Aviation Saudi reports 20% rise in aviation-related firms Saudi Arabia reported a 20 percent increase in the number of companies involved in its aviation industry last year. Figures in the Air Transport Statistics Publication (ATSP) from the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics show that there were 1,443 businesses operating across the sector. These included companies covering air transport of goods and passengers, cargo […] April 7, 2023
Aviation Emirates strengthens ties with US while Etihad looks east Dubai airline Emirates has strengthened its relations with the US as its Abu Dhabi counterpart Etihad Airways increased its presence in the east. Emirates and United Airlines have activated their codeshare partnership allowing customers of the Dubai carrier to fly to Chicago, Houston or San Francisco and connect to the network of domestic flights operated […] March 31, 2023
Opinion Aviation Low-cost, not full-price, airlines will fuel the Gulf’s aviation boom The Middle East's aviation industry is ripe for the picking March 29, 2023
Aviation Nigeria’s Air Peace to start non-stop Israel flights in April Israel’s transport minister on Sunday approved an aviation deal with Nigeria that will allow non-stop flights between the countries to begin next month for the first time, the ministry said. The agreement, which still needs cabinet approval in Israel, will let carriers from the two countries to operate flights between Tel Aviv and cities in […] March 27, 2023
Aviation Emirates says ‘substantial’ ticket revenue still trapped in Nigeria Dubai-based airline Emirates has a “substantial” amount of ticket sale revenue trapped in Nigeria, a spokesperson said. The airline declined to release the amount trapped in Nigeria, but the spokesperson added about half of the amount in its backlog was overdue for repatriation, Reuters reported. The process “remains beset with constant delays”, the airline added. […] March 26, 2023
Exclusive Aviation VistaJet continues to fly high from Qatar World Cup Private jet operator VistaJet has seen enduring business benefits from the Qatar World Cup, staged at the end of 2022. It witnessed a 146 percent year-on-year increase in its Qatar flights in 2022, driven by a 561 percent rise in December compared to the same month in 2021. Demand at the Dubai-based company has continued […] March 24, 2023
Aviation Israel’s El Al to resume India flights using Saudi corridor El Al Israel Airlines is to resume flights to India in October after a three-year absence, citing shorter flight times due to the ability to fly over Saudi Arabia and Oman. Israel’s flag carrier will operate four weekly flights to Mumbai from Tel Aviv using Boeing 737 aircraft, with the route expected to take 5.5 […] March 24, 2023
Aviation Nigeria says most funds repatriated to Dubai’s Emirates Emirates has got most of its funds out of Nigeria and has around $35 million that still needs to be released, aviation minister Hadi Sirika said. President Muhammadu Buhari in February directed the central bank to increase the amount of foreign currency allocated to Emirates after the airline suspended flights to and from Nigeria because it […] March 24, 2023
Aviation Saudi Arabia launches second new airline Saudi Arabia has announced its second new airline in a matter of weeks with the launch of Neom Airlines. The carrier will solely serve the $500 billion Neom city in the north west of the kingdom. The first flights for tourists, residents and commercial partners are scheduled to take off in the fourth quarter of […] March 23, 2023
Aviation Interim approval granted for Qantas-Emirates alliance Australia’s competition regulator has granted interim approval for Qantas Airways and Dubai’s Emirates to continue their passenger and cargo transport alliance. Qantas and Emirates’ existing deal, which was granted in 2018, is set to expire on March 31, 2023, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a statement. Under the current agreement, both airlines […] March 23, 2023
Transport Canadian startup Vports to build Ras Al Khaimah’s first vertiport Canada’s urban air mobility startup Vports is expanding its reach across the UAE as the country moves ahead to make advanced air mobility a reality. Vports signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Airport to build and operate the first vertiport in the emirate as an advanced air mobility (AAM) hub. […] March 22, 2023
Aviation Wizz Air plans UAE expansion and increase routes to Saudi European budget carrier Wizz Air is planning to grow its fleet to above 200 aircraft next year and 500 aircraft by 2030. Wizz Air president Robert Carey told a news briefing that the core growth in the coming years would still come from central and eastern Europe, adding that in the west “we are happy […] March 22, 2023
Tourism UAE embraces travel again as Ramadan airfares spike Airfares from the UAE to key expat locations have increased over the Ramadan period as a new report shows that residents in the Emirates have the biggest appetite for travel. A global survey of 18 countries by research firm YouGov, carried out in November last year, found that 58 percent of UAE respondents said travel […] March 21, 2023
Opinion Aviation Challenges faced by Riyadh Air as aviation’s bold, new disruptor Assessing the risks of launching a new, international airline in the current market March 16, 2023
Aviation Emirates in expansion drive as new Saudi rival orders 72 jets Dubai’s flag carrier Emirates is doubling down on plans to expand its route network and flight capacity as competition for air travel in the Middle East sharpens with the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air. Emirates said in a statement on Tuesday it has boosted operations by 31 percent based on available seat kilometre (askm […] March 14, 2023
Aviation Riyadh Air set to spark price war among regional rivals Saudi Arabia’s new national airline is bound to intensify the rivalry between Gulf carriers, analysts have said, and price wars are likely. Riyadh Air, which is wholly owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, was launched on Sunday and will be run by aviation veteran Tony Douglas. The carrier’s first international flight will take off […] March 14, 2023
Aviation Boeing expected to sell nearly 80 787 planes to Saudi airlines Boeing Co. is expected to sell nearly 80 787 Dreamliner airplanes to two Saudi Arabian airlines, a source briefed on the matter said. An announcement of the plan reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal is expected as soon as Tuesday, and the list prices for 78 planes would total nearly $37 billion. Airlines typically […] March 14, 2023
Analysis Aviation UAE firms at forefront of fuelling sustainable aviation Emirates operated its first flight with one of its engines powered entirely with sustainable aviation fuel last month – a milestone for UAE firms as they seek to lead the industry towards decarbonisation. The flight, which took off from Dubai International Airport and flew for more than an hour, was a showpiece event for the […] March 13, 2023
Aviation Saudi’s national airline to connect Riyadh to 100 cities by 2030 Saudi Arabia is to launch a new national airline – Riyadh Air – which it is expected to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and add $20 billion to the kingdom’s non-oil economy. The announcement was made late on Sunday by Crown Prince, prime minister Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and the chairman […] March 13, 2023
Aviation Airbus reinstates Qatar Airways’ order for 73 A350 aircraft European planemaker Airbus has reinstated orders for 73 aircraft from Qatar Airways after revoking them during a dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s. Airbus and Qatar Airways settled the dispute at the end of January, averting a rare and potentially damaging UK court trial in the jet sector. Speaking in Berlin, Qatar […] March 8, 2023
Tourism Qatar Airways eyes rapid growth as travel demand rebounds Qatar Airways has announced plans for rapid growth, as the travel industry recovers from the pandemic. Announcing objectives at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin, the Gulf carrier said it would add seven destinations, restore 11 others and boost the frequency of flights to 35 markets – marking a 21 percent rise in flights by […] March 8, 2023
Opinion Aviation Regional airline rivalry is set to drive down fares The Middle East flight hubs are about to feel the squeeze March 6, 2023
