Middle East & North Africa

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for November 2019 showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 3.3% compared to the same month in 2018.

On the back of its recent successes in obtaining IATA CEIV certifications for both its pharma and fresh products, Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has announced an extension of its cold chain global business partnerships by joining the exclusive Cool Chain Association as well as Pharma.Aero.

Etihad Guest and Air Miles Middle East, owned and operated by Aimia, a loyalty and travel consolidator, have announced a new reward initiative which enables Air Miles Middle East members to exchange Air Miles into Etihad Guest Miles.

Qatar Airways announced it is to add eight new destinations for 2020 during the Kuwait Aviation Show 2020.

MRO Middle East, the gulf region’s largest event for commercial aircraft maintenance, returns to Dubai, February 24-26.

Emirates today announced its contributions to bushfire relief in Australia.

Leonardo is taking part in the second edition of the Kuwait Aviation Show from 15th-18th January 2020.

As the UAE marks Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Lufthansa Group is stepping up its efforts aimed at making the future of aviation climate-neutral.

The BelugaXL has entered into service, providing Airbus with 30% extra transport capacity in order to support the on-going production ramp-up of commercial aircraft programmes.

Turkish airport operator TAV Operations Services’ has added to its portfolio of airports following Washington-Dulles and New York JFK Airports in the USA with Florida Palm Beach International Airport.

Airbus has successfully performed the first fully automatic vision-based take-off using an Airbus Family test aircraft at Toulouse-Blagnac airport.

Qatar Airways has expanded its codeshare cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, starting from 27 January 2020.

UK-based software firm, Ideagen, has secured a project with the Saudi Arabian flying academy, OxfordSaudia, which will see it provide software to help it meet regulatory and operational requirements.

Emirates Aviation University celebrated its 30th graduation ceremony, honouring more than 243 students.

Pegasus Airlines has expanded its network with the launch of two new routes.

Universal Aviation, has opened Universal Aviation Turkey, based at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul to provide supervisory ground support for business aircraft at all airports across Turkey.

Commencing from July 2020, the airline will offer two weekly flights operated by an Airbus 321neo aircraft.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has signed a US$300 million four-year unsecured term loan with China Construction Bank (DIFC Branch) and China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation.

Shoppers at the Bahrain City Centre Shopping Mall are getting the chance to step back in time with the national carrier Gulf Air.

Etihad Aviation Training, the specialist training division of Etihad Aviation Group, has become the first aviation company in the Middle East to gain approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to train Boeing 777 and 787 pilots for European operators and carriers elsewhere which adopt Europe’s air safety standards.

Emirates is celebrating 20 years of services to Bahrain.

The Boeing Company has issued a statement regarding the 737 MAX return to service.

Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC) is collaborating with local Qatari charity, Hifz Al Naema, to redistribute surplus food and beverages to good causes in Qatar.

Alsalam Aerospace Industries has appointed Karl E. Jeppesen as Acting President and CEO, starting on 12 January, 2020.

At last some good news for Boeing as the company’s new 777X took to the skies yesterday, for the first time to enter the next phase of its rigorous test programme. Based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, it took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a.m. Est Coast time (22:09 UAE time) for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field.