Middle East & North Africa

Inmarsat has confirmed the commercial service introduction of GX5, the company’s newest, geostationary satellite to date.
Space

Etihad Airways has been officially rated a Five-Star Global Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The award was presented to the airline at the virtual APEX Award Ceremony, part of the FTE APEX Virtual Expo, on 9 December.
Aerospace

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) issued a joint statement calling for urgent government intervention to prevent an employment catastrophe in the aviation industry.
Air Transport

Flydubai will start flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv from 26 November 2020.
Airports & Networks

Boeing has acknowledged three foreign military sales contracts with the U.S. Air Force for training services and support in the Middle East valued at more than $800 million.
Defense

Etihad Engineering, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has accepted an order for 1.3 million facemasks to be manufactured at its newly established in-house face mask production facility.
MRO

Safe Air has started scheduled services to Dubai-Mogadishu-Nairobi, which will operate every Saturday. The first direct service will operate between Mombasa to Dubai.
Airports & Networks

Nine out of ten residents and citizens surveyed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will change their flying habits and routines even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, according to the results of an extensive new global airline survey commissioned by Inmarsat.
Airports & Networks

The University of South Wales (USW) Dubai offers recognised British bachelor and masters courses in aerospace engineering, and multi-accredited postgraduate courses in aerospace engineering, business and management, and cyber security. Professor Paul Harrison, pro vice-chancellor innovation and engagement, and executive lead for USW Dubai, believes the college has a vital role to play in the growth of the aviation industry in the region.
Maintenance & Training

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched IATA ONE Source, an online platform which helps the air cargo industry match shipping needs with the availability of infrastructure capabilities and certifications of service providers across the value chain.
Emerging Technologies

CPaT Global, a provider of distance learning for the airline and aviation industry, has launched its content-focused training software platform, CPaT Invent.
Emerging Technologies

Flydubai has begun using the latest version of a technology that tracks the cleaning cycles of each seat cover to help maintain the highest standards of in-flight hygiene and safety.
Interiors & Connectivity

Saudi International Airshow 2021, to be held February 16th to 18th in Riyadh, has announced the participation of the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, a non-profit association dedicated to providing opportunities to women striving for careers in the aviation industry.
Aerospace

Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL), a member of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, has officially begun running the operations of customs security areas across most of the Kingdom’s airports.
Airports & Networks

An Airbus A350-900 aircraft A7-ALC has become Qatar Airways’ 100th aircraft to be fitted with Inmarsat's GX Aviation high-speed Super Wi-Fi.
Emerging Technologies

Abu Dhabi based Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) has formed a collaboration with Airbus and the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) from the UAE University, to build and develop a Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) Centre.
Space

Qatar Airways will resume services to Adelaide, Australia starting from 16 August 2020.
Airports & Networks

Emirates will increase its passenger services to/from Pakistan starting 10 August.
Airports & Networks

Qatar Airways has continued to work with the US government and airports as the airline rebuilds its US network with the resumption of services to Houston and Philadelphia.
Airports & Networks

Flydubai has begun welcoming tourists to Dubai following the lifting of flight restrictions that were put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airports & Networks

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has emphasised the aviation industry’s commitment to its emissions reduction goals.
Air Transport

Dassault Aviation is making steady progress toward an early 2021 planned first flight for its latest and roomiest aircraft, the Falcon 6X, despite the upheaval caused by the coronavirus epidemic.
Business Aviation

Abu Dhabi Airports has partnered with Meta Touch, a ground breaking UAE company, to deploy new touchless technology across 53 elevators at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), helping to prevent cross-infection from interacting with elevator buttons and enable a COVID-19-free airport environment.
Emerging Technologies

Following the news regarding Turkey’s participation in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS 2020) exercise, Sourabh Banik, Aerospace & Defence Analyst at GlobalData.
Defense

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its financial outlook for the global air transport industry showing that airlines are expected to lose $84.3 billion in 2020 for a net profit margin of -20.1%.
Aerospace