Middle East & North Africa

By Richard Maslen
United Arab Emirates (UAE) low-cost carrier, flydubai, is to further extend its network into the fringes of Europe as it introduces a new twice weekly
Airports & Networks

Charter specialist Chapman Freeborn has formed what it describes as an exclusive partnership with Air Libya to place and operationally manage an Antonov AN-26 aircraft in Libya.
Air Transport

A joint venture between Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Royal Jordanian Airlines has been awarded the exclusive contract to provide Meet & Assist Services at the new Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) terminal in Amman.
Airports & Networks

Envac, the underground automated waste collection service, is celebrating further success in the Middle East after winning two projects in Dubai with Emirates Flight Catering Facility (EKFC).
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Etihad Airways and airBaltic, Latvia's flag carrier, have announced that direct Riga-Abu Dhabi flights will commence on December 16, 2013.
Airports & Networks

Etihad Airways has announced its intention to purchase from Air India five Boeing 777-200 LRs, the longest range passenger aircraft in operation to support its accelerated network growth plan.
Air Transport

Business aviation activity in North Africa is out-performing global average, according to MEBAA, the association for business aviation across the Middle East and North Africa.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the appointment of Douglas Raaberg as chief executive United Arab Emirates (UAE), effective 14 October.
Maintenance & Training

Etihad Airways has become the first airline to offer both inflight Wi-Fi and GSM on its Airbus A320 aircraft.
Emerging Technologies

Jeppesen has introduced the CrewAlert Pro, a new iPad app designed to assist airline crew with preventing and mitigating fatigue.
Emerging Technologies

Qatar Airways will become a full member of oneworld with effect from Wednesday October 30, 2013.
Air Transport

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker last week.
Defense

Hollywood star and Qantas Ambassador-at-Large John Travolta, touched down in the UAE this week marking the arrival for his inaugural visit to Dubai.
Air Transport

British Airways is inviting GCC tourists to visit Britain with its special “Visit Britain” reduced fares and shopping discounts. The airline has slashed its fares from the GCC to several destinations in the UK in all its cabins, for bookings made during the month of September.
Airports & Networks

Qatar Airways' first A380 took off from Toulouse this morning on its maiden flight to Hamburg where the aircraft will be fitted with its cabin before being painted.
Air Transport

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has confirmed the cause of an engine failure on an Emirates A380 between Sydney and Dubai was due to the failure of a high pressure turbine (HPT) nozzle on the Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 powerplant.
Air Transport

Qatar Airways Privilege Club members and British Airways Executive Club members are now able to earn miles, and can begin redeeming miles as of 1st October 2013 on each other's flights.
Airports & Networks

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce took an outspoken and critical stance of the relationship between UAE national airline and his Aussie rival, Virgin.
Air Transport

Raja Azmi the former CFO of Air Asia has been named as the new chief executive of Saudi Arabia's nasair.
Maintenance & Training

By Richard Maslen
ASM, the world route development consultants, have provided airports with some key pointers of how best they can approach their structured meetings at
Airports & Networks

The Emirates Group has today announced its 25th consecutive year of profit and company-wide growth ending the year in a strong position despite continuing high fuel prices and a weak global economic environment. The financial year also ended with some very positive newly reached capacity milestones throughout the business.
Air Transport

Turkish Airlines has committed to an order with Boeing for 40 737 MAX 8s, 10 737 MAX 9s and 20 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes, valued at $6.9 billion at list prices.
Air Transport

UAE carrier RAK Airways is increasing the frequency of its services to Bangladesh capital Dhaka and both Peshawar and Lahore in Pakistan.
Airports & Networks

Aigle Azur Airline is broadening its service to Algeria by offering new connections and additional frequencies. The company has added additional flights from four major French cities – Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse.
Air Transport

Recaro Aircraft Seating, the manufacturer that utilizes a life cycle assessment process that enables the company to analyze and evaluate the environmental impact of its seats, has been nominated as finalist for the 2013 Crystal Cabin Award in the “Greener Cabin, Health, Safety & Environment”
Interiors & Connectivity