Aviation
- The news you choose »
- Login to Add to Watchlist
Jazeera Airways plans new direct Syria flights
Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways is launching three direct flights a week to Lathqiyah, Syria, starting December 15. The flights will be on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week, the budget airline said.
Gulf Aviation Academy invests $34m in new simulators
Bahrain-based Gulf Aviation Academy has taken delivery of the first of three flight simulators purchased under a $34m investment plan. The new simulator will allow pilots to train on the A320 aircraft type. The second and third simulators are due to arrive in January and March 2010, the academy said.
Etihad to launch two Japanese routes
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is set to open its first Japanese services early next year, with connections to Tokyo and Nagoya. The carrier will operate a four flights a week service to Nagoya, via Beijing, from Monday February 1, increasing to five flights a week from March 27. A five flights a week direct service to Tokyo's Narita airport is also scheduled for launch on March 27.
Jazeera Airways ups winter 2009 frequencies
Kuwait's Jazeera Airways has announced an increase of frequencies in its winter schedule, including additional weekend flights between Dubai and Kuwait, bringing the total number of weekly flights to the emirate to 45. In addition, flights between Bahrain and Dubai and Bahrain and Sana'a have increased to three per day.
Emirates launches service to Luanda, Angola
Emirates Airline has launched new non-stop service to the capital of oil-rich Angola. The new service to Luanda will leave on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A330-200. This new route marks the 18th destination in Africa for Emirates.
Qatar Airways eyes Bombardier's CSeries
Akbar al-Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, has said the airline is 'very interested' in buying Bombardier Inc's CSeries jetliners, but needs to address commercial issues before it makes an order, Reuters has reported. The carrier had previously said it is looking to boost the number of smaller planes in its fleet and in June ordered 24 Airbus A320 series aricraft, which can carry between 107 to 185 passengers.
Sama to relaunch flights to Sharjah
Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier, Sama Airlines, has announced the restart of its flights from Riyadh to the UAE emirate of Sharjah starting November 11th, 2009. The airline will operate three flights per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new flights are in addition to Sama's current three weekly flights from Jeddah to Sharjah.
Gulf Air in talks on plane orders
Samer Majali, chief executive of Bahrain's Gulf Air, has said that the carrier is in talks with Airbus and Boeing over its plane orders and expects to make a decision by year-end, Reuters has reported. Starting this October until April next year, the airline will be phasing in 10 new Airbus A320s and removing five old Airbus aircraft from its fleet, he said.
Qatar Airways launches flights to Goa
Qatar Airways has launched new non-stop service to Goa, which is now the carrier's 10th Indian destination. The new route will be serviced by a two-class Airbus A320 with 12 seats in business and 132 seats in economy. The Goa flights will leave Doha at 9.25pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Sudan carrier banned from UAE following crash
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has imposed a temporary ban on Sudan-based Azza Transport from operating in the country after last week's crash of its Boeing 707 on takeoff from Sharjah International Airport, Khaleej Times has reported. The ban is a preventive measure until investigations into the cause of the crash are completed, the authority said.
IATA: Worst over for airlines
Giovanni Bisignani, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that the hard conditions suffered by airlines hit by the global downturn were improving but that the road to recovery will be long, AFP has reported. The aviation industry had forecast a worldwide drop in revenues of $80bn, from $535bn in 2008 to $455bn in 2009, he said. 'A drop of this dimension will not be easy to address. It will take three or four years to return to the old levels,' he noted.
Gulf Air union protests management pay rise
The union at Bahrain-based Gulf Air is planning a sit-in at company headquarters, expressing their protest against pay rises for senior management amid planned lay-offs, Reuters has reported. Unions claimed that Gulf Air plans to lay off 272 employees by the end of the year. Regarding the issue, Gulf Air has issued a statement, 'The Gulf Air trade union is an important partner within this process with whom we engage on a regular basis.'
Boeing posts quarterly loss
US plane maker Boeing has posted a net quarterly loss of $1.6bn, compared with a profit of $695m a year earlier, Reuters has reported. However, analysts were surprised that, despite the larger-than-expected loss, the firm has reaffirmed that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner is on track to fly this year. 'The surprise was they reiterated the schedule,' said Alex Hamilton, senior managing director at Jesup & Lamont. 'I think there's a lot of scepticism growing on the street about their delivery schedule.'
Six killed in Sharjah airplane crash
A Boeing 707 cargo plane bound for Sudan crashed yesterday shortly after takeoff from Sharjah International Airport north of Dubai, killing the entire six-member crew but causing no other casualties on the ground. The Sudanese cargo plane fell in an unpopulated area about two miles from the airport, Sheik Khalid al-Qassimi, director of the Sharjah department of civil aviation said.
BNP to fund Emirates plane deal
Dubai-based Emirates Airline has hired BNP Paribas SA to arrange funding the purchase of two aircraft, Bloomberg has reported. The $289m deal, which is backed by the US Ex-Im Bank, involves the purchase of two 777-300 ER planes, the Paris-headquartered lender has said.
It looks like you are using a Mac - check out our 
Web Feeds