Aviation

Gulf Air prices on hold
Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has said it is monitoring fuel costs, but has no definite plans to increase passenger fares. Chief executive Bjorn Naf said the spiralling fuel prices have eaten into cost savings made by the airline’s turnaround exercise. He warned that if other regional carriers increased prices, it would too. Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker recently told AME Info that he planned to pass rising fuel costs onto passengers because ‘we have to make money, and we will then let you pay for it. And you have to travel, because there is no more efficient or better means of travel than air travel’.
Bahrain: 2 hours, 25 minutes ago

Angolan airline begins direct Dubai flights
Angola's national airline TAAG become the first carrier to establish a regular direct air link between Luanda and the UAE, reported Gulf News. The first flight carrying 125 passengers landed at Dubai International Airport on Tuesday. TAAG will have twice-weekly services, leaving the Angolan capital on Mondays and Fridays, and Dubai on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, May 15 - 2008 at 06:58

Etihad ties up with Yemen Airways
Abu-Dhabi based Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Yemen Airlines that will give its customers access to Yemen for the first time. Under the agreement, which comes into effect on 1 June, Etihad customers will have access to Yemen Airways flights between Sanaa in Yemen and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Etihad currently has seven other codeshare agreements with Saudi Arabia Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Philippine Airlines, Middle East Airlines and UK-based airline, bmi.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, May 14 - 2008 at 10:25

Emirates seeks timetable on A380
Following an announcement yesterday of a new delay in the delivery of the A380, Emirates said on Tuesday it is in discussions with Airbus about whether it will receive its order for the aircraft on time next year, reported Gulf News. Airbus said yesterday it plans to deliver 12 double-decker planes in 2008 instead of 13, and 21 in 2009 instead of 25. Emirates is the largest customer of the A380 superjumbo.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, May 14 - 2008 at 08:08

A380 delivery is delayed again
Airbus has announced another delay to its planned deliveries of its 525 seat A380 plane, reported Bloomberg. Already two years behind schedule on building the aircraft, Airbus said it has cut planned deliveries to 12 from 13 this year and to 21 from 25 in 2009, citing difficulty in shifting to automated production.
Tuesday, May 13 - 2008 at 13:03

Qatar Airways suspends flights to Khartoum
Qatar Airways has cancelled its flights to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, following unrest in the country after an attack by Darfur rebels, which has led to the shutdown of the airport reported The Peninsula. The airline operates daily flights to Khartoum departing Doha at 1 pm.
Qatar: Tuesday, May 13 - 2008 at 10:54

Oman Air posts 50% increase in passengers
Oman Air has reported a 50% increase in the number of passengers to 445,923 during the first quarter of 2008, up from 297,391 passengers during the same period in 2007. Abdul Razaq Bin Juma Al Raisi, senior sales manager, said that this achievement was accomplished in spite of the strong competition in the aviation industry worldwide, and sales have grown considerably, at 103%, owing to its operational strategy and high quality services.
Oman: Tuesday, May 13 - 2008 at 08:34

Air Arabia profit soars 81%
Air Arabia's Q1 2008 performance has jumped to an 81% net profit, said news reports. The low cost carrier made Dhs78m compared with Dhs43m in the 2007 period. Passengers have increased as well to 757,000, a 31% hike compared to last year's.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, May 12 - 2008 at 09:01

Index : Aviation