Middle East & North Africa

Dassault has been granted approval by both the EASA and the FAA for an autobrake feature on the Falcon 2000EX series (2000EX, 2000EX EASy, 2000DX and 2000LX).

Issues surrounding border control and airport security will be the subject of a high level conference planned for Dubai in October

The Turkish State Airport Administration (DHMI), a subsidiary of the Turkish Ministry of Transport and the Eurocopter Group confirmed a contract for two EC145 helicopters at ILA, the Berlin Airshow today

Afghanistan has awarded Thales a contract for the delivery, installation, training and commissioning of the country's first operational wide area multilateration system.

EgyptAir will be the focus of air transport industry attention over the next year, with the 2011 IATA annual general meeting now confirmed to be hosted in Cairo. This follows the Star Alliance carrier hosting the Arab Air Carriers Organization's (AACO) yearly gathering in October.

Turkish Airlines has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to provide avionics systems for new Boeing and Airbus aircraft it will start to receive next year.

Turkey has decided to maintain its military unmanned aerial vehicle programme with Israel despite what government officials have described as the worst crisis with Israel in 20 years.

The UAE Defence Force is investing in a new turboprop from France and has signed an MoU for up to ten of the utility aircraft.

Qatar Airways has launched daily flights between Doha and Barcelona – its 90th destination.

Safi Airways, the international airline of Afghanistan, is adding twice-weekly scheduled nonstop flights between Beijing and Kabul by the end of June.

Alkan Air, the Cairo based charter operator and service centre, has received an Egyptian Ministerial decree to maintain and service King Air and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft.

Gulf Air has launched a comprehensive professional customer service training programme aimed at equipping its front line staff with newer skills to get closer to its customers and make a positive difference.

Emirates Airline has just placed the largest ever A380 order when HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum signed an $11.5 billion contract for 32 of the superjumbos.

A|D|S, the UK's AeroSpace, Defence and Security trade organisation today signed a MoU with the Middle East Aerospace Consortium (MEAC) and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) to further expand its international footprint by establishing a business development and representative presence in the Middle East.

IATA's director general Giovanni Bisignani set out the vision for air transport in 2050, suggesting a safer and more efficient industry centred on just a dozen groups of carriers

Jordanian travel investment company Tantash and Air Arabia are coming together to create a new low cost carrier to operate from Amman.

Emirates Group's low cost carrier flydubai could be ready for its next stage of capital investment.

Gulf Air is to take two additional Embraer regional jets as part of its fleet re-evaluation strategy.

Russian helicopters said in Berlin today that it expects to begin serial production of its Mi-171 helicopter in 2013.

Etihad Airways today announced the appointment of Captain Salah Awadh Alfarjalla Al Ameri as Vice President of Aviation Security and Cadet Pilot Development.

Gulf Air is planning to bring its line maintenance activity back in-house as part of the carrier's turnaround strategy.

IATA's figurehead leader Giovanni Bisignani is to step down as Director General at next year's AGM which is to be held in Egypt.

Oman Air has announced that it will be sponsoring Ahmad Al Harthy for the highly prestigious 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship season.

Air Arabia is to open its first route from Sharjah to Iraq, with a twice weekly service to the city of Najaf from tomorrow.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced today that it expects airlines to post a global profit of $2.5 billion in 2010 - which is a marked improvement on its March forecast of a $2.8 billion loss – with Middle Eastern carriers expected to post their first profit since 2005 of $100 million.