Opinion Aviation The aviation sector is due for a cull The regional airline market is saturated. It's time for consolidation and a strategic rethink April 25, 2023
Tech AD Ports digital arm buys customs systems firm Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, has acquired TTEK Inc, a developer of border control solutions and customs systems, in a deal worth $26.7 million. The acquisition involves an upfront payment of $17.1 million and adds to Maqta Gateway’s digital trade solutions portfolio, which uses disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine […] April 24, 2023
Opinion Transport Innovation must drive Dubai’s AV plans New law paves the way for autonomous taxi services April 20, 2023
Tourism Europe’s strikes may spell more flights havoc Strikes across Europe have led to a spike in flight cancellations and delays, and driven down bookings to cities such as Paris, despite airlines’ efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s disruption. During the Easter holiday weekend from April 5 to 11, flight cancellations and delays of more than three hours were higher than […] April 19, 2023
Aviation Etihad ‘disappointed’ with greenwashing UK ad ban UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways has been accused of greenwashing, and has had two of its adverts banned in the UK for “exaggerating the environmental benefits” of flying with it. Following an investigation, UK advertising watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled on April 12 that the Abu Dhabi-based airline misled customers by claiming it […] April 12, 2023
Video length: 03:07 Video Aviation Labour woes and debt clip the wings of Mena aviation Labour shortages, high interest rates and sustainability challenges are the most pressing concerns facing both the global and Mena aviation sectors in the post-pandemic environment, says Hugo Santo, partner at McKinsey and Co. Travel trade body the International Air Transport Association recently reported that total traffic in February 2023 rose 55.5 percent year-on-year, and Middle […] April 12, 2023
Aviation Saudia plans to add 56 new weekly flights State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) plans to add 56 weekly flights to 14 global destinations by the summer as it continues to ramp up operations. Under the expansion, the national flag carrier of the kingdom will serve cities across Thailand, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Europe in the latest addition to its scheduling. It […] April 11, 2023
Aviation Qatar Airways CEO calls for aviation fuel overhaul The boss of Qatar Airways has called for an overhaul of the sustainable aviation fuel market. The airline is buying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it seeks to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. However CEO Akbar Al Baker has labelled the fuel “exorbitantly expensive” and says it is only available in low volumes […] April 11, 2023
Logistics Agility targets rapid growth as it hails ‘huge potential’ of Saudi market Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility sees huge potential in Saudi Arabia and is “taking every measure” to boost its investments in the kingdom. The company, which has reported earnings of KD68 million ($221 million) for 2022, a year-on-year increase of 180.7 percent, believes Saudi Arabia “definitely” offers the biggest market potential in the GCC. Agility’s revenues […] April 11, 2023
Transport UAE’s Cafu launches EV charging solution in Canada UAE-based fuel-on-demand car service Cafu has forayed into Canada with an on-demand electric vehicle (EV) charging solution. The EV charging solution aims to support users with no access to home charging, the company said in a statement. Cafu’s new service will allow car owners in Quebec to request the Cafu truck to come to their location, […] April 9, 2023
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
Logistics UAE logistics boom demands more and better warehouses More warehouses must be built in the UAE to meet future needs, as high-growth industries such as e-commerce and manufacturing drive demand for industrial property, experts say. UAE developers rarely construct industrial warehouses speculatively (without first agreeing a tenant), as is common in developed markets. Consequently, there has been little fresh recent supply and the […] April 5, 2023
Banking & Finance AD Ports Group signs $2bn financing deal AD Ports Group has signed a $2 billion financing agreement with a syndicate of 13 regional and international banks, it announced in a bourse statement on Tuesday. Part of Abu Dhabi investment and holding company ADQ, AD Ports Group has a portfolio of ports, economic zones, logistics and digital businesses driving the growth of international […] April 4, 2023
Transport Egyptian electric train project gets IsDB green light The Islamic Development Bank has approved $344.5 million in financing towards the first phase of the planned Egyptian electric train system. The 660 km railway will connect Egypt’s port cities of Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean with Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea. The Egyptian electric train project is expected to benefit 25 […] April 3, 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
Logistics Qatar in race to run operations at three airports in Pakistan Pakistan on Thursday kicked off outsourcing of operations and land assets at three major airports to be run through a public private partnership (PPP), a finance ministry statement said, a move to generate foreign exchange reserves for its ailing economy. The government has been in talks with Qatar to jointly run terminals at Islamabad, Karachi […] 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
Logistics Pharma spurs rebound in Emirates cargo growth Pent-up demand for pharmaceuticals and the Middle East’s ongoing e-commerce boom are among the biggest growth drivers for Emirates airline’s cargo business, while airfreight capacity to and from Asia’s major manufacturing hubs remains constrained. Cargo is a key part of Emirates’ operations, generating revenue of AED 21.65 billion ($5.9 billion) in 2021-22, or 37 percent […] March 27, 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
Logistics AD Ports’ new cargo service to improve trade with Kuwait Abu Dubai’s AD Ports Group has launched a new direct shipping service dedicated to roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) between UAE’s Khalifa Port and Kuwait’s Shuwaikh Port. The new service aims to improve commercial connectivity and facilitates trade with Kuwait, the UAE state-owned WAM news agency reported. Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, acting CEO of the maritime […] March 26, 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
