Middle East & North Africa

flydubai has taken delivery of the first of three Boeing 737-800NG aircraft financed through a $117.5 million loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).
Air Transport

Bahrain's Gulf Air says it has been unable to resume flights to Iran because the Iranian civil aviation authority has been slow to approve flight schedules, reports Reuters.
Airports & Networks

Rizon Jet is planning for future growth at its London-based facility at Biggin Hill Airport, which was named Best Handling Agent/FBO in the aviation industry's leading Excellence Awards last week.
Business Aviation

Etihad Airways would consider buying the Irish government's 25 percent stake in Aer Lingus but so far has not been approached with an offer, reports Reuters.
Air Transport

Reuters has reported that Morocco will offer to sell a 44% stake in Royal Air Maroc.
Aerospace

Following the launching of the PBO Academy in the Middle East during May 2012 - and from the growing interest received from the UAE and GCC stakeholders - AVTECH ME/GCAS have decided to run the executive and operational PBO workshops for the second time in UAE, at the GCAS Centre, Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi (27-29 November).
Maintenance & Training

Emily Boulter, non-resident associate, INEGMA looks at the post-independence Azerbaijan and its relationships with the Middle East
Aerospace

Oman Air has launched a range of special offers on flights from London Heathrow via Muscat.
Airports & Networks

On the opening day of the World Passenger Symposium - being held 16-18 October at the Jumeirah, Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, UAE - the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called upon aviation stakeholders to work together to create greater value for customers across the travel experience while enabling greater efficiency for industry participants.
Air Transport

Turkish Technic has signed a five year component pool services agreement with MNG Airlines for the Airbus A300F cargo aircraft which MNG Airlines has recently added to its fleet and is expected to receive deliveries of in the coming years.
MRO

The Governments of the Republic of Iraq and the Czech Republic have today announced that the Iraqi Government has ordered 28 L-159 light attack aircraft.
Defense

Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has achieved another major milestone with the launch of an electronic Air Way Bill (e-AWB).
Air Transport

CAE has won a contract to design and manufacture a KC-130J full-mission simulator for the Kuwait Air Force.
Defense

Qatar Airways will not be taking delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner until November.
Air Transport

GetThere has promoted Guy Snelgar to managing director of its business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Maintenance & Training

Qatar Airways has contracted Baltic Aviation Academy to help find cabin crew from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland.
Maintenance & Training

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki headed an official delegation of Iraqi ministers who visited Aero Vodochody today, primarily to discuss the Iraqi Government's interest in purchasing L-159 aircraft.
Defense

Saudi Arabia's strategic plan to increase the number of domestic airports and improve air transportation across the Kingdom was given a boost this week as the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed plans to build three new airports in Jazan, Abha and Al Qasim.
Airports & Networks

Pegasus Airlines has launched scheduled flights between Istanbul and Batumi starting on 8 October. This new international destination was announced at a launch held at Istanbul's Radisson Blu hotel in Batumi
Airports & Networks

Crash investigators looking into the fatal accident involving the Gulfstream G650 during the flight test programme, has said the “aggressive” push to certification may have contributed to the event.
Business Aviation

Gulf Air retained its leading regional position for on-time performance (OTP) in September. The airline ranked first among its full service competitors and second in the overall list of carriers in the MENA region.
Air Transport

Turkish Aviation Academy has passed through all the membership phases and now become an Associate Member of the ICAO TrainAir Plus programme.
Maintenance & Training

More than 50 Dubai-bound flights were diverted to nearby airports on Wednesday morning due to the closure of runways at the Dubai International Airport, reports Gulf News.
Airports & Networks

Qatar's private aviation operator, Rizon Jet, has received the Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) Platinum Safety Rating at its Doha facility.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Turkish F-16 jets forced down a Syrian Arab airliner en route from Moscow to Damascus to land after intelligence reports said it was carrying cargo banned by civil-aviation rules. Turkey confiscated the cargo among suggestions that weapons parts and military communications equipment had been discovered.
Defense