All Middle East news – Page 5
-
NewsSaudia Technic secures public investment to develop extensive MRO facility
Saudia Group’s maintenance division, Saudia Technic, has secured investment from the kingdom’s sovereign fund to support development of an extensive facility. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund will assist with transforming the carrier’s aircraft servicing arm into a “national MRO champion”, says Saudia Group. Under the scheme the investment will ...
-
NewsAviLease agrees 20-aircraft supply with Sichuan leasing venture SDH Wings
Saudi Arabian lessor AviLease has signed a strategic agreement with Chinese overseas investment firm Sichuan Development International Holding, covering the supply of up to 20 aircraft. AviLease says it reached the agreement – a memorandum of understanding – with the company’s subsidiary SDH Wings International Leasing, based in Dublin. The ...
-
NewsChina Eastern eyes Abu Dhabi link amid plan to deepen Etihad tie-up
Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen their strategic co-operation in commercial and operational areas, in a move they say will facilitate the latter’s ambitions to serve Abu Dhabi.
-
NewsLessor DAE settles with Russia’s Aeroflot over aircraft claims
Middle Eastern lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has become the latest to secure a settlement from Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot over claims on aircraft leased to the airline. DAE puts the value of the settlement – covering seven aircraft and their engines – at $118 million. As with previous settlements on aircraft ...
-
NewsLufthansa Group carriers plan Tel Aviv return in January
Lufthansa Group carriers are set to resume flights to Israel next month, three months after suspending services amid hostilities in the region.
-
NewsGulf Air chief Al Alawi to retire in early 2024
Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air’s chief executive is to step down at the end of January next year, the Bahraini government has disclosed. Capt Waleed Al Alawi previously served as a Gulf Air pilot and worked with Bahrain’s Royal Flight. He became deputy chief of the Bahraini carrier in 2017, ...
-
In depthAirline Business Covid-19 recovery tracker: December 2023 update
Our regular examination of the latest global data for several key airline market indicators, including traffic and capacity in passenger and cargo markets, in-service and stored fleets, jet fuel costs, and share price trends for the world’s largest groups.
-
NewsFly Baghdad blacklisting puts pressure on Iraqi civil aviation regulator
Iraqi operator Fly Baghdad has been banned from operating within European Union airspace over a series of safety concerns, particularly regarding crew fatigue management. Fly Baghdad operates around a dozen aircraft – primarily Boeing 737 variants including -800s and -900ERs – on services within the Middle East, eastern Mediterranean, and ...
-
NewsSaudi and Iranian representatives reportedly set to discuss air services
Iran’s government is set to enter discussions for establishing air services to Saudi Arabian destinations, according to Iranian civil aviation authority chief Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh. He told the Iranian Labour News Agency that discussions would centre on scheduled services – notably on the Tehran-Riyadh trunk route – as well as ...
-
NewsletterWhy airline industry focus is on the margins of profitability
Confirmation from IATA that the airline industry will return to collective profitability this year and that passenger volumes will shortly surpass pre-Covid levels is an indication that the sector has finally normalised.
-
NewsIATA raises 2023 profit expectations for airlines to $23bn and sees small rise for 2024
IATA expects the airline industry to post a collective net profit of $23.3 billion for 2023, more than doubling its expectations from six months ago.
-
NewsEl Al firms tourism joint-venture with travel company Issta
Israeli flag-carrier El Al has firmed its agreement with travel company Issta following their tentative deal to establish a tourism and package-holiday joint venture. El Al says it will hold 60% of the new subsidiary’s shares while Issta takes the 40% balance. The venture will develop, market and sell tourism ...
-
NewsSaudi start-up Riyadh Air unveils network co-operation pact with Turkish Airlines
Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air has provisionally agreed to enter a strategic co-operation with Turkish Airlines. The agreement is set to include codeshare and interline operations between Riyadh and Istanbul, and the deal will also cover “points beyond”, the Saudi carrier says. “Guests of both airlines will be able ...
-
NewsIsrair acknowledges renewed merger interest from leisure carrier Arkia
Israir Group has acknowledged an approach from fellow Israeli leisure operator Arkia regarding a potential tie-up between the two airlines. It has not given details of any proposal, and points out that the contact is preliminary. Israir Group states that it examines applications for “various business opportunities” from companies and ...
-
NewsEl Al takes steps to mitigate conflict impact after profitable third quarter
Israeli flag-carrier El Al expects a 5-10% reduction in capacity over the fourth quarter, as a result of the Gaza conflict, and a fall in load factor, but it has yet to estimate the impact on the first quarter of next year. El Al says it experienced initial high demand ...
-
Analysis2024 World Air Forces directory: how major conflicts impacted global fleet
Air forces are maintaining a high operational tempo, including performing combat duties in Europe and the Middle East. Our annual review details the global military fleet and nations’ procurement plans.
-
NewsEmbraer, SAMI pitch C-390 final assembly to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s SAMI and Embraer have joined forces to pitch the Brazilian airframer’s C-390 transport to Riyadh, including the potential for local assembly and support.
-
NewsEtihad to deploy A380s on New York JFK route next summer
Gulf carrier Etihad Airways is return the Airbus A380 to one of its Abu Dhabi-New York rotations next summer, marking its restoration of services with the ultra-large jet on a second route.
-
NewsIsrair shelves plan for additional A320s at least until Gaza conflict subsides
Israeli leisure carrier Israir Group has suspended plans to introduce another pair of Airbus A320s next year, as a result of the Gaza conflict. The airline has been operating six A320s this year – two owned and four on long-term dry lease – and it tentatively agreed in August to ...
-
NewsFrench and Saudi investors pick up 25% Heathrow stake as Ferrovial exits
Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial is selling its entire 25% shareholding in London Heathrow airport’s operator, under a £2.37 billion ($3 billion) divestment. The company has disclosed that it will sell its stake FGP Topco – the parent of Heathrow Airport Holdings – to French private equity firm Ardian and Saudi ...