The launch three years ago of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) moved business aviation in the region into the spotlight. Operators, financiers, lessors, owners, FBO and flight service providers now have a voice.
Low cost carrier Air Arabia has reported a 13% increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2015.The Sharjah airline which operates from Morocco and Egypt announced its financial results this morning as the airline's route and hub expansion strategy continued to deliver strong financials and healthy passenger number growth.
The blueprints and science goals for the first Arab mission to Mars have been revealed, for an unmanned UAE probe - named 'Hope' - to create mankind's first integrated model of the Red Planet's atmosphere.
Poor Search and Rescue (SAR) coordination has been highlighted by a succession of international air tragedies. In a case study, Brian Day, ICAO HQ technical officer, SAR (retired) and now a civil aviation SAR consultant, said SAR's purpose is clear and unambiguous – it saves lives.
No Open Sky agreements have been signed between African countries, but several have been signed between African countries and other regions. The consequence has been a limitation on the growth of Africa's airlines, efficiency reductions and higher costs, leading to a negative impact on economic development.
Former director of CAA in Lebanon (twice), Dr Hamdi Chaouk, now managing partner, Aviation Minds, opened the second day of the first Aviation Africa conference and exhibition in Dubai by explaining how African nations need to take a close look at themselves before they can put together an aviation strategy that has any chance of success.
Dr. Nicklas Dahlstrom, director of human factors for Emirates Airline, addressing the Aviation Africa conference in Dubai today, told the audience that human factors training is essential, especially when people from different cultures work together.
Starting this month, VVIP customers travelling on flights operated by DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF) will be able to experience the benefits of arriving in the United States of America having pre-cleared US Customs and Border Protection at its hub in Dubai World Central (DWC).
The new arrangement will initially debut in the final quarter and will enter service from December 1, 2015 on both the Dubai – Bangkok and Dubai – Copenhagen routes, and will also serve Dubai – Kuala Lumpur and Dubai – Manchester from January 1, 2016.
Etihad Airways will deploy a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on its daily Washington, D.C. service from 15 March 2015, marking the US debut of its next generation First, Business and Economy class products.
Online and technology solutions company, Emaratech, used the Future of Borders conference in Dubai to announce the launch of a new system that performs simultaneous document and iris scans to quickly verify travellers' identity when integrated with border gates.
Oman Air has signed a Letter of Intent with Cargolux Airlines International S.A. to enable the freight specialist to use Oman Air's facilities in Muscat, Salalah and Sohar.
The UAE's Advanced Passenger Information system is going live at Dubai International Airport later this week, according to Leyla Hareb, the assistant director of strategy & international affairs at the GCAA. “This system has been developed in just two years. It has taken other countries ten years to implement,” she said
Qatar Airways has partnered with Six Seconds to introduce enhanced emotional intelligence training. Seventeen members from the Customer Experience Training Team have successfully completed a customised training programme developed by Six Seconds, to become certified practitioners in Emotional Intelligence.
The Airports Council International (ACI) is collaborating within and outside of the industry on passenger facilitation solutions and supporting implementation and harmonization of Automated Border Control (ABC) solutions that use interoperable equipment and common international standards.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for further action on three vital aspects of the air cargo business: transitioning to paperless freight processes, a focus on global handling standards for pharmaceutical freight, and tough action to ensure the continued safe transportation of lithium batteries by air.
Border control agencies worldwide need to be well-prepared to deal with the emerging challenges as the number of passengers travelling across the borders are set to rise exponentially over the next couple of years, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai civil aviation president, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group will say when he opens the Future of Borders conference today
flynas will introduce a five times weekly link between King Khalid International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport from December 16, 2015, complementing the existing 13 weekly flights already offered by Etihad on the route, providing greater choice and flexibility for passengers travelling from Saudi Arabia, the UAE or beyond.
Dubai-based Flydubai's inaugural flight to Nejran in Saudi Arabia, at the weekend was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute. The flight marks the start of the first direct link between the region and Dubai.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted the importance of overcoming airspace congestion, taking advantage of innovations with the New Distribution Capability (NDC) and aligning with the global industry strategy for reducing aviation’s climate change impact for the further successful development of aviation in the Middle East.
After Delta recently reduced service between the world’s busiest airport and the largest international airport, the carrier has now confirmed it will end the route from February 11, 2016. It said the Boeing 777 used on this city pair will be redeployed to other Transatlantic markets where it can “compete on a level playing field that’s not distorted by subsidised state-owned airlines”.
