Zahran Falcon

Dubai airport H1 passenger traffic rises 16.3%
Dubai International Airport has announced a 16.3% increase in passenger traffic in first six months of the year to 22,554,445, compared to 19,397,089 in the corresponding period in 2009. Passenger traffic in the month of June grew 9.6% to 3,684,192, compared to 3,361,413 in same period in 2009. Cargo continued its upward trend throughout the first half ending with a 26% rise in year-to-date movement to 1,101,856 tonnes of freight compared to 874,828 tonnes during the same period in 2009.
United Arab Emirates: Today

Kuwait inks loan deal to fund Khartoum airport
A $47m loan agreement has been signed between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the Sudanese government for bankrolling Khartoum's new international airport, Kuna has reported. The loan is part of financing for the first stage of the new Khartoum airport.
Kuwait: Today

Royal Jordanian inks GEnx engine deal
Royal Jordanian has signed an agreement to buy six GEnx-1B engines to power its three additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The six newly purchased GEnx engines will be covered in the Royal Jordanian's 12-year OnPoint solution services agreement that was signed in 2007 and will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the airline's GEnx fleet. The new order is in addition to the four purchased and four leased GEnx-1B-powered Boeing 787 aircraft that Royal Jordanian announced in 2007.
Jordan: Monday, July 26 - 2010

Adac gets IATA Platinum status
Abu Dhabi Airports Co (Adac) has said it has achieved Platinum Airport status from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for adopting 100% bar coded boarding passes (BCBP). The 2D bar coded boarding pass at Abu Dhabi International Airport offers an alternative solution to queuing at the check-in desks, as passengers are now able to get their boarding passes online or at the digital kiosks at the airport. The IATA has set a target of converting to 100% BCBP by the end of 2010.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, July 26 - 2010

New Oman airport to be commercial by 2012
Oman Airports Management Co has announced the inauguration of the new Adam Airport in the Dakhiliyah region, Times of Oman has reported. The airport will initially be used for day VVIP flights, with commercial operations to commence by 2012. The airport has a 4,000-metre long and 60-metre wide 'Code F' runway that is capable of accommodating the Airbus A380. The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), which is expected to be completed in 2012, will have a capacity to handle 250,000 passengers annually.
Oman: Sunday, July 25 - 2010

Jordan airport passenger arrivals up 17% in H1
Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport has recorded a 17% increase in passenger traffic to 2,445,500 passengers for the first half of this year, compared to the first half of last year. Aircraft movements for the first six months rose 11.3% to 29,600 aircraft over the previous year. Cargo registered 42,850 tonnes year-to-date with a 9.9% increase over the same period last year.
Jordan: Sunday, July 25 - 2010

Emirates to fly to Dakar
Emirates Airline has announced plans to launch a new route linking Dubai with the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Starting September 1, the carrier will fly non-stop to Dakar five times a week every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The service will connect to key centres in the Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent, Asia and the Far East, Emirates said.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, July 24 - 2010

Middle East carriers shine at Farnborough
Middle East carriers spent billions of dollars on new aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow this week, with Emirates Airline leading the way with a huge order for Boeing 777 passenger jets.
Middle East: Thursday, July 22 - 2010

Qatar Airways, SR Technics sign deal for aircraft modification
SR Technics, part of Mubadala Aerospace's global MRO network, has signed a contract with Qatar Airways to modify the cabin layout of three Airbus A321 and two A319 aircraft. The comprehensive cabin modifications include the installation of a new seat layout, an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, and a global system for mobile communication (GSM). At the same time the new Qatar Single Aisle Aircraft Standard is being installed and all galleys and lavatories are being renewed. Work is being carried out in Zurich, Switzerland, and will be completed by the end of 2010.
Qatar: Thursday, July 22 - 2010

Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies inks deal with Thomas Cook
A five-year agreement has been signed between Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (Adat), part of Mubadala Aerospace's global MRO network, and UK-based Thomas Cook Airways to conduct airframe heavy maintenance on its Boeing 757 fleet. Under the deal, Adat and its sister company the Zurich-based SR Technics will provide a complete maintenance solution for Thomas Cook Aircraft Engineering in Europe and the Middle East.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, July 22 - 2010

Air Arabia in $620m engine deal
Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia has said it has selected the CFM56-5B engine to power its 44 Airbus A320 family aircraft order announced in 2007. The move, which will more than double the airlines CFM56-5B powered A320 fleet, is valued at more than $620m at list price. The airline also signed a multi-year Rate per Flight Hour service agreement for its CFM56-5B fleet.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, July 22 - 2010 08

Saudi Ministry of Interior buys three Black Hawk helicopters
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp to acquire three S-70i Black Hawk helicopters. Delivery of the first of the helicopters is scheduled for early 2011, and the aircraft will perform transport, border protection and other missions for Saudi Arabia. The new Black Hawk model is the first to be assembled in Europe.
Saudi Arabia: Wednesday, July 21 - 2010

Mubadala signs Goodrich MRO JV agreement
Mubadala Development has signed an agreement with Goodrich Corp to form a joint venture company in the UAE to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work on landing gears. Under the terms of the agreement, the JV will provide MRO services and rotable support for landing gear on commercial aircraft with a primary focus on the Middle East region. The firms are hoping to have the facility fully operational by 2012. The company will initially support both Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft, including the A380 and B777 models.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, July 21 - 2010

Etihad to launch Seoul flight in December
Etihad Airways is to commence operations to the South Korean capital, Seoul, on December 12. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier will operate a daily return service to Seoul's Incheon Airport, operating Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured with three cabins, offering 2,800 seats each week on the route. Seoul will become the carrier's 65th destination.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, July 21 - 2010

Gulf Air announces new Yemen service
Gulf Air has launched a service to the southern Yemeni city of Aden and re-launched flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The services to Aden will be via Sana'a from September 22 with four weekly services, while flights to Colombo will start from October 5 with five flights per week. The flights to the two new destinations will be served by an A319 and A320 aircraft respectively, the carrier said.
Middle East: Wednesday, July 21 - 2010