Dubai's dnata - the world's fourth largest air services provider - has acquired a majority stake in Travel Republic, the largest privately owned online travel agency in the UK.
Ethiopian Airlines inaugurated a new route between its Addis Ababa base and the Oman capital Muscat on December 27 as it further builds its presence in the Middle East market. The airline is offering a three times weekly service, the first direct link between the two countries, using a Boeing 737-700.
Saudi Arabia is to receive 84 new Boeing F-15 fighters with advanced radar equipment and digital electronic warfare systems plus upgrades of 70 older F-15s as well as munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics in an $29.4 billion deal agreed with the US Administration yesterday.
Iran is considering buying Russian passenger jets as part of a fleet renewal to overcome the challenges of an ageing fleet hampered by the US-led sanctions against the country.
A senior official at Iran's Aviation Organisation has claimed the country now enjoys the capability to conduct almost all the repair and maintenance operations on different types of passenger planes.
Oman Air has announced the appointment of Saleem Bin Amanullah Bin Abdul Hussain to the new role of general manager customer services. He will be based at the airline's headquarters in Muscat and will spearhead Oman Air's drive for the highest quality in all direct customer contact.
Saudi Arabia is to open up its potentially massive domestic aviation market to foreign companies following a decision to invite tenders to operate within and from the Kingdom.
Abu Dhabi International Airport has received the golden award for Fast Travel from IATA, becoming the first airport in the region to adopt IATA's latest initiative in response to growing passenger demands for more adequate and speedy travel procedures at airports.
Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, ends 2011 on a high note, receiving the 500th aircraft that Airbus has delivered in 2011. The new aircraft is Air Arabia's sixth aircraft of 2011.
Not content with just being the first licensed female glider pilot in the Middle East, Bassmah Bani Ahmad has now earned the title of the first licensed female aerobatic pilot, too. Kelly Green talked to her.
The EU's carbon emissions trading scheme makes grim reading for Middle East carriers. Rob Coppinger looks at the impact it will make on the airlines' bottom lines.
Technical solutions to reduce fuel costs, help with flight planning and assist with the move to free flight are fast becoming commonplace. Emirates, for example, uses a number of IT solutions from Lufthansa Systems to do just that. Steve Nichols looks at the airline's experience with the company's systems.
The natural accumulation of water within an airliner's cabin is costly and can even become a serious hazard. Ironically, an increasing reduction in cabin humidity as a long flight progresses also poses different but just as real, problems. Now one Dubai Air Show exhibitor has the answer.
At the age of 52 Dnata is having a mid-life change. The company is shedding its dowdy but reliable profile and emerging bright, bubbly and brimming with confidence as it revamps its image and highlights its position as a global player in the aviation industry. Jill Stockbridge reports.
OnAir is the biggest provider of in-flight connectivity in the Middle East, currently flying with six airlines in the region, with three others signed up. As a result it now has detailed data on how people are using the service and what they are using to access it. Steve Nichols spoke with OnAir CEO Ian Dawkins to find out more.
