New research from Gama Aviation plc, the global aviation services company, reveals that there are now 792 business aircraft in the Middle East, and between 2010 and 2014, 176 of these were delivered to the region. Gama Aviation's analysis reveals that when compared to the rest of the world, the Middle East has a much bigger focus on mid to larger sized business aircraft. Some 59% of it...
Latvia-based carrier airBaltic has been confirmed as the launch customer for Bombardier’s CS300 single aisle jet. First delivery of the CS300 is due in the second half of 2016, airBaltic and Bombardier announced at the Dubai Airshow over the weekend. The airline has 13 CS300s on firm order and retains options for seven more of the type. airBaltic chief executive Martin Gauss said th...
Jetstar and Virgin Australia have cancelled all flights to and from Bali on Monday after both carriers decided conditions were unsafe for flying due to the ash cloud from the nearby Mount Rinjani volcano. Virgin said on Monday the latest advice from its team of meteorologists, senior pilots and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) showed conditions in the vicinity of Bali/Denpasar Airpo...
Emirates Airlines President Tim Clark said on Sunday he expected the crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt was a "game changer" for aviation that would result in demands for stringent aviation security worldwide. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow, Clark added that he had ordered a security review, but was not suspending any flights as a result of the disaster. "What happened i...
Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, a maker of regional jets, plans to lift production more than three-fold by 2020, banking on demand from at least five Middle East customers, a senior executive said on Sunday. Sukhoi is in talks with Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman for sales of its Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100), Evgeny Andrachnikov, senior vice president, told Reuters at t...
Lufthansa's cabin crew union said that resuming its strike on Monday after a one-day pause would ground flights at three of the German airline's major airports for almost the entire day. The UFO union said in a statement on Sunday that the strike on Monday -- part of a week-long walk-out to push demands in a dispute over retirement benefits -- would affect all short and long-haul f...
Airbus expects to meet its target to sell 25 A380 superjumbo planes this year but it is not in talks with any potential new customer from the region. Its chief executive Fabrice Brégier added there was “no urgency” to build a more fuel-efficient version of the world’s biggest passenger aircraft because of the low oil price. “I think generally we have a target t...
Airbus is closely examining the potential market for a larger version of the A350-1000, but wants to avoid distancing itself from the core A350 market. The airframer has been talking to a “handful” of potential customers to explore whether there is a sufficient market for an aircraft with 50-60 more seats than the -1000, says Airbus chief operating officer for customers John Leahy....
Boeing has formally dropped the ‘X’ suffix from its individual stretched 777 variants, although it will retain it for the overall family. The US airframer is officially referring to the variants as the 777-8 and the 777-9, the company said during the Dubai air show. But the combined family, it adds, will still be known as the 777X. Boeing Large-scale models of the aircr...
The chief executive of Airbus has brushed off requests by Emirates for an A350 aircraft that copes better with hot and humid conditions. Emirates said last month that it would postpone a decision to choose between the Boeing 787-10 aircraft or Airbus A350-900 - depending on which manufacturer would work with Emirates on its requirements. “The A350-900 has much more flexibility when you...
Czech manufacturer Aircraft Industries (AI) is here in Dubai (Stand 1947) to show its prototype L410NG commuter aircraft, which first flew in late July. Since then, the test-flying team it has been busy with certification flights, as well as a whistle-stop series of airshow appearances and marketing promotions. Last month [October], for example, AI joined engine provider GE Aviation in exhibiti...
After seven years of development marked by repeated delays, China’s new C919 airliner is ready to start ground testing of its avionics, flight controls and hydraulics systems. It made its debut in a roll-out ceremony on November 2. Developed by state-run Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac), the narrowbody rolled off the assembly line in the manufacturer’s Shanghai factory on to...
