Middle East & North Africa

Northrop Grumman and Abu Dhabi's Higher College of Technology have launched the 2013 Innovation Challenge unmanned aircraft competition.

Former Hawker Beechcraft senior executive for the Middle East, Africa and Europe, Sean McGeough, has been appointed president of Nextant Aerospace the , maker of the Nextant 400XT, the world's only remanufactured business jet.

Aviation security was a major focus of this years Intersec – the interational security show which was held in Dubai this week

The Philippines carrier, Cebu Pacific has announced it will operate direct daily flights between Manila and Dubai from October 7, 2013, the first long

Retail glamour and innovation have touched down at Dubai International; Maritime Mercantile International (MMI) and Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR), Dubai-based subsidiaries of the Emirates Group, have launched all six of their new travel retail innovations developed specifically for Dubai International's Concourse A.

Qatar Executive's has launched its corporate website in Arabic and Russian languages.

Airbus is offering airlines new options for configuring the floor space offered by the A321neo.

BBA Aviation Flight Support has announced the promotion of Maria Sastre to president and chief operating officer for Signature Flight Support Corporation.

IAG Cargo, the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, has appointed Tony Snell as regional commercial manager with a mandate to drive growth in the strategic markets of the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Airbus has increased the average list prices of its aircraft by 3.6% with effect from the start of this year. The increase has been calculated according to Airbus' standard escalation formula.

Cavotec has won a multi-million dollar package of orders from Japanese industrial conglomerate ShinMaywa, for integrated ground support equipment for airports in Egypt and Vietnam.

Emirates and Australian airline Qantas have been given formal interim approval to form a partnership deal in a major step forward for both airlines.

Following instructions by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Airways is implementing the Airworthiness Directive issued by the FAA for all operators of the Boeing 787 to ground the aircraft, effective today 17 January 2013.

Gulfstream is set to be the star of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo show in March when it brings its new G650 aircraft to Al Bateen for the aircraft's Middle East debut.

The Egyptian Air Force will double its C295 transport fleet following an order with Airbus Military today for six additional aircraft bringing the fleet to a total of 12 aircraft.

Syphax Airlines has selected CFM International's LEAP-1A and CFM56-5B engines to power three Airbus A320neo and three Airbus A319/A320ceo aircraft, respectively.

Following agreement between the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, under the Saudi British Defence Cooperation Programme, Rolls-Royce has signed a contract to provide support for engines powering the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet of Tornado combat aircraft.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Etihad Airways has confirmed it will introduce a new daily link between its Abu Dhabi International Airport hub and

Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al-Baker has announced the airline has sold its entire 35% stake in freight airline Cargolux.

In line with Qatar Executive's continued focus on the international market, Qatar Airways' private jet division has launched its corporate website in Arabic and Russian languages.

Arabian Aerospace is to produce an exclusive daily newspaper a the Abu Dhabi Air Expo show in March.

Gulf Air management under the chairmanship of Bahrain's deputy prime minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has met with trades unions in Manama to agree a restructuring plan for the survival of the airline.

Dubai-based Leisure Cargo FZCO has now become the general sales agent for Pegasus cargo.

Following media speculation in recent days linking Qatar Airways with airlines in India, Qatar Airways issued a statement today denying it is in investment talks with Spicejet or any other Indian airline.

Establishing standard safety protocols for aviation in the region will be one of the key objectives of the first ever Aviation Safety Culture conference to be held in Dubai later this month.