Middle East & North Africa

Honeywell and Inmarsat have signed an exclusive agreement to provide global in-flight connectivity services to business, commercial and government aviation customers around the world.

Royal Jordanian CEO Hussein Dabbas resigned from his position with the national carrier on Tuesday, reports The Jordan Times.

Yahsat 1B, the second of Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat's high-capacity satellites, is now set to launch on April 24.

The second day of the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi saw industry leaders looking at evolving global demand, the supply chain and the region's embryonic space industry.

Gulf Air will be transporting over 15,000 kgs of cargo material that are required by the F1 teams for the upcoming 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix being held from 20 to 22 April.

Qatar Airways and Thales - the airline's In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity supplier - announced today the opening of a new technology research, development and training centre located at the Qatar Science and Technology Park in Doha.

Boeing and Mubadala Aerospace have announced a 10-year direct contract for Strata Manufacturing, Mubadala Aerospace's advanced composite aerostructures facility in Al Ain, to produce commercial composite aerostructures for the 777 and 787 Dreamliner.

Virgin Galactic is to set up Spaceport Abu Dhabi in the UAE and has appointed a chief adviser to oversee the project.

The aviation industry's leaders are debating the challenges facing the sector at this week's inaugural Global Aerospace Summit, being held in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways has launched a recruitment drive in Oman to hire 400 new Omani employees by the end of 2012.

flydubai was joined by Al Masaood Travel & Services yesterday to celebrate the opening of its new flydubai Travel Shop in Abu Dhabi.

Arabian Reach, a leading UAE-based event management company specialising in exhibitions and events management across the region, today announced the opening of nominations for the third edition of Emerging Markets Airports (EMA) Awards to be held on November 21, 2012 in Dubai.

Royal Jet's 2011 business performance has carried over into the first quarter of 2012 as the private jet operator recorded a 15 per cent increase in revenue over the same period last year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called upon all parts of the aviation value chain in the Gulf region to work together on issues critical to aviation's ability to serve as a catalyst for economic growth.

NATS has participated in the inaugural Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to discuss the pivotal role air traffic management must play in shaping the future of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors.

Gulf Air, has signed a codeshare agreement with Afghanistan's international carrier Safi Airways on its Kabul – Bahrain route as of 23rd April 2012.

The UK's global ATM provider NATS participated today in the inaugural Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to discuss the pivotal role air traffic management must play in shaping the future of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors.

The head of Turkish low cost carrier Pegasus Airlines has added his voice to the detractors of the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), under which carriers have to pay for exceeding an EU-set limit on carbon emissions.

The region's thriving airlines are putting aside their current successes to wrestle with the challenges facing the aviation sector on a global scale – geo-political, natural and economic - at this week's Global Aerospace Summit, being held in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday, 16 and 17 April, 2012.

Etihad Airways has announced it had forged a new, long-term strategic partnership with Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association.

The government of Dubai has issued a law to establish 'Dubai Corporation for Aviation Engineering Projects' (DCAEP) - a new corporation with administrative and financial independence, Gulf News has reported.

Boeing has made a series of design updates to the 737 MAX to further optimise the new-engine variant's performance.

Gulf Air has won the prestigious Family Friendly Airline Award 2012 in an online Facebook poll by US-based Kids First Fund.

AgustaWestland North America, Inc. has delivered an AW139 helicopter to the Egyptian Air Force via its contract with US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Contracting Center for Foreign Military Sales.

The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has announced its strategic partnership with the Global Aerospace Summit, which is being presented by Mubadala from 16-19th April.