carrier had entered into a $4 billion dollar deal with the plane-maker for an order of 54 Boeing single aisle 737 aircraft. Source: Emirates Business 24/7
Emirates Airlines will be shifting its entire capacity to the new Terminal 3 at the Dubai International Airport once the final phase of the terminal is launched on November 11. The airline said in a statement on November 5, that the fourth and final phase will launch Emirates flights to the Indian Subcontinent, East Asia and Australia. Source: Emirates Business 24/7
Abu Dhabi based Prestige Jet has invested Dh 25 million in Qatar based private airline Q-Jet, further strengthening its position in the private aviation sector in the Gulf and adjoining regions. As Prestige enters the second year of its operations, it will be opening four companies specializing in renting jets to private firms located not just in the Middle East but also in Europe. The company has also started…
Al Jazirah daily has reported that Riyadh based, state owned Saudi Arabian Airlines plans to buy 70 new aircraft of which nine will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 21 in 2010. According to the airline’s Director General, Khalid bin Abdullah Al Molhem, the delivery of all aircraft will be complete by 2014. Source: Emirates Business 24/7
The Ritz-Carlton group has said that it plans to open 10 more hotels in the Middle East by 2012. The group currently has five regional hotels with more hotels planned in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and other parts of the UAE, including a launch in Dubai's financial district by mid-2009. Source: www.ameinfo.com
Air Arabia said on Monday that by early 2009 the airline will commence operations from its second hub Casablanca in Morocco. The new airline, named Air Arabia Moroc will seek to service the country’s domestic sector as well as select destinations across Europe and Africa. The airline’s chairman Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani said that with the new hub the company will be able to expand its coverage across…
Aviation Lease and Finance Company of Kuwait has announced that it will be buying aircraft from Airbus and Boeing in a deal worth $10 billion. The company’s chairman Ahmad Alzabin said the firm had confirmed orders to buy 70 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing for delivery between 2009 and 2017. Source: Emirates Business 24/7
Following the drop in the price of jet fuel, Singapore Airlines announced that it would be cutting fuel surcharge by as much as $15 (Dh55). The levies will be reduced on tickets issued from November 7. Source: Emirates Business 24/7
Dubai based Emirates Airlines which operates 40 flights per week to Australia said the number of flights would go up to 70 by 2009. Currently passengers flying from Europe to Australia take indirect flights, such as Emirates, via Dubai. The airlines is looking at offering passengers more choices and faster flights to Australia from Dubai in a bid to increase pressure on Asian rivals such as Cathay Pacific and…
Etihad Airways said on November 4 that it has flown almost 14 million passengers on more than 87000 flights to 48 destinations over the past five years of its operations across the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia. The Abu Dhabi based airline has also increased its fleet to 39 aircraft, a number that is expected to go up to 42 by the end of this year. Etihad now plans to fly 25…
Royal Jet, the luxury flight services company with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, has taken delivery of a Learjet 60. The L60 is an advanced version of the Learjet 55, with a longer fuselage and more powerful engines. Royal Jet's President and CEO Shane O'Hare said, "The addition of the L60 is a direct result of the growing demand for Royal Jet's services".  The L60 will be utilised under Royal…
Travelers in transit need not be bored any longer . Thanks to a website www.timeintransit.com launched recently , travelers in transit at Middle East airports will be able to garner information on what to do while in transit . This website not only provides details of what travellers can do when transiting through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain and Sharjah airports , but has teamed up with booking.com…
American Airlines has had early stage merger talks with US Airways and is in advanced talks for an alliance with Continental Airlines . News of the talks comes in the wake of the talks of Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines merger announced two weeks ago to become the worldââ¬â„¢s largest airline . American Airlines and Continental are focusing on forming an alliance that could share passengers…
