Tech Saudi startup’s infrared tech has ‘game-changing’ potential A Saudi Arabian startup’s pioneering research will slash the cost of infrared sensors, enabling them to be used in a myriad of day-to-day applications and accelerating the development of fully autonomous vehicles, its founder told AGBI. Osman Bakr, founder and chairman of Quantum Solutions, is also head of the functional nanomaterials laboratory at Kaust (King […] February 4, 2024
Analysis Aviation Flying taxis ‘within a decade’ says Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has published a plan to launch advanced air transport, such as flying taxis, within the next 10 years. However, experts have played down the kingdom’s impact on the fledgling industry globally. The kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) said it wanted to revolutionise the aviation sector by supporting technologies such as unmanned […] January 31, 2024
Aviation Kuwait airport passenger traffic rises 26% to 15.6m Total passenger movement at Kuwait International Airport rose 26 percent year on year to 15.6 million in 2023. Arrivals reached 7.93 million passengers, while departures accounted for 7.68 million, the state-run Kuna news agency reported, citing Imad Al-Jalawi, acting director general of Civil Aviation Aircraft traffic increased 23 percent to 128,584 last year, from 104,147 […] January 30, 2024
Transport Oman Air cancels flights to South Asian cities Oman Air is cancelling flights to some South Asian cities as part of its transformation programme. The state-owned airline said the move is part of efforts to improve its financial performance and strengthen its position in a competitive market. Flights to Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Chittagong in Bangladesh will […] January 29, 2024
Transport Muscat airport passenger traffic climbs 19% Passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport rose to 1.19 million in December 2023, a 19 percent rise compared to 999,935 a year ago. Aircraft movement increased 15 percent year on year to 9,233, Oman Daily Observer reported, citing data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Freight movement at Muscat airport moved up 0.4 percent annually […] January 28, 2024
Opinion Aviation A cabin crew shortage could mean higher ticket prices Rapid expansion with high levels of staff attrition mean airlines are locked in a hiring battle January 26, 2024
Aviation Wizz Air Abu Dhabi aims for 25% business growth Low-cost carrier Wizz Air Abu Dhabi expects business to grow by 25 percent in 2024 compared to last year, driven by capacity growth. The airline has 12 aircraft based in Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand to 50 in the next four to five years, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, citing CEO Jozsef […] January 26, 2024
Aviation Saudi will top Gulf business travel chart, says Wego boss Business travel to and from Saudi Arabia is expected to surpass neighbouring UAE, according to the CEO and co-founder of online travel marketplace Wego. As of the start of this month, foreign companies hoping to gain access to billions of dollars worth of government contracts must have their regional headquarters in Riyadh. The regional HQ […] January 25, 2024
Aviation Saudia’s passenger traffic rises 21% to 30m in 2023 State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) carried more than 30 million passengers in 2023, a 21 percent year-on-year increase on higher seat capacity and flight frequency. The national flag carrier operated 176,300 flights, a four percent rise year on year. Transit flights witnessed a growth of 77 percent in 2023 compared to 2019, the airline said in a […] January 24, 2024
Infrastructure Saudi airports operator issues tender for Abha expansion Saudi Arabia’s state-owned airport operator has issued a tender for a new terminal at Abha International Airport in the Aseer region. The Civil Aviation Holding Company, also known as Matarat, has called for expressions of interest by the end of this month. On offer is a 30-year build-operate-transfer deal to develop and run the terminal. […] January 17, 2024
Aviation Sharjah airport passenger traffic grows 17% in 2023 Sharjah airport received 15.3 million passengers in 2023, an increase of 17.4 percent year on year, as it added new passenger routes and cargo hubs. Air traffic increased 12.5 percent to over 98,000 flight movements last year, Sharjah Airport Authority said in a statement. Additionally, the airport handled a total cargo volume of over 141,000 […] January 16, 2024
Opinion Aviation Gulf aviation’s ambitious wishes for the year ahead There should be an award for the airline that gets the newest aircraft closest to planned delivery dates January 12, 2024
Aviation Etihad Airways reveals plan to meet 18m passenger goal Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi’s flagship carrier, will broaden its international reach by expanding its network of destinations and increasing flight frequencies to major global cities in 2024, in a bid to reach 18 million passengers by 2025. “The aim is to usher in a new phase of sustainable growth, underpinned by a robust strategic plan,” […] January 9, 2024
Food & Drink Vegan meals take off on Emirates Dubai’s Emirates reported a 40 percent increase in demand for vegan meals across its network of 140 routes in 2023, and has plans to add more plant-based catering options in 2024. The airline served 450,000 plant-based meals on board last year, up from 280,000 in 2022. The biggest rise in demand was on routes to […] January 5, 2024
Retail Perfume helps Dubai Duty Free hit record sales in 2023 Dubai Duty Free (DDF) recorded record sales of AED7.885 billion ($2.15 billion) in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 24 percent, and 6 percent above 2019, with perfume retaining its title as the top-selling sector. DDF celebrated its 40th anniversary in December, and the holiday month finished the year with sales of AED807.6 million, an 8 […] January 4, 2024
Infrastructure Sharjah begins work on $338m airport terminal expansion Work has commenced on Sharjah International Airport’s AED1.24 billion ($337.62 million) terminal expansion project, which is expected to be completed by 2027. Sharjah Crown Prince and deputy ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi laid the foundation stone for the project, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. Spanning an area of 190,000 […] January 4, 2024
Aviation Kuwait aircraft lessor Alafco slashes losses Kuwait’s state-funded aircraft leasing firm, Alafco, has cut its annual net losses by 98 percent, the company said at its latest earnings presentation. Alafco, whose shareholders include the Kuwaiti government, said operating lease revenue dropped by 63 percent to KD35.9 million ($116.74 million) for the financial year ending on September 30. However, this was made […] January 4, 2024
Opinion Aviation Middle East aviation prepares for take-off in 2024 2023 has just been a starter. The really impressive stuff is yet to come December 26, 2023
Opinion Aviation Europe’s low-cost carriers take off for Mena markets Next stop Riyadh for Ryanair? December 22, 2023
Transport PIF to build aircraft repair and maintenance village The Public Investment Fund (PIF) will develop a one million-square-metre maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) village in Saudi Arabia as part of its investment in Saudia Technic, a subsidiary of Saudia Group. The aim is to transform Saudia Technic into a national MRO “champion” by investing in infrastructure, boosting efficiency and capturing market growth in […] December 22, 2023
Aviation Wizz Air to add more routes after strong year Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has reported a 150 percent rise in passengers this year. The company, a joint venture between Hungary’s Wizz Air and Abu Dhabi state holding company ADQ, carried 3 million passengers in 2023, up from 1.2 million in the previous 12 months, Johan Eidhagen, the managing director, told AGBI. It also doubled […] December 21, 2023
Transport UAE’s daily air traffic hit all-time high on first day of Cop28 The UAE’s airports witnessed a 15 percent increase in air traffic during the Cop28 summit, held at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12. Al Maktoum International Airport recorded the highest number of scheduled and unscheduled flights, such as private and business jets, on the first day of the conference, Saif Al Suwaidi, […] December 21, 2023
