Given the economic crisis that was truly showing its colours in May, this year's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) was an unknown quantity. Yet, undeniably, the Middle East stole the show and was again at the forefront of business aviation.
Russian Helicopters has today unveiled the Sapsan – the first Russian FAR-27 turbine helicopter - the centrepiece of the joint venture's display at MAKS airshow.
Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air has signed a $70m facility with Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB). The carrier said this four year medium-term facility will be used to partly finance eight A320 aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter 2009 and first quarter 2010.
Russian Helicopters is to deliver 20 Mi-171 helicopters to the Sharjah, UAE-based Airfreight Aviation Ltd following a contract signed at the MAKS 2009 airshow toay between the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant - the manufacturer of the helicopter- and Airfreight Aviation.
Development of a green-field airport at Sohar, Oman is set to make further headway with the government on Monday inviting bids for the key airfield infrastructure package of the project. According to officials, the airfield infrastructure contract is the second of three packages that constitute the overall scope of the Sohar Airport project. As part of this phase, the selected contractor will build a 4,000-metre runway with turning loops at the ends, in addition to a full-length taxiway with high speed exits, reported the Oman Daily Observer.
Low-cost Malaysian carrier AirAsia's long-haul unit is in talks with Middle Eastern investors, its chief executive said, as it seeks fresh capital to help fund a potential expansion into Europe and Africa.
Barely a week after a major promotion to encourage Middle Eastern customers to purchase its Jet Cards or single-flight tickets for private business travel, luxury operator Jet Republic has folded.
Kuwait Airways is stepping up its legal action against Iraqi Airways – now the longest running commercial case in English legal history – following the Baghdad airline's moves to increase routes.
Boeing has hit yet another snag in its 787 Dreamliner programme, raising fresh concerns about when the fuel-efficient airliner will be ready for its first test flight.
Stefan Pichler the newly appointed CEO of Jazeera Airways will be delivering the keynote address at the three-day Low Cost Airlines World MENA conference at the Al Ain Rotana Hotel, Al Ain, 12 - 14 October
Air Arabia will announce a third hub in weeks and expects full-year profit to be positive, despite excess capacity hitting yields in the second quarter.
A Saudi businessman who bought an aircraft from Saudi Arabian Airlines has said he will sue them for $26 million (SR100m) unless it provides him with the aircraft fully equipped, with all its parts, as displayed before he made the buy, reported news agency Okaz.
Nine aircraft ordered by Baghdad are impounded in Canada as Kuwaitis question ownership. And the Iraqi government has been accused of breaching the terms of a $380m contract to buy new aircraft, according to an adviser to Kuwait Airways, marking a fresh phase in the long-running legal dispute between Kuwait and Baghdad, reported Meed.
Qatar is inviting contractors to bid for a key contract on the $11bn New Doha International Airport (NDIA) project, the state's largest deal so far this year, reported Meed.
Air Arabia has announced its financial results for the period ending June 30, 2009, with a net profit of $52million (Dhs193m). This marks a 21% increase over last year. The carrier reported a 6% increase in turnover to $251m (Dhs922m).
Business and corporate aviation will join civil aviation, training, freight and aircraft interiors companies at the growing Asian Aerospace conference that takes place in Hong Kong October 8-10
Kuwaiti premium carrier, Wataniya Airways, has posted its results for the first half of 2009. The company reported a loss of KD5.9m ($20.6m), which is attributed to the company only beginning flight operations in January.
Major challenges and issues, from airspace congestion and safety of ATC operations will come under the microscope at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Optimisation Summit Middle East 2009; a four day summit, made up of a two day conference and two days of interactive workshops.
The new chief executive of Gulf Air should cut costs to reduce the losses of Bahrain's state-owned carrier, but laying off nationals in large numbers remains off-limits, members of parliament said on Monday, reported Reuters.
