The Middle East, North Africa and Gulf regions are hugely important markets for both airframers and engine makers as airlines fight for share in an arena of growing significance – witness the huge growth in air transport within and around the UAE over the past 20 years.
When Gulf Air announced at this year's Paris Air Show that it was again opting for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 to power a fleet of 20 additional Airbus A330s, the decision served to highlight the engine's remarkable record in the region.
While much of the aviation world is looking forward to the new airframes and engines that will be gracing the skies during the next decade, one Jordanian company is focused very closely at the stars of yesteryear.
In the past few months the worldwide freight market has taken a nosedive with many areas reporting huge drops in demand. However, the Middle East is moving in the opposite direction, reporting growth. Terry Spruce reports
The three-class service from Oman Air on its London routes began this week on the Muscat-based airline's new A330-300 aircraft and features new First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins, together with state of the art in-flight entertainment.
The Airbus Military A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) which has been selected by both the Saudi Arabia and the UAE air forces has passed another milestone and has now demonstrated simultaneous refuelling of two fighters.
Emirates airline's low cost subsidiary flydubai is taking another major step in linking tourist destinations from the Dubai hub with the announcement today that Kathmandu is to become its 11th destination
It's not often that a charitable organisation starts an airline. It is even less often that such an airline becomes an international carrier spanning two continents. That, however, is precisely the story behind Mahan Air, currently the third largest airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Airbus Military has two major products in the pipeline, and the Middle East could play a significant role in their fortunes. Mike Martin looks at progress on the A400M military transport as it closes in on first flight and, in the next article, the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) once more doing battle for a $40 billion contract.
Airbus Military has two major products in the pipeline, and the Middle East could play a significant role in their fortunes. MIKE MARTIN looks at progress on the A400M military transport as it closes in on first flight and, in the next article, the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) once more doing battle for a $40 billion contract.
Jordan's King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) has signed an MoU with Finmeccanica's Selex Galileo division for the in-country development of joint UAV technologies and electro-optic sensors to equip the Jordan special operations forces.
The UAE's premier space event, the Global Space Technology Forum, takes place in Abu Dhabi in early December. The two-day conference (7th and 8th) and three-day exhibition (7-9) is being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and promises to be the region's only event dedicated to space research and commercial space applications.
Gulf Air - the national carrier of Bahrain – has today revealed its strategy to turn the airline in a commercially sustainable business by 2012. The plans include purchase of more narrow body A320s and regional jets and will lead to cancellation of wide-body aircraft.
Though the airlines want in-flight entertainment systems that are lighter and cheaper than ever before, they take no risks in choosing their suppliers. Now a Middle Eastern carrier is about to break the mould, writes BRENDAN GALLAGHER
Alan Peaford meets Bashir Abdul Hadi, CEO of Jordan's leading maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operator JorAMCo,and finds a man who has never been nervous of competition.
When entrepreneur Marwan Atalla decided to learn to fly he visited flying schools near his home in Amman but felt they didn't have the quality or the right approach to develop top-level pilots. ALAN PEAFORD reports
With a history spanning more than two millennia, Jordan is an explorers' delight. Marcelle Nethersole met Nayef H Al-Fayez, from the Jordan Tourism Board, to look at the country's diversity and explain how tourists and business travellers can enjoy this jewel in the Middle East that is often, mistakenly, thought of as a danger zone.
With decision time looming in a number of important fighter competitions, and with the aircraft appearing to be well placed in several of these, 2009 could yet be 'the year of the Rafale'. JON LAKE reports
