Middle East & North Africa

AgustaWestland has built a strong presence in the Middle East helicopter market in recent years driven by the success of the AW139 medium twin. Now the company is targeting the region as a key growth opportunity as it prepares to launch a number of new products. Paul Derby reports.

Etihad Airways has continued on its investment trail with a cash injection into Air Seychelles and taking 40% of the capital.

Snecma Morocco Engine Services (SMES) has been certified by the European and American aviation authorities, EASA and FAA, respectively, to carry out MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) services on the CFM56-5B engine.

B/E Aerospace is to unveil its new Essence galley equipment collection at the Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) show in Dubai next week, the organisers said today.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has published the 2011 Performance report for Abu Dhabi International Airport, which reflects a significant growth of 13.9% in passenger traffic compared with 2010.

Bahrain's government is to step in to help Gulf Air plan for its future, the chairman of the country's parliament has said.

Etihad Airways' flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi – the delivery flight of the airline's newest Boeing 777-300ER that arrived on January 24 – was the first in the Gulf to be operated using sustainable biofuel.

Etihad Airways' flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi – the delivery flight of the airline's newest Boeing 777-300ER that arrived on 24 January – was the first in the Gulf to be operated using sustainable biofuel.

MRO businesses add finance and completions to regional offering.

The Bell-Boeing team took the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor to the Dubai airshow for the first time, giving aerospace industry visitors an opportunity to see the revolutionary aircraft that is expected to be playing a role in the region. Alan Dron reports.

The Gulf is to be home for a new helicopter type following investment by the UAE's Al Ansari family. Jon Lake looks at the prospects for the future.

Kelly Green examines the reasons why uniforms are starting to reflect the talents of top designers to recapture the golden age of flying.

Dr. Andreas Jahnke has been apppinted managing director of Lufthansa Consulting. He succeeds Werner Schuessler who retired at the end of 2011.

German and Austrian regulatory authorities have given their approval to the deal announced last month in which Etihad Airways increased its shareholding in airberlin to 29.21 per cent.

RAK Airways has marked the expansion of its route network to 11 destinations, with the introduction of flights to Kathmandu, Nepal. Effective February 15th, 2012 RAK Airways will offer three flights a week to Kathmandu.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has launched a UAE Gallery at Abu Dhabi International Airport, delivering towards the Abu Dhabi government's initiative to promote local art and culture. The new gallery will introduce UAE culture and heritage to all passengers using the airport for arrival, departure or transit through displays by various local cultural and art institutions.

Oman Air has been announced as the Official Carrier of the month-long Muscat Festival 2012, which takes place between January 26th and February 23rd.

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier has announced that it carried some 4.7 million passengers in 2011, a six per cent growth compared to the previous year.

Gulf Air is going head to head with Emirates in a bid to win the potentially lucrative licence to operate domestic flights within Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabian Airlines has taken delivery of its first two extended range Boeing 777-300ERs and at the handover ceremony handed over a further $2.4 billion dollar order for eight more of the type.

Germany's 328 Design and Turkish Airlines subsidiary Turkish Technik have agreed to come together to work on design projects.

Tarek Ragheb, who has headed the Gulfstream sales organisation in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA) for the past 18 years, is assuming new responsibilities for advising and supporting the group he helped develop.

The MENA region has seen its fair share of new airlines starting up over the past few years and one or two collapsing, but as Kelly Green finds out, a new workshop may help old mistakes from being repeated.

In a first for the two groups, Libyan Airlines and AFI KLM E&M have signed a long-term contract covering component support (pool access and repairs) and maintenance checks for the Libyan carrier's A320 and ATR 42-500 fleets.

Low-cost carrier flydubai is going from strength to strength. Alan Peaford meets CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith to talk about the airline's innovative approach.