All Middle East articles
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NewsFlydubai prepares to open new pilot-training centre
Middle Eastern carrier Flydubai is preparing to open a new flight-training centre in the next few weeks, following installation of two full-flight simulators. The carrier operates a fleet of Boeing 737s – a mix of -800s and Max variants – comprising a total of 88 aircraft. Its new centre has ...
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NewsEgypt earmarks 11 airports for privatisation programme: civil aviation minister
Egypt’s government is conducting a strategic study to explore models for airport privatisation, before commencing a pilot project which is expected to start with Hurghada airport. Speaking during a sectoral UK mission in London on 3 February, Egyptian minister of civil aviation Sameh Ahmed El-Hefny said the government will work ...
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AnalysisHow year-end losses skewed our review of airline safety performance in 2024
An otherwise solid set of airline safety statistics through much of 2024 was transformed by two deadly losses, while pilot action elsewhere kept the final figures from being much worse.
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NewsL3Harris Viper Shield EW system gets airborne on Block 70 F-16
L3Harris Technologies’ Viper Shield electronic warfare (EW) system has undergone its first flight on a Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighter, with deliveries of the self-protection equipment to begin before year-end.
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NewsSaudi regulator lifts cabotage restrictions to attract business jet operators
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation regulator is to lift cabotage restrictions this year, opening the kingdom’s internal private aviation market to international charter operators. The General Authority of Civil Aviation says the restrictions on foreign on-demand charter flights will be removed from 1 May. Its plan is intended to support a ...
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NewsDassault unveils first Rafale produced for United Arab Emirates
Dassault Aviation has unveiled its first Rafale fighter produced for the United Arab Emirates: its largest export customer to date for the multirole type.
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NewsAMMROC, Marshall eye joint growth opportunities
United Arab Emirates-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider AMMROC and UK company Marshall have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) “to identify synergies and growth opportunities in the aerospace industry”.
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NewsSaudi’s Riyadh Air secures approval for initial 787 simulator
Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air has secured certification for its first Boeing 787-9 simulator, ahead of its planned launch of operations this year. The simulator has been approved by the Saudi regulator, the General Authority of Civil Aviation. Riyadh Air chief operating officer Peter Bellew says the certification “underscores ...
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NewsIsrael picks Elbit Systems for F-16I self-protection upgrade
Elbit Systems has secured a contract to provide a new self-protection system for integration with the Israeli air force’s almost 100-strong fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16I “Sufa” combat aircraft.
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NewsChallenge Group to be first European operator of IAI-converted 777-300ER freighter
Cargo specialist Challenge Group is intending to be the first European operator of converted Boeing 777-300ER freighters, through the company’s Maltese operation. Challenge Group has disclosed that it will lease another pair of the twinjets – designated as the 777-300ERSF – through an agreement with Irish-based lessor AerCap. The 777-300ERSF ...
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NewsEl Al controlling shareholder raises stake after buoyant stock performance
Israeli flag-carrier El Al’s controlling shareholder, Eli Rozenberg, has exercised stock options, taking his interest in the airline to 49.46%. El Al’s share price has surged – more than doubling since mid-June last year – following a robust financial performance. The airline has benefited strongly from depleted competition as rival ...
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NewsEmirates expands SkyCargo 747 freighter fleet to six to address capacity demand
Middle Eastern carrier Emirates’ SkyCargo division has taken its Boeing 747 freighter fleet to six, as the company continues to weigh its future cargo aircraft options. Emirates says it has reached a “multi-year lease” agreement with Bulgarian-based Compass Air Cargo, which operates 747-400 freighters as well as 737 cargo jets. ...
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NewsIsrael’s Arkia chartering A330neo for New York flights
Israeli leisure carrier Arkia has indicated that it will use Airbus A330neo twinjets on new services between Tel Aviv and New York JFK. The airline has listed a batch of flights on the route which, it says, will be operated by a chartered aircraft. Arkia identifies the aircraft type as ...
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NewsRiyadh Air set to receive leased 787-9 for training role
Saudi start-up Riyadh Air will soon receive a leased Boeing 787-9 that it will use for training purposes and as a ’technical spare’.
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NewsLessor DAE to expand fleet through Nordic Aviation Capital acquisition
Middle Eastern lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has agreed to acquire Nordic Aviation Capital, whose fleet includes over 250 aircraft. The agreement – under which DAE will take the entirety of Nordic’s share capital – will expand the Dubai-based company’s fleet to some 750 owned, managed or committed airframes. Nordic specialises ...
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NewsEmirates to put A350s on Gulf routes including short Bahrain sector
Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to place Airbus A350s to the Gulf states of Bahrain and Kuwait, meaning it will serve one of the airline’s shortest routes. It will operate both services from Dubai beginning on 8 January. The Dubai-Bahrain sector is just 260nm and has a flight time of ...
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NewsUSA clears big missile sales to Egypt, Morocco
The US government has cleared nearly $1 billion in potential sales of air-launched weapons to Egypt and Morocco.
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NewsUS Navy Super Hornet shot down over Red Sea in apparent friendly fire incident
Two US naval aviators safely ejected from their Boeing F/A-18F over the Red Sea after the jet was mistakenly targeted by one of the guided missile ships escorting the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.
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NewsPegasus signs for up to 200 Boeing 737 Max 10s
Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines has placed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 Max 10s, with options for up to a further 100 of the type.
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NewsIraqi civil aviation regulator still facing ‘challenges’ in oversight resources
Iraq’s civil aviation regulator has postponed a planned on-site assessment by European safety authorities until at least the third quarter of next year. The country’s flag-carrier, Iraqi Airways, remains on the European Commission blacklist to which it was added in December 2015. Iraqi Airways has been striving to secure the ...