50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Arab Emirates aviation news

Dubai selects ANRA to develop drone traffic management system

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects in collaboration with Dubai Air Navigation Services , has awarded ANRA Technologies the contract to design and deploy the Emirate’s next-generation Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management platform. This milestone initiative will establish one of the most advanced digital airspace management systems in the world, providing the foundation for safe,...

More professionals dedicated to serving aviation industry - interview with Wissam Mehyou

Sometimes, after following industry leaders for a while, we wait for aviation events to get the possibility to meet them in person. For me, this was the situation when it was revealed that Mr. Wissam Mehyou, CEO of Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise, would be attending CARIBAVIA 2025. Regretfully, Mr. Mehyou was unable to attend the conference. Therefore, I had to do the interview using contempo...

flydubai strengthens strategic growth with 12 new aircraft deliveries in 2025

flydubai has taken delivery of seven new aircraft so far in 2025, with a further five Boeing 737 MAX 8s scheduled to join its fleet before the end of the year. These additions form an integral part of the airline’s strategic growth plans, enabling the continued expansion of its network, enhancing operational efficiency and increasing capacity on existing routes. The seven new aircraft, re...

flydubai partners with emaratech to introduce smart biometric gates

As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and investing in the latest technologies, flydubai has partnered with emaratech to implement smart border control solutions for its pilots and cabin crew.  Located at the carrier’s Airport Operations Centre, the new smart gates utilise advanced biometric technology, AI-driven verification and real-time data integration to streamline i...

Falcon Technic expands GCAA approval to include Falcon 900EX EASy line maintenance

Falcon Technic, the MRO division of Falcon, the aviation arm of Alex Group Investment, announced the successful amendment of its GCAA AMO Approval Certificate. The updated certificate now includes Line Maintenance capability for the Falcon 900EX EASy. This reflects Falcon Technic’s continued growth and its commitment to providing certified, high-quality maintenance solutions for a wider...

Falcon welcomes its first Gulfstream - the iconic G450

Aviation division of Alex Group Investment has officially welcomed the iconic Gulfstream G450 into its fleet, a clear step forward in offering clients more range, more comfort, and an even better private jet experience. The G450 joins Falcon Luxe’s first-ever Gulfstream as part of a broader strategy to focus on long-range, large-cabin aircraft that meet the evolving needs of today’s gl...

flydubai breaks ground on new aircraft maintenance centre at Dubai South

flydubai has broken ground on its new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South. The multimillion dollar facility, set to complete construction in the last quarter of 2026, will ensure an increased level of control and quicker maintenance turnaround for the carrier’s growing fleet. Spread over 32,600 square metres, the maintenance centre will house an aircraft hangar, support workshops and...

Archer begins test flights in Abu Dhabi

Archer announced successful completion of an initial flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone for its planned commercial deployment in the UAE and the expansion of its operations in the Middle East region. Following this milestone, Archer will expand its flight-testing program for Midnight in the region, gathering additional dat...

Joby Dubai flights and beginning of commercial market readiness work

Joby Aviation electric air taxi has successfully completed a series of piloted, vertical-takeoff-and-landing wingborne flights in Dubai, marking the start of its commercial market readiness efforts in the region. These efforts will further develop Joby’s readiness in anticipation of carrying its first passengers in 2026. This is a significant step in Joby’s three-pronged commercia...

Etihad touches down with daily A380 flights to Toronto

Etihad Airways has begun operating its iconic Airbus A380 on daily flights to Toronto, boosting capacity by 31% and marking a new chapter in the airline’s long-standing commitment to Canada ahead of its 20th anniversary. Etihad’s famous big bird was welcomed with a water-cannon salute at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Tuesday 24 June. The upgraded service introdu...

Falcon Luxe expands private jet charter offering with block hours access

Falcon Luxe, the private charter division of Falcon, part of Alex Group Investment, announces the availability of block hours private jet flight access. The concept is simple: clients pre-purchase a set number of flight hours and draw from them as needed, enjoying priority access to Falcon’s fleet. With block hours, there’s no need to request a quote for every flight or deal with repet...

Falcon begins first base maintenance on Falcon’s Global Express XRS

Falcon Technic, the MRO division of Falcon - part of Alex Group Investment, has officially launched its very first in-house base maintenance project on one of Falcon’s own Global Express XRS aircraft. The aircraft is now undergoing a complete six-week base check at Falcon Technic’s facility in Dubai South. This scheduled 60-month inspection, carried out in accordance with the aircraft&...