Analysis Giga-projects Saudi Arabia pins branding hopes on Riyadh Air launch Saudi Arabia still hasn’t found the magic sauce for branding its social and economic reforms. Hopes are high that the launch of Riyadh Air will do for the kingdom what Emirates airline did for Dubai, industry experts say. “We saw the journey of the UAE, how brands started there then became iconic on a global […] October 25, 2024
Aviation Adia to invest $750m in debt of India’s GMR Group Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), the UAE’s largest sovereign wealth fund, will invest about $750 million in the debt of India’s GMR Group, giving it a foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The investment will also allow the Indian company to reduce the pledged shareholding on its airports business. Adia has invested […] October 23, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways partners with Elon Musk’s Starlink Qatar Airways has operated its first flight with internet provided by Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. The airline says all of its Boeing 777s will have the service within a year. On-board access to Starlink-enabled internet will be completely free of charge, Qatar Airways said. In a video call with Qatar Airways executives, Elon […] October 23, 2024
Logistics More freighters on order at Emirates Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, has ordered more freighters in a push to expand its cargo operations, reports in local and international media said. The airline has ordered five Boeing 777 freighters, which are due to be delivered from 2025/2026 and brings the total number of 777 freighters on order to 14. “Demand for Emirates’ air […] October 21, 2024
Aviation Dubai Airports has big plans for biometric tech Dubai Airports is pushing ahead with its plans for Dubai International Airport (DXB), and air taxis, biometric upgrades and improved accessibility for disabled passengers are among its efforts to modernise the passenger experience. Omar Binadai, Dubai Airports’ chief technology and infrastructure officer, told AGBI the operator is working with regulators to secure licences and establish […] October 21, 2024
Aviation Boeing 777X delay ‘highly expensive for us’, says Emirates Planemaker Boeing’s announcement of more delays in the delivery of its 777X aircraft to customers has had a “significant and highly expensive” impact on Emirates’ fleet programme, the Dubai carrier said this week. Emirates has already spent an extra $3 billion for a massive cabin refurbishment programme on 191 of its existing planes, 110 A380 […] October 15, 2024
Logistics Red Sea crisis boosts Saudi air cargos by 50% Attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels have resulted in more than a 50 percent rise in air cargo shipments to Saudi Arabia. The country’s airports are expected to process more than a million tons of air cargo in 2024 for the first time ever. A total of 1.2 million tons is […] October 15, 2024
Aviation Saudia prepares to launch electric jet service Saudia Airlines’ electric jet plane is the first step towards zero-carbon commercial flights in medium-sized planes, according to its German manufacturer Lilium. Daniel Wiegand, co-founder and chief engineer for innovation at Lilium, said both parties were looking beyond the initial sale of 50 Lilium jets, which Saudia bought for at least $7 million each, with […] October 14, 2024
Transport Private jets and yachts take passengers fleeing Lebanon People trying to flee the escalating conflict in Lebanon are turning to expensive private bus, yacht and jet operators as an increased number of airlines cancel flights. “If Beirut’s airport is closed due to the ongoing conflict, don’t worry,” reads one of the many such adverts that have inundated Lebanese social media. “Our luxury yachts […] October 14, 2024
Aviation Kuwait Airways 2023 revenue soars 16% to $1bn Increased passenger volume and flight operations increased revenues at Kuwait Airways by 16 percent in 2023. The topline reached KD335 million ($1.1 billion) last year, as the number of flights soared 26 percent year on year to 32,839, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported, citing chairman Abdulmohsen Alfagaan. No details were shared on profit or […] October 11, 2024
Business of Sport Riyadh Air signs stadium naming deal with Atlético Madrid The new Saudi Arabian carrier Riyadh Air has agreed a deal with the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid to rename the team’s stadium after the Gulf state airline. Atlético Madrid’s stadium, the Estadio Metropolitano, opened in 2017, will now be called the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The stadium sponsorship deal is scheduled to run until 2033, […] October 9, 2024
Transport Rise in direct flights to Saudi Arabia as 12 airlines start services A dozen foreign airlines launched direct flights to Saudi Arabia in the first 10 months of 2024. In comparison, the global average is only two to four foreign carriers entering new markets annually, Air Connectivity Programme CEO Majid Khan told the state-backed Saudi News Agency. “This growth has helped increase inbound tourism and air traffic,” […] October 9, 2024
Aviation Conflict risk leads Gulf airlines to cancel regional routes Gulf airlines are among airlines that have cancelled and rerouted flights across the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates. They are avoiding Iranian airspace and many have cancelled routes entirely following a major missile attack by Iran against Israel on Tuesday. Immediately after the attacks about 80 flights operated by carriers […] October 4, 2024
Transport Parkin signs deal to develop vertiports for Dubai air taxis Parkin, the Dubai government’s parking management company, has signed an agreement to develop the support network for flying taxis in the emirate. Under the agreement Parkin and Skyports, a UK-based vertiport infrastructure developer, will collaborate on the provision of parking facilities at “vertiport” sites in Dubai, as well as developing new locations across Parkin’s network […] October 3, 2024
Opinion Logistics Conflict will severely disrupt Middle East logistics Air cargo is particularly hard hit by escalating conflict in the Middle East October 3, 2024
Opinion Aviation Regional airlines will remain fluid in the Israel-Iran conflict Current events are unlikely to cause significant disruption in countries with large domestic markets October 2, 2024
Aviation Airlines suspend flights to Middle East Airlines in the Middle East have cancelled some flights and rerouted others after Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. Shares in some European airlines and travel companies fell on Wednesday by up to 2.7 percent after Israel’s neighbours closed airspace and airline crews skirted the conflict zone. Many airlines have suspended operations […] October 2, 2024
Aviation Qatar Airways to buy 25% stake in Virgin Australia Qatar Airways is to acquire a minority 25 percent stake in Virgin Australia from US private equity firm Bain Capital to gain access to the wider Australian market. The deal closure is subject to the approval of Australia’s foreign investment review board. No financial details were disclosed. Last year, the airline’s former CEO Akbar Al-Baker […] October 1, 2024
Aviation Etihad Airways to invest billions as it prepares for IPO Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is planning to invest $7 billion over the next five years and to double the size of its fleet by 2030 as it prepares to go public, its chief executive said. Antonoaldo Neves told a conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday that the investment is part of […] September 26, 2024
Analysis Aviation Dnata is 65, but its globetrotting is just getting started Dnata began life 65 years ago as a small travel agency in Dubai. Today it is the airport services arm of Emirates Group, operating in over 30 countries and planning to expand to even more. This month, it signed ground handling contracts with Royal Jordanian Airlines at John F Kennedy airport in New York and […] September 24, 2024
Opinion Business of Sport Qatar scores Champions League deal in battle for Gulf skies Qatar Airways has added a new trophy to its prestigious sponsorship collection September 23, 2024
Tourism Halo Space to manufacture capsules in Saudi Arabia Spanish company Halo Space plans to localise most manufacturing of its high-altitude balloon capsule to Saudi Arabia, it said this week before its first test launch in the kingdom. The Madrid-based startup is due to stage an unmanned test flight from the Al-Aflaj oasis 330km south of Riyadh within the next two weeks, depending on […] September 18, 2024
