Aviation Iraqi Airways resumes direct flights to Beijing Iraqi Airways has resumed direct flights from Baghdad to Beijing, ending a hiatus that lasted several years, with hopes of increased business travel and tourism. The Ministry of Transport announced that the first flight departed from Baghdad International Airport in Iraq to Beijing Daxing International Airport in China this week. “In line with the directives […] July 10, 2024
Opinion Aviation Egypt must strike the Saudi aviation market while it’s hot New capacity should go to the kingdom's regional routes, where rapid growth is creating new opportunities July 10, 2024
Aviation Riyadh Air and Delta strike pact to expand network Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has struck an agreement with US carrier Delta Air Lines before its planned launch next year. The partnership will open new destinations in the kingdom and beyond for Delta flyers, including a future nonstop service on Delta between the US and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The […] July 10, 2024
Aviation Dubai entrepreneurs draw closer to launching Air Kerala Two Dubai-based businessmen are on the verge of launching Air Kerala, an ultra low-cost carrier in the Indian state, with long-term plans to offer flights to the Gulf. The venture by Afi Ahmed, chairman of the travel company Smart Travels, and Ayub Kallada, chairman and managing director of Kallada Food Industries, made progress this week […] July 9, 2024
Aviation Morocco to double airport capacity by 2035 Morocco is aiming to double the capacity of its airports by 2035 as part of its efforts to host the Fifa World Cup. The country’s airports serve up to 40 million passengers, and Mohamed Abdeljalil, minister of transport and logistics, has revealed he wants that to rise to 80 million in just over 10 years. […] July 4, 2024
Analysis Aviation Middle East airlines in race to recruit as pilot shortage bites A shortage of pilots is threatening the ambitions of the Middle East’s growing aviation industry, analysts have warned, forcing airlines to bolster their recruitment efforts. The global industry will be short nearly 80,000 pilots by 2032, according to management consultancy Oliver Wyman. The Middle East is projected to account for up to 18,000 of that […] July 4, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways announces record profits Qatar Airways Group has reported the strongest financial results in its 27-year history after announcing profits of more than QR6 billion (almost $2 billion) for the 2023-24 financial year. Revenues at the state-backed company increased by 6 percent year on year to QR81 billion. Passenger revenue was up by 19 percent, with a capacity increase […] July 2, 2024
Opinion Aviation Middle East airlines are leaders of the pack Regional airlines have much to teach global competitors when it comes to liberalisation and sustainability June 24, 2024
Transport UAE to build a new airport in Uganda The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry will build a new international airport in Uganda. The Kidepo International Airport in Karamoj will be located near Uganda’s border with Kenya, president Yoweri Museveni said in a post on messaging app X. The cost of the airport was not given. NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI delivered straight […] June 24, 2024
Aviation Brazil’s Embraer woos Saudi Arabia for military plane deal Saudi Arabia is in “early engagement” with Brazilian planemaker Embraer over a deal to replace its ageing fleet of military transport aircraft. Embraer is touting its C-390 Millennium transport plane as the ideal replacement for the kingdom’s Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft. Embraer Defense & Security’s CEO João Bosco da Costa Junior told reporters: “They […] June 19, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 49% of Rwanda’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is expected to buy a 49 percent stake in Rwanda’s flag carrier RwandAir as early as July as part of the Gulf airline’s strategy to expand in Africa, according to a media report. Qatar Airways’ purchase will boost Rwanda’s aviation sector and allow RwandAir to expand its operations and fleet, Financial Times reported, quoting […] June 17, 2024
Transport PIF agrees to buy 15% stake in London’s Heathrow airport Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Paris-headquartered private equity fund Ardian have agreed to buy Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial’s 37.6 percent stake in London’s Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport. Under the agreement, PIF and Ardian will acquire 15 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively, of FGP Topco, the parent company of Heathrow Airport Holdings, for a total […] June 17, 2024
Analysis Infrastructure The future of DXB: airport could be turned into a city The $35 billion plan to turn Al Maktoum International into the busiest airport in the world has everyone talking about the remaking of Dubai South. Perhaps a bigger challenge is the redevelopment of the city’s main airport – Dubai International, or DXB. DXB is near some of the city’s most densely populated neighbourhoods and the […] June 16, 2024
Aviation US fines Emirates for operating in prohibited airspace Emirates has been fined $1.5 million by the US Transportation Department for operating flights carrying JetBlue Airways’ JBLU.O designator code in prohibited airspace. The transportation department said that between December 2021 and August 2022, Emirates operated a significant number of flights carrying the JetBlue Airways code between the United Arab Emirates and the United States […] June 14, 2024
Transport Etihad Airways carries 36% more passengers on a growing fleet Etihad Airways, one of the UAE’s two flag carriers, reported a 36 percent year on year rise in passengers in May 2024 thanks to its fleet expansion strategy. The airline transported 1.5 million passengers last month, up from 1.1 million in the same month in 2023. The number of destinations rose from 63 to 68 […] June 13, 2024
Video length: 04:49 VIDEO Aviation ‘It’s survival of the fittest’, says Oman Air CEO Oman Air is continuing to reduce its losses and increase revenue, but its new CEO believes that adding more airlines to the market would not be sustainable. “There’s certainly a huge amount of aircraft coming to this region,” said Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air, speaking at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in May a […] June 12, 2024
Aviation Archer Aviation says UAE is ahead in air taxi race The UAE is winning the race to launch Archer Aviation’s flying taxis, ahead of the US, India and South Korea. The Abu Dhabi-backed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer last week became one of only two air taxi companies in the world to receive certification as an airline from the US Federal Aviation […] June 11, 2024
Aviation Airbus to expand production in Morocco as orders grow European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is expanding its production capacity in Morocco to meet growing demand for its aircraft. The Airbus Atlantic Morocco Composites plant in Nouaceur aims to build parts for 75 A320 family aircraft per month by 2026. The 30,000 square metres plant, with 17,000 square metres dedicated to workshops, “specialises in producing composite […] June 11, 2024
Lunch with Frank Kane Aviation ‘Cut me in half, I’m still Etihad’ Over lunch in Dubai, former CEO James Hogan tells our Editor-at-Large how the “Middle East model” took over aviation – and what really happened at Etihad June 11, 2024
Aviation Airports consider ‘transit hotels’ for 6-hour stays Saudi Arabia’s aviation expansion could stretch to transit hotels inside airport terminals where customers can pay for stays of less than the standard 24 hours. A Hong Kong-based company is developing the concept in the Gulf, with hotels offering six and 12-hour stays already established in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, and a Muscat hotel that […] June 9, 2024
Aviation Etihad and China Eastern forge new network alliance Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines have agreed to expand connectivity between the UAE and China. The UAE national airline and the Shanghai-based carrier signed a joint venture agreement – the first commercial one between a Middle Eastern airline and a Chinese airline – to jointly develop the routes. The move will broaden the network […] June 6, 2024
Aviation India’s Akasa Air to start Jeddah and Riyadh flights Saudi Arabia has licensed Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air to begin flights this week as the Hajj pilgrimage begins, giving a further boost to the kingdom’s tourism plans. The flights into Jeddah include two from Ahmedabad and 12 from Mumbai per week starting from 8 June, and seven into Riyadh from Mumbai per week starting […] June 5, 2024
