Middle East & North Africa

Alenia Aermacchi has received certification for the M-346 Master which was selected by the UAE air force in February as its jet trainer.

Frequent flyers around the world have rated their favourite airline programmes leading to the award of a "Freddie" - the industry Oscar - for the very best. And Virgin and Etihad shared the main spoils in the categories for the Middle East and Africa.

Al Maktoum International Airport may not open until 2015 and could feature one less runway than planned plus first flight dates of 2010 could also be put back, reported Reuters.

Dubai-based Jet Aviation with its U.S. and Asia aircraft management division has increased its managed fleet by more than 20 aircraft already this year.

Syrian Pearl, the regional start-up from Syrian Arab Airlines will begin services within the next two weeks according to the official news agency.

Hawker Beechcraft in partnership with Teledyne Continental Motors and Swift Enterprises, has successfully tested flights of its Beechcraft Bonanza G36 on unleaded aviation fuel. This is seen as the first step toward the future of unleaded avgas and sustainable fuel powered GA aircraft.

Jordan Aviation and Syrian Arab Airlines have finalised a lease agreement for an Airbus A320. Syrian Arab Airlines will lease the aircraft for a year following a successful trial month.

Boeing has completed major assembly of the first set of 747-8F wings. According to the manufacturer the new 135ft 3in (41.2 m) wings incorporate the latest aerodynamic technologies to fly farther and more efficiently. The advanced aerofoil provides improved overall performance and greater fuel capacity.

Gulf Air plans to cancel its deal to lease four long-range Boeing 777ER aircraft from Indian carrier Jet Airways after just six months, reported MEED.

ATR has launched a 'Door-2-Door' service, a new option for its comprehensive range of ATR customer services. The company has aircraft in service with both Oman Air and Iran

The Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft held at Paris Charles de Gaulle since last Sunday over a dispute concerning fees is being released.

Aircraft maker Boeing said market conditions are challenging the availability of aircraft financing but the conditions are creating opportunities for willing investors.

Emirates is to open a lounge for its premium customers flying from Manchester airport in the UK. Construction will begin shortly and the lounge will open in late summer The Times reported.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates is to increase its Far East services with a double daily service from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and three additional weekly flights from Dubai to Jakarta in the Philippines from May 1.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said that Dubai's new airport may have its first flight pushed back further than planned, and that officials will review the $33bn facility opening date in the coming weeks. "The question we're now asking is: When is the right time to open the new airport?" reported the Associated Press.

Sharjah-based Air Arabia has started flights to the Greek capital of Athens from its UAE base today in line with the carrier's plans to expand its operations in Europe.

Dubai's Emivest Aerospace, owner and builder of the Sino Swearingen SJ30 light jet has said the SJ30 will fly before the end of the month.

Etihad and Qantas finally concluded a deal on Friday that challenges Emirates recent dominance of the routes to the Australia-Pacific region.

Following a successful audit from the International Organization for Standardization Royal Jordanian has been awadred ISO 9001:2008 for its inflight services.

A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 777-200 was seized at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport in a legal dispute over a two million dollar debt, Agence France Presse said Saturday.

Executives from Ethiopian Airlines are heading to the US last week to work with Boeing to salvage its order for 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

While America has slammed the door on inflight mobile phone services and other countries are inching cautiously forward, the Middle East region leads the world. BRENDAN GALLAGHER surveys the Middle Eastern airlines that are pioneering 21st-century passenger connectivity

The business jet market may be down, but there are bargains to be had, ExecuJet sales chief Andrew Hoy tells Phil Nasskau

DEFENCE editor Jon Lake takes a look at the UAE Air Force choice for a jet trainer as it becomes the launch international customer for the Italian aircraft

Singapore Airlines subsidiary SIA Engineering announced today that it has won another contract from Bahrain's Gulf Air.