Aerospace

Ash Rossiter, Non-Resident Research Associate at INEGMA analyses the difficulties facing the new Libya

American low-cost airline Spirit has signed an MoU with Airbus to buy 73 A320 family airliners, comprising 45 A320neos and 30 standard A320s at a total book value of US$6.7 billion.

The importance of the Gulf region to the UK has been underlined here at the Dubai Airshow, particularly with ongoing Typhoon export campaigns in the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Al Bateen Executive Airport, the Middle East's first dedicated business aviation airport operated by Abu Dhabi Airports Company, has opened a new crew lounge, which forms part of the DhabiJet FBO brand.

Business aviation companies are helping finance aircraft acquisitions as cash becomes tighter in the lending markets.

Business aviation operators and suppliers across the region will be soon be able to take advantage of a preferred insurance scheme offered by Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC).

Following a day of tense and very public brinkmanship, Qatar Airways' CEO Akbar Al Baker and Airbus' COO, customers, John Leahy appeared to be on the verge of falling out.

As expected, Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) has opted for Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM engines to propel yesterday's order for 50 firm Airbus A320neo family aircraft.

At a lively Dubai Airshow news conference Qatar Airways' CEO Akbar Al Baker announced the airline would be buying an additional two Boeing 777-200LR freighters but kept up the pressure on Airbus over its handling of A350 development.

Sharjah-based Aerostar is expanding into new fields and used the Dubai Airshow to announce the launch of an engine leasing business and an aero academy.

Atlasjet Havacilik delivered a significant boost to Bombardier's CSeries programme in Dubai yesterday by signing a letter of intent to acquire 10 CS300 aircraft and to take options on a further five.

Russia's NordStar Airlines placed an order for three ATR 42-600s at the show yesterday, bringing to seven, the total number of the type it has ordered this year.

Dubai's Medrar financial group has taken a majority interest in Diamond Aircraft Holdings (DAH), Canada for an undisclosed sum.

Raytheon has finished the installation and testing of its AutoTrac III (AT3) air traffic management (ATM) system at Dubai World Central's Al Maktoum International Airport.

Diamond Aircraft is showing the prototype of its new maritime surveillance aircraft at the Dubai Airshow.

Turkey's Eclipse Aerospace is to start production of the latest iteration of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, the Eclipse 550.

A popular feature of each day's flying display is the appearance of the Chinese twin turboprop regional airliner, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) MA600.

Nearly 2,000 new passenger and freighter aircraft will be needed in the Middle East by 2030.

Delays in the software development of the fly-by-wire systems for the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 will not delay the entry of the aircraft on to the market, according to Embraer's Claudio Camelier, vice president market and product strategy.

Oman Air has signed an order for six Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, completing an arrangement with Boeing and Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO.

Honeywell has signed a maintenance cost agreement with flydubai worth more than $20 million over 10 years.

The fastest selling airliner in aviation history – the Airbus A320neo – received another massive vote of confidence, from Kuwait-based international Aviation Lease & Finance Company (ALAFCO).

Comlux, the aviation group, has a signed a commitment for an Airbus ACJ321 – the first ever placed with Airbus for the type – expanding the Airbus corporate jet family.

The UAE is to get five Total Eclipse very light jet (VLJ) aircraft following the GCAA certification for the type yesterday.

ALAFCO - the Kuwait-based international Aviation Lease and Finance Company - has finalised a purchase order for 50 A320neo Family aircraft and taken options for 30 more to be finalised by year end.