Middle East & North Africa

FIA2018: Boeing and Dubai-based aircraft lessor, Novus Aviation Capital, announced its first direct agreement with Boeing for up to four 777-300ERs at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow.

Dubai-based Falcon Drones Technology signed a deal at the Farnborough Airshow today with Kenya-based cargo airline Astral Aviation

Royal Jordanian has signed a bimodal partnership agreement with SNCF’s (French National Railway Company) TGV AIR, whereby Royal Jordanian passengers benefit from a pre- and post-transportation service by TGV from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to 19 French, one Belgian cities.

Flydubai and its partner Emirates have announced that flights between Dubai and Zagreb in Croatia will be operated by Flydubai from 2 December 2018 to 30 March 2019 after which flights will be operated by Emirates.

Emirates is to introduce two additional flights to Lyon and one to Paris per week.

Oman Air is to introduce Ghaith Mohammed Al Darmaki as the new Oman Air Senior Vice President of the IT department. He joins the airline at a vital time of network and fleet expansion.

AMAC Aerospace has celebrated the inauguration of the Wide Body Hangar in Milas-Bodrum, Turkey, with more than 100 guests from all over the world.

Qatar Airways will launch direct five-times weekly flights to Gothenburg, Sweden starting 12 December, making it the airline’s second Swedish gateway after Stockholm.

Etihad Airways has launched a major new partnership with the Italian fragrance brand, Acqua Di Parma.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) achieved significant growth in terms of the number of guest numbers and flights during the first half of 2018.

Royal Jordanian, Emirates and Etihad Airways have been listed in the top 20 safest airlines in the world, according to the annual list of the world’s safest airlines released by AirlineRatings.com, the Australia-based aviation analysis website.

Etihad Airways has signed a commercial agreement with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park, announcing a three-year partnership encompassing several collaborations aimed at increasing tourism to Abu Dhabi.

Oman Air has increased its frequency of flights to Salalah, the principal city of the Dhofar region.

Qatar Airways’ A350-1000 has touched down in the United States for the first time.

Gulf Air recently welcomed another batch of Bahraini pilots who joined the airline as Second Officers as part of the ongoing cooperation agreement between Gulf Air and Tamkeen.

Air Arabia received two new Airbus A320 aircraft deliveries earlier this month bringing its total operating fleet to 53 aircraft.

Swiss company AMAC Aerospace has been awarded with a new maintenance contract on a head-of-state A320 aircraft and will perform a major base maintenance input on a privately-owned A340-600 aircraft.

Abu Dhabi Airports has welcomed the resumption of Turkmenistan Airlines’ biweekly flights between Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), connecting the two nation’s capitals with flights operating every Friday and Sunday.

Oman Air Cargo has upgraded its cargo hub facility at the new Muscat International Air Cargo Terminal.

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), organiser of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) showcase in Dubai, has boosted its executive team with the appointment of Danielle Curtis as regional Exhibition Director for the Middle East.

Effective 28 October 2018, Etihad Airways will increase its flights from Abu Dhabi to Toronto, from three to five weekly services.

Gulf Air has selected Honeywell’s GoDirect Flight Efficiency analytics software to reduce fuel costs across its entire Airbus and Boeing fleet and to help minimise the carbon footprint of the airline.

The Royal Jordanian Board of Directors approved the financial results for the first half of this year during its session held on July 29, 2018.

Gulf Air has celebrated the introduction of the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner double daily service to and from London.

A revolutionary, new aviation security risk-management solution was launched in Abu Dhabi late last year. Steve Knight talked to Andrew Nicholson, the man behind the system.