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Kuwait to sell off airline
Kuwait is considering the full privatisation of Kuwait Airways, with the government deciding not to retain a stake, reported Reuters citing the KUNA. In July, the government said it would hold on to 20% of the flag carrier, with 40% floated in an initial public offering and the remaining 40% auctioned off to firms listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Privatisation is likely to take two years to complete.
Kuwait: Monday, December 03 - 2007 at 07:47

Etihad to Beijing, March 30
Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways will launch flights to Beijing on March 30 next year, utilising an Airbus A330-200 with a capacity of 262 passengers. Flight EY888 will leave Abu Dhabi every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11.45pm, arriving in Beijing at 11.30am the next day. Return flight EY889 will depart from Beijing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.10pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 12.20am the next day.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, December 01 - 2007 at 15:49

New Yanbu Airport open
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Civil Aviation has revealed that the new $51.3m Yanbu Airport has opened, reported the Khaleej Times. The first aircraft to land at the facility was a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. The modernisation work at Yanbu was carried out over the course of a year.
Saudi Arabia: Saturday, December 01 - 2007 at 14:43

Istithmar into Washington
Istithmar Hotels is to open its first W Hotel in Washington DC, in early 2009, in the present Hotel Washington, which is located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, reported Gulf News. Istithmar has appointed Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide to manage the property which will have 317 guest rooms and will be right across from the White House.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, December 01 - 2007 at 09:56

Etihad $400m for planes
UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways has agreed financing facilities worth nearly $400m to acquire three Airbus A340-600 wide-body aircraft. A $250m secured commercial loan facility has been provided by three separate banks, led by co-arrangers and lenders the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, the Arab Banking Corporation and the Standard Chartered Bank. Meanwhile, lease financing of $148m is being coordinated by Calyon, the international banking and capital investment arm of Credit Agricole.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, December 01 - 2007 at 08:19

RAK Airways start-up
RAK Airways took off on its inaugural flight on Thursday, November 29. The carrier flew to Dhaka using a Boeing 757 and it will now be operate a three times a week service to Bangladesh, with tickets available from both travel agents and online at the airline's website. RAK's first flight had previously been announced as a trip to Beirut.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, December 01 - 2007 at 07:26

Qatar Airways orders new planes
Qatar Airways announced an order for 30 firm and 30 option Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, together with confirmed orders for 27 Boeing 777s, reported WAPA. The company has confirmed orders for 14 777-300ER airplanes, 6 777-200LRs and 7 777-200Fs, with deliveries beginning later this month and running until mid-2010.
Qatar: Thursday, November 29 - 2007 at 10:54

Unique mummies uncovered in Egypt
A team of Russian archaeologists have found well-preserved mummies in Egypt dating to the country's Ptolemaic era, reported the head of the Russian Academy of Science's Egyptology department. The discoveries were made in the oasis of Al-Fayum, where several mummies, combining traits of Hellenic and Egyptian traditions, have previously been found. The team of archaeologists is currently carrying out excavations in Memphis. However, the Russian team managed to uncover a 2,000-year-old family tomb containing three well-preserved mummies from the Ptolemaic era. The wooden coffins were ornamented with colored paintings and carved with hieroglyphs, recounting the family's story.
Egypt: Thursday, November 29 - 2007 at 07:37