Middle East & North Africa

The European Commission has added Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List - the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union because they do not meet international safety standards.

Emirates SkyCargo plans to deploy an additional two weekly charter freighters enhancing the connectivity between Milan and Southeast China, via Dubai, starting Q3 2025.

Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines have activated their codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

The third Emirates A350 arrived at Bahrain International Airport on 2 June, making the Kingdom the first destination in the airline’s network to be exclusively served by the Emirates A350.

Etihad Airways has launched flights to Prague and Warsaw.

Etihad Airways has signed a strategic codeshare agreement with Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines.

Despite deep concerns about the availability, cost and lack of government support for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), IATA and its member airlines have not used the association’s 81st Annual General Meeting in Delhi to discuss delaying the 2050 target date to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the association’s Director General Willie Walsh told media at the closing press conference.

Etihad Cargo is reinforcing the carrier’s commitment to expanding access across Asia-Pacific after signing a strategic cooperation agreement with Ezhou Huahu Airport.

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat, has been reelected to the Board of Directors IATA for a second term.

Etihad Airways and China’s air cargo carrier SF Airlines have signed a Joint Business Agreement (JBA) to enhance their cargo operations and expand network capacity.

Turkish Airlines and Thai Airways signed Joint Business Agreement in Delhi at IATA Annual General Meeting this week.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has launched its inaugural flight between Abu Dhabi and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Starting from June 3rd with a frequency of three weekly flights.

Emirates has expanded its East Asia footprint to 23 points with the launch of two new routes via Bangkok - Da Nang, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Etihad Cargo has launched SmartTrack, a premium service that gives customers real-time access to shipment location and condition data.

Geopolitical tensions on the subcontinent have spilled into civil aerospace, with Air India looking to “adjust plans” and shift maintenance work on its widebody aircraft away from Turkish Technic over Turkiye’s support for Pakistan.

MRO company Joramco has received the approval from the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) to perform line and base maintenance checks on the Embraer ERJ-190 series powered by PW1900G engine.

Emirates and Air China have signed an MoU to establish a strategic framework for expanding their existing reciprocal interline cooperation.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has launched its inaugural flight to Yerevan, Armenia.

Etihad Airways is set to elevate its Sydney to Abu Dhabi service with the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000.

SolitAir has entered a strategic partnership with Marsh McLennan, a provider of insurance brokerage and aviation risk management services.

Emirates is set to reintroduce flights to Damascus from 16 July 2025.

Riyadh Air, the Saudi Arabian new national carrier, is continuing to step up its partnerships ahead of its planned entry into service.

IAG Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) are to launch their joint collaboration Global Cargo Joint Business.

flydubai has inaugurated its operations to Syria with the resumption of flights to Damascus.

Ethiopian Airlines has launched a new passenger service to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, effective June 1, 2025.