Aerospace

The General Aviation Middle East conference which had been scheduled for April 6/7 has been cancelled.

Qatar Airways has renewed its agreement with Sabre Travel Network to market its fares, schedules and availability through Sabre's global distribution system.

Etihad Airways has said it aims to increase passenger numbers by 15% to seven million in 2009 and is targeting a 20% revenue increase to $3 billion.

Dubai and Kuwait-based no frills airline Jazeera Airways has posted a net profit increase of 94.4% in 2008, despite last year's crippling fuel prices.

Cessna is cutting back production on its CJ, Sovereign and Citation X lines and introducing enforced leave for its workforce to match the reduced demand.

US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky has successfully demonstrated new technology designed to enable safer helicopter landings in blinding conditions including brownouts

Experts from the Middle East business aviation sector have expressed their confidence that the market will continue to grow during this year.

Three of the leading aviation organisations operating in the Middle East have come together to address major issues related to taxes and charges levied on civil aviation throughout the Arab world.

Lebanon's original cargo carrier, TMA, could be back in the air soon, according to reports in the Beirut Daily Star.

Sikorsky has achieved a major milestone in its X2 demonstrator programme by successfully ground testing the aircraft with the pusher propeller installed and spinning for the first time.

The inventory of used helicopters in the market has increased dramatically over the past six months signifying a move very much towards a buyer's market, said Tim Blockley, managing director of PremiAir Global.

Six countries in the MENA region have been “upgraded” to lower risk levels for 2009 insurance purposes according to aviation insurance specialist Aon.

Abu Dhabi Aviation, purported to be the region's largest helicopter operator, announced a 53% increase in profit on Sunday the Gulf News reported.

Abu Dhabi-based executive aviation company, Royal Jet, is demonstrating its commitment to Emiratisation by participating in Tawdheef 2009 - the main forum in the Abu Dhabi Emirate for recruitment, Emiratisation and related training.

Abu Dhabi based Empire Aviation Group has joined with Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), to supply and operate Cessna 208 Grand Caravan planes between the UAE and major TDIC destinations in the emirate.

Dubai Air Show's planned move to its new location at the Dubai World Central complex at Jebel Ali has been postponed.

UAE-based freighter operator British Gulf International is facing a crisis after the GCAA's banning of the Antonov An-12 from Emirati skies.

Lebanon's Daily Star reported today that Middle East Airlines (MEA) chairman Mohammad Hout has said the time is not ripe to sell the airline's shares in 2009 due to the unfavourable market conditions.

An agreement signed between the Lebanese Canadian Bank and MEA (Middle East Airlines will help MEA expand its fleet by part funding the purchase of a new Airbus 330-200 airplane. The value of the loan is believed to be $65million.

Members of the Bahraini parliament will next week be calling for a probe into the affairs of Gulf Air it was reported in the Gulf Daily News.

Kuwait's newest full service luxury carrier Wataniya Airways has signed a multi-year outsourcing contract with Indian-headquartered Kale Consultants.

The super-heavy Antonov An-225 ``Mriya'' transport, which has been converted for use as a freighter, completed the first of 10 test flights on May 7 from an airfield near Kiev, Ukraine. It is scheduled to appear at Le Bourget next month for this year's Paris air show. Antonov paid $20 million to convert the aircraft, which was originally designed to transport the Soviet Buran space shuttle. The upgrade included the addition of modern navigation and communication avionics, a collision avoidance system and changes to reduce the aircraft's noise signature.