Middle East & North Africa

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released an airline self-assessment health checklist to support the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Take-off: Guidance for Air Travel through the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis.

Saudia Cargo has expanded its cargo network with the addition of Shanghai station to its flight schedules which commenced last Saturday, August 15.

Emirates will resume passenger flights to Warsaw from 4 September starting with twice-a-week services, and increasing to three-a-week from 7 October.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released new data showing the impact on the Middle East aviation industry and on economies caused by the shutdown of air traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened over recent weeks.

Bahrain’s Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Spanish simulator manufacturer Simloc to offer greater comprehensive air training solutions jointly.

A Boeing 777 Freighter has joined the Volga-Dnepr Group fleet of 24 Boeing freighters today, departing Paine Field in Everett, Washington.

Qatar Airways Cargo and Swissport have renewed a contract covering airport ground services and air cargo handling at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and signed new five-year contracts for cargo handling at the airports in Manchester and Birmingham in the UK.

Sharjah Airport has become the first carbon-neutral airport in GCC and the second in the Middle East.

Etihad Airways has expanded its partnership with AccesRail, a provider of air-rail intermodal solutions.

Emirates is offering UAE nationals and residents flights to the Seychelles this summer.

Airports Council International (ACI) World has announced that Istanbul Airport has become the first airport to be accredited through its new Airport Health Accreditation programme.

Qatar Airways has paid out over USD $1.2 billion in refunds to almost 600,000 passengers since March.

The Board of Directors of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) held a meeting chaired by Talal Humaid Belhoul, vice president, MBRSC to discuss developments related to future projects at the Centre, aligned with the strategic plan of the UAE’s National Space Programme.

Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) has installed an A321 NEO Over-Wing Exit (OWE) Door Training Device to serve the national carrier Gulf Air for its training requirements.

The Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has appointed Walid Abukhaled as CEO of the company.

Abu Dhabi Airports has welcomed Lebanese travellers arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) with special gifts upon their disembarkation from Middle East Airlines (MEA) flight ME418.

Emirates will operate repatriation flights to Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram from 20 until 31 August.

The Helicopter Company (THC), which is fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase 10 H125 helicopters.

An Etihad Airways 787-10 Dreamliner kitted out with special equipment that can enhance safety and reduce CO2 emissions and noise has commenced flight testing this week for Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme.

Texel Air, a private airline and MRO based in Bahrain, has announced the arrival of the latest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 737-700 FlexCombi, a first of a kind aircraft conversion developed to provide the most versatile third party cargo charter solution available in the market today.

Qatar Airways continues to increase its global services.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) has signed an MoU with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).

Emirates is to resume passenger services to Bangkok with daily flights starting from 1 September.

Honeywell is to donate 25,000 FFP2 respirator face masks to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), to help support relief efforts following the explosion in Beirut earlier this month.

Etihad Airways has updated its mobile application for Android, Apple and Huawei smartphones, enabling guests to manage their journey with even greater ease.