United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways is to resume flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka, starting in January 2010, following the recent end to the civil conflict there. The airline will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad resumes Sri Lanka service
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MIDDLE EAST: All-female flight crew makes Jordanian history
Royal Jordanian flight number 132 landed on 18 October at Queen Alia International Airport returning from Athens, recording a first for Jordanian and aviation history. The novelty: The plane was led by Captain Carol Rabadi and co-pilot Hadeel Khamash, an allwomen cockpit and cabin crew. Since the establishment of RJ, two other women were awarded the same rank and flew, but alongside male pilots. RJ Head of Flight Operations Captain Haitham Misto decorated Carol Rabadi with the four-stripe … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: All-female flight crew makes Jordanian history
MIDDLE EAST: Qatar expands India services
Qatar Airways is starting flights from Doha to two new destinations in India this month Amritsar from 11 October and Goa from 25 October. Its cargo GSA in Amritsar is Hercules Aviation while the GSA for Goa will be announced shortly. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Qatar expands India services
MIDDLE EAST: Classic B707 crashes in Sharjah on landing
A Boeing 707 cargo aircraft belonging to Sudan’s Azza Air crashed in the United Arab Emirates at Sharjah airport on Wednesday while landing, killing all six aboard. The airframe was originally delivered to Lufthansa on February 27, 1969. Since then it has also served with Condor, United Arab Emirates, Sudan Airways and Ibis Air Transport, as well as other carriers. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Classic B707 crashes in Sharjah on landing
INDIA: Indian air cargo market picking up steam
India’s recovery from the global economic slowdown is rapidly picking up pace, with domestic air freight growing in double digits year-on-year since May, compared with a contraction between October last year and March, according to data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Overseas freight has also started growing marginally since August. The AAI expects local cargo movement to grow by 5 per cent in the year to March and overseas cargo by two per cent. The buoyant … [Read more...] about INDIA: Indian air cargo market picking up steam
MIDDLE EAST: IATA sets broad Agenda for the Middle East
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged the air transport industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to focus on key challenges of growth, including safety, cost control, liberalization and the environment. Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and CEO, made the comments in a keynote address to the region’s leaders at the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Arab Air Carriers Organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “The Middle East … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: IATA sets broad Agenda for the Middle East