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Sama switches to New Skies by Navitaire
Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier Sama has announced it will be replacing its reservations and distribution system with the New Skies system by Navitaire. The new system, which will be launched on October 23, offers new services including advanced seat selection and the opportunity to pre-purchase excess baggage will be available from this date, plus a new range of fares to suit all passengers.
UAE signs open skies deal with Serbia
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed an open air services agreement with the Republic of Serbia that allows unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types of aircraft to be operated by the designated airlines of each country in any type of service (passenger or cargo) on routes between the two countries.
Etihad to resume flights to Sri Lanka
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has said that flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka will be resumed starting in January 2010. The carrier will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka's largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. Flight EY266 will depart Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9.55pm and arrive at Colombo's Bandaranaike international airport at 3.45am the following day. Return flight EY267 will depart Colombo on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4.45am, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 8.00am the same morning.
Abu Dhabi, Chicago ink airport MoU
Abu Dhabi International Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chicago O'Hare International Airport to become 'sister airports' and share technical, commercial and environmental best practices. Under the agreement, the airports will set up joint working groups to evaluate ways in which they can work together on a wide range of areas, with a focus on a personnel exchange programme to provide training and skills development opportunities for Abu Dhabi Airport staff.
Saudia to float 30% of catering unit
Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia has said that it will offer 30% of its catering unit through an initial public offering in nine months as part of its privatization efforts, Reuters has reported. 'We are now in the path of going further into IPO mode ... it will be the first listed company from the group of Saudia,' Khalid Almolhem, director general of the airline said. The airline's catering unit was the first to go as Saudia sold 49% of it in January 2008, followed by the cargo unit which is now 30% owned by Tarabut Air Freight Service. French bank Calyon's Saudi Arabia office has been chosen to advise on the catering unit's IPO.
Flydubai's new plane takes off to Doha
Dubai's low cost airline, Flydubai has received its fifth aircraft, Boeing 737-800NG, which will immediately serve the airline's inaugural fliht to Doha. The first flight begins on Sunday, October 18, 2009. The plane is part of the historic order of 50 aircraft placed with Boeing at the Farnborough Airshow.
Qatar confident of A350 delivery
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways has said that the carrier is 'more confident' that Airbus SAS will deliver its planned A350 long-haul plane on schedule following Boeing's problems with the 787 Dreamliner, Gulf News has reported. Qatar's national carrier has 80 A350s on order.
Emirates to review Serbia agreement
A delegation from the UAE's Directorate of Civil Aviation, which includes representatives of Emirates Airline, has arrived in Belgrade to sign an agreement on flying rights between Serbia and UAE, according to local newspaper Blic. Aside from the regular Belgrade-Dubai route, the carrier wants to use the Serbian capital for flights to a number of destinations the newspaper said.
Boeing, Airbus moot engine upgrades
Aircraft manufacturers, Airbus SAS and Boeing Co. have said that they are considering an upgrade to their most popular jets with different engines to cut fuel consumption and buy time to design all-new successors, Bloomberg has reported. Engine makers including General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney say they could make a turbofan engine available as soon as 2016 which would reduce fuel consumption and noise. Redesigning planes to accommodate the engine would cost less than $1bn, compared with $10bn to create a completely new model.
Jeddah airport opens new runway
Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) has announced the official opening of its new runway, Arab News has reported. The west runway is 4,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, with 7.5-meter shoulders on either side.
Jordan airport plans $750m expansion
Queen Alia International Airport has announced plans to invest $750m in redevelopment of the airport, including the construction of a state-of-the-art 86,000 square metre passenger terminal. Speaking on the last day of the Low Cost Airlines World Mena 2009, Curtis Grad, CEO of Airport International Group - QAIA, said phase I of the project will be ready by early 2012, which would expand the airport's capacity to 9 million passengers.
UAE inks air services deal with Cyprus
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed an agreement with the Republic of Cyprus to increase flights between the two countries. According to the pact, both parties have agreed to increase to nine, the weekly frequencies for UAE designated airlines.
Air Arabia to launch Egypt hub in Q1, 2010
Adel Ali, CEO of low-cost carrier Air Arabia, said the airline's Egypt hub should start operations in the first quarter of 2010. The carrier had announced last month that it was launching a new budget airline in a joint venture with Egypt's Travco Group and establishing a third hub in Alexandria.
Qatar Airways makes historic flight
Qatar Airways has become the first carrier in the world to operate an aircraft powered by gas-to-liquid kerosene on a revenue flight. The Airbus A340-600 flew a six-hour flight from London Gatwick to Doha with all four of its Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines powered by a 50/50 blend of GTL and Jet A1 kerosene. Qatar is set to be the market leader in the production of GTL, with Qatar Petroleum and Shell having created a multi-billion dollar integrated GTL 'Pearl' plant.
Sama to buy 20 aircraft, says exec
Kevin Steele, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudi Arabia's Sama Airlines, has said the company plans to buy 20 aircraft over the next four years from either Boeing or Airbus, Reuters has reported. The privately-held low-cost carrier would make a decision on Airbus' A320 or Boeing's 737-800 by year-end, he said.
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