Category: Middle East

Long-Looming Pilot Shortage May Be Near

Reading Time: 2 minutes A worldwide shortage of pilots – forecast for more than 15 years – has so far failed to materialise, but there are worrying signs. Simulation and training company CAE points out that US regional carriers, seen as a source of pilots by the majors, cannot expand and often have to drop schedules or routes because […]

Iraq Upgrades Civil Aviation With the Help of Lufthansa Consulting

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Iraqi Government and Lufthansa Consulting are continuing their longstanding relationship in order to further enhance the aviation system in Iraq. The country’s Ministry of Transport signed a comprehensive agreement for a long-term strategic advisory and implementation project that will focus on restructuring the national carrier Iraqi Airways and the civil aviation authority (ICAA) and […]

Emirates is Losing Millions to Drones Disrupting Operations

Reading Time: 2 minutes Emirates is losing “millions of dirhams” to drones disrupting operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB), a spokesperson for the airline has said. “Flight diversions and extensive holding are costly. There is always a ripple effect on the rest of our hub operations in terms of securing our passengers’ flight connections, ensuring our disrupted customers are […]

Dubai Government to Invest US$3 Billion in Airport Expansion

Reading Time: < 1 minute With 78 million passengers in 2015, Dubai International Airport is the world’s largest international airport by passenger numbers, having seen a 13% annual compound annual growth since 2000. In 2010 a second Dubai international airport, Al Maktoum International Airport was opened. The Dubai government announced it will be investing US$3 million, with the intention of […]

Drone Halts Traffic at Dubai Airport, Third Incident in Five Months

Reading Time: < 1 minute A drone forced Dubai international airport, one of the world’s busiest, to halt air traffic for an hour and a half Saturday evening, the third such incident in less than five months. Air space around the airport was closed from 7:25 pm to 8:49 pm (1525-1649 GMT) “due to unauthorised drone activity resulting in flight […]

Long Wait is Over as SaudiGulf Begins Operations

Reading Time: 2 minutes SaudiGulf Airlines – the first of the new airlines to have been awarded the licence to operate domestic routes in Saudi Arabia – has finally begun its operations with flights from its base in Damman to Riyadh. The first flight yesterday followed a special commemoration at the Damman Airport. Tariq Bin Abdelhadi Al Qahtani, chairman […]

Singapore’s SATS Ltd to build $29M Cargo Facility at Saudi’s KFIA

Reading Time: 2 minutes Singapore’s biggest ground handler at Changi Airport, SATS, is investing about SR108 million to build new air cargo facilities at King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam. The move is part of an ambitious plan to expand SATS reach in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, said top Singapore officials while speaking to Arab News […]

Etihad, Partners to Support Nearly 425,000 Jobs in Africa in 2016

Reading Time: 3 minutes Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) and its equity airline partners will support almost 425,000 jobs and are expected to contribute $3.6 billion GDP to the African economy in 2016, as Abu Dhabi becomes a key hub for business travel both into and out of the continent. A report released by leading international research organisation Oxford Economics […]

Principles to Manage Aviation’s Security Challenges

Reading Time: 3 minutes The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on industry and governments to work together in an even stronger partnership to provide durable solutions to aviation’s security challenges. These efforts, which must be based on common principles, include such areas as overflying conflict zones, landside security at airports, insider threats, cyber security, harmonization of PNR (passenger […]

Oman Air Wins Best Airline in Middle East, Africa and Europe

Reading Time: < 1 minute Oman Air has been awarded the Signum Virtutis, the seal of excellence, from the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards 2016. The airline was voted winner for the best airline in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The competitors included leading international airlines from around the world. The Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle […]