All Middle East articles – Page 2
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NewsUAE’s SolitAir introducing a pair of World Star 737-800 freighters
Middle Eastern cargo carrier SolitAir has agreed to source a pair of Boeing 737-800 freighters from World Star Aviation. Based at Dubai World Central, the carrier describes itself as a “middle-mile” air transport company, specialising in time-sensitive express cargo. It says the first of the 737-800s arrived in early September ...
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NewsSaudi’s AviLease to supply aircraft for new joint venture with investment firm Hassana
Saudi Arabian lessor AviLease has agreed to establish a new joint leasing venture under a partnership with Hassana Investment Company. Hassana will be the majority owner of the venture, which will take an initial fleet of 10 aircraft from AviLease – all of which are leased to Saudi-based carriers. “The ...
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NewsIsraeli defence firms showcase battlefield-proven tech at DSEI
Israel’s defence manufacturers were treated with more respect at DSEI than Paris, despite the government’s eve-of-show ban on Israeli official delegations attending the biennial arms fair.
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NewsQatar Airways to introduce high-density A321neos ahead of new fleet deliveries
Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways has confirmed that it has acquired three Airbus A321neo twinjets which feature an all-economy configuration. The Doha-based airline says the introduction of the twinjets is a response to “growing demand for economy-class travel on selected routes”. Qatar Airways has 50 A321neos on order, deliveries of ...
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NewsEtihad posts strong half-year profits as fleet reaches triple figures
Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways has turned in a strong half-year performance, bolstered by the fleet’s expansion into triple figures. The Abu Dhabi-based airline generated a net profit of Dhs1.1 billion ($306 million), up 32% on a 16% rise in revenues, as passenger numbers reached 10.2 million. “We are already ...
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NewsIAI’s 777-300ER converted freighter secures US and Israeli certification
Israel Aerospace Industries has secured supplemental type certification of the Boeing 777-300ER freighter conversion programme from both Israeli and US regulators. The 777-300ERSF has been under development since 2019 – just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic – and the cargo aircraft was originally foreseen as entering service in late 2022. ...
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NewsEl Al stays profitable despite $100m impact of Israeli airspace closure
Closure of Israeli airspace for nearly two weeks in June hammered the second-quarter results of flag-carrier El Al, although the airline still managed to generate a profit for the period. El Al says it suffered a $100 million pre-tax impact as a result of the closure, implemented on 13 June ...
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NewsFirst Riyadh Air 787-9 rolls off Boeing’s assembly line
Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air says that its first 787-9 has left Boeing’s assembly line in Charleston, and will soon feature its soft purple paint scheme.
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NewsIsrael to acquire two additional KC-46 tankers
Israel’s defence ministry has announced plans to acquire two additional Boeing KC-46 tanker aircraft, supplementing four previously ordered examples in a deal valued at approximately $500 million.
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NewsFleet and network expansion fuel Emirates recruitment drive
Gulf carrier Emirates Airline is mid-way through a global flightcrew recruitment drive as part of a wider push to bring in 1,500 new pilots over the next two years.
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NewsSaudia Cargo introducing A330 freighters under wet-lease agreement
Saudia Cargo is introducing a pair of converted Airbus A330-300 freighters, which will be operated under a wet-lease by ASL Aviation Holdings. The Middle Eastern carrier has identified the initial twinjet as MSN1272 – a GE Aerospace CF6-powered airframe previously operated as a passenger aircraft by China Airlines. Registered with ...
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NewsConflict pushes Jazeera Airways’ early summer demand into third quarter
Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways is facing a tricky beginning to the second half of the year, after a sharp decline in second-quarter performance. But the company says it is maintaining a “positive outlook” for the full year. Jazeera points out that the 12-day Israeli-Iranian conflict caused a reduction in ...
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NewsAir Arabia expects deliveries from 120-jet order to begin this year
Middle Eastern budget carrier Air Arabia expects to begin receiving the initial Airbus A320neo-family jets, from its order for 120 aircraft, by the end of this year. Air Arabia placed the order in late November 2019. At the time it comprised 73 A320neos and 47 A321neos, including 20 long-range A321XLRs. ...
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NewsEmirates becomes latest carrier to clamp down on carriage of power banks
Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is banning the use of all electronic power banks on board, and tightening regulations allowing them to be carried. It is the latest airline to take such steps, following broad concern about the safety of lithium-ion battery devices – particularly in the aftermath of an Airbus ...
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NewsFunding for Syrian Arab A320 fleet features in Qatari-led Damascus airport investment
Syrian Arab Airlines is in line to receive $250 million in financing in order to acquire Airbus A320s, as part of a Qatari-backed project which includes redevelopment of Damascus airport. Qatari construction specialist UCC Holding – part of the diverse Power International Holding conglomerate – is leading a five-company consortium ...
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NewsIAI converted 777-300ERSF demonstrates capability for Trent 1000 transport
Israel Aerospace Industries has carried out a loading trial for its converted Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter in which a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine was taken on board. The engine – designed for the Boeing 787 – was taken through the freighter’s main-deck cargo door, and put into position with the Collins ...
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NewsTurkish Airlines diversifies into Islamic financing to fund A350
Turkish Airlines has opted to use an Islamic financing transaction for the first time, in order to fund the acquisition of an Airbus A350. The carrier says the aircraft’s financing has been structured in Swiss francs with Dubai Islamic Bank, through an Ijarah arrangement – similar to a finance lease. ...
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NewsEtihad identifies routes for initial three-class A321LR
Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways is to put its first long-range Airbus A321LR into service on the route to Phuket at the beginning of August.
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NewsWizz to ‘rationalise’ A321XLR fleet and curb growth after Abu Dhabi axe
Wizz Air chief Jozsef Varadi says the budget carrier is “rationalising” its Airbus A321XLR programme, following the decision to suspend its Middle Eastern operation. The airline is to axe its Wizz Air Abu Dhabi division from 1 September. Wizz started taking delivery of 47 A321XLRs in its fiscal first quarter, ...
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NewsRoyal Jordanian takes spare engines for Embraer E2 fleet
Royal Jordanian has acquired a pair of spare engines for its Embraer E2-family regional jet fleet, supported by a loan agreement. The carrier – which is taking up to 10 aircraft, a mix of E190-E2s and E195-E2s – introduced five of the jets over 2024. It expects to bring in ...