Aviation
- The news you choose »
- Login to Add to Watchlist
British Airways to launch two new routes
British Airways has said it will launch new thrice-weekly direct services from Gatwick to both Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Male in the Maldives from October 25. This will mark a return for the airline's trademark flag in the Red Sea resort. The routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration, World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.
United launches Dhakar, Dubai route
United Airways, a private sector airline founded by non-resident Bangladeshis, launched its inaugural direct flight to Dubai last Thursday, according to New Nation. The airline will initially operate flights from Dhaka to Dubai every Thursday and Sunday. The Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route will be served by 155-seat MD-83 aircraft. The carrier has introduced a special one way fare of $250, excluding taxes and surcharges.
Qatar to offer mobile comms from October
Qatar Airways will begin offering limited in-flight mobile communication services in October as part of a new programme with OnAir, which gives passengers the ability to use their mobile phones as well as access emails and the internet, CEO Akbar Al Baker, has said. The first aircraft to be equipped with the Mobile OnAir system is an Airbus A320, while the carrier's entire fleet will be equipped by 2014, he said. However, the airline will 'definitely' not allow the use of mobile phones at night, and will reserve the right to turn the service off.
Qatar, Boeing meet over 787 delays
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways has met with Boeing officials to discuss the latest delays to the Boeing 787 programme, and possible changes to the carrier's 787 delivery schedule that could result in deliveries from 2011. 'The meeting is at their request because they are now concerned which way Qatar Airways will go,' Al Baker has said. 'They are taking a very proactive stand with Qatar Airways.'
Bahrain Airshow contract awarded
Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs and Farnborough International Ltd, joint organisers for the inaugural biennial Bahrain International Airshow in 2010 have awarded a £17m contract to Arena Group and Lea International for the total construction of the buildings and interiors for the Bahrain International Airshow, according to a press statement. Arena Group and Lea International have created a new partnership, ArenaLea to realise the project in just six months. The contract covers the 2010, 2012 and 2014 events at Sakhir Airbase in Bahrain.
Cathay Pacific to launch Jeddah service
Cathay Pacific Airways has announced that it will launch a new service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from October 25, 2009. The new four-times-weekly service will operate through Dubai on the way to and from Hong Kong, the airline has said. The new Jeddah service will be operated using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft in a two-class configuration. The carrier has also said it also plans to increase the number of flights per week to and from Riyadh from five times a week to daily from August 1, 2009.
Jet to launch Sharjah-Kochi route
India-based carrier Jet Airways has said that it will launch its fourth daily service from the Gulf to Kochi with a daily service from Sharjah on September 1. The airline currently flies twice daily to Mumbai from Dubai and daily to Delhi and Chennai from Dubai; it also operates daily services to Abu Dhabi from Delhi and Mumbai respectively.
Emirates invests Dhs230m on lounges
Emirates Airlines has launched its first airport lounge in Africa at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, bringing the total number of lounges the carrier has established across its network to 23. Emirates has so far invested Dhs230m to expand its lounge network worldwide. Including the Johannesburg lounge, the airline has opened four Emirates Lounges since April, the other three being in Dusseldorf, Mumbai and Beijing.
Mihin to link Kuwait, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan budget airline Mihin Lanka has begun the operation of flight routes between Kuwait and Colombo, via Dubai, according to Kuna. Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has said that the Sri Lankan low-cost carrier would be operating three flights a week on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Etihad to fly to Cape Town
Etihad has announced that it is launching its second route to South Africa with service to Cape Town beginning in September. The indirect service, which will start on September 30 using an Airbus A330, will fly first to Johannesburg before carrying on to Cape Town. When launched, the Abu Dhabi carrier will operate to five destinations in Africa with Kartoum, Cairo and Casablanca services already in place.
Jordan boosts aviation ties with Iraq
Jordan's Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission has signed an agreement with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority which enables Jordanian and Iraqi carriers to operate passenger and freight flights between the two countries with no limits regarding aircraft capacity or type, the Jordan Times has reported. Under the MoU, the two sides have agreed to operate flights to and from two more stations in Iraq, the cities of Mosul and Najaf. The agreement also stipulates that the Jordanian side presents all necessary facilities to Iraqi air transport bodies and facilitate visa-issuance measures for passengers.
Rizon consolidates in Doha
Middle East charter and aircraft management operator Rizon said it is consolidating its operations at its new Doha, Qatar headquarters. 'We are reducing the size of our Bahrain and Sharjah offices to consolidate our back office and administrative functions in our new headquarters in Qatar,' confirmed Rizon Group CEO Will Curtis. The move underlines Rizon's commitment to Doha, where it is constructing a brand new 120,000 sq ft hangar and fixed base operation at Doha International Airport, due to open in March 2010. The building is modular so that it can be dismantled and moved to the New Doha International Airport when it opens early in the next decade.
Qatar Airways to open Houston office
Qatar Airways has said it will open an office in Houston, Texas, to complement the airline's flights between the US city and Doha which started in late March. The new office, located in the Houston Pavilions in the city's central business district, will officially open on July 27.
Gulf Air to see further restructuring
Gulf Air will launch a strategic review of its business that will likely lead to a major restructuring once Samer Majali joins as chief executive officer, reported MEED. Bahrain's national carrier is currently seeking a restructuring advisor and will soon issue a tender in that regard.
Dubai Airport June passenger traffic up 10.3%
Dubai Airports said today passenger traffic rose 10.3% in June from a year ago to 3.36 million. In the six months to June, passenger traffic rose 5% to 19.5 million. Cargo traffic in June fell 2.3% from the previous year to 152,278 tonnes and by 0.8 percent in January-June to 874,828 tonnes, Dubai Airports said in a statement.
It looks like you are using a Mac - check out our 
Web Feeds