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Boeing single-minded over growth forecast

Boeing has kicked off its activities at the Dubai Airshow this week with its latest 20-year forecast for sales in the Middle East, predicting that the region's airlines will require 3,180 new aircraft between now and 2034, with an estimated value of $730 billion. In a sign that the explosive growth of the region’s airlines will continue, it predicts that 70% of this demand will be dri...

DUBAI: Martin Jetpack rockets in for Dubai premiere

New Zealand firm Martin Aircraft is eyeing the sales opportunities for its developmental one-man jetpack in the Middle East. Appearing for the first time at the Dubai air show, Martin Aircraft is primarily focused on the first responder market in the region. Company chief executive and managing director Peter Coker says it is working to commercialise the jetpack, with the aim of a first cust...

Swiss role for the new CSeries

Bombardier is showcasing its CSeries regional jet to the Dubai Airshow this week for the first time, as the aircraft prepares for 2016 service entry. Certification of the aircraft is targeted for the end of this year, with Bombardier saying in mid-October that the programme was more than 90% complete. Swiss is due to receive its first aircraft in the first half of next year. The aircraft is...

Neo news is good news for Airbus Corporate Jets

Airbus has debuted the Airbus Corporate Jet ACJ319 at the Dubai Airshow this week, which is for sale via Switzerland's 28 East Group. The interior is split into four compartments and features dining space for 12, a relaxed lounge and an aft shower. The airframer is upbeat about regional prospects for the VIP variant of its latest ‘neo’ airliner types. Initially available in A...

Archangel swoops to conquer

The Iomax Archangel, a light attack and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft now being delivered to the UAE Armed Forces for special forces support, is making its debut at the Dubai Airshow this week. Based on the airframe of the Thrush S2R-660 agricultural aircraft, the Archangel was originally known as the Block III border patrol aircraft (BPA). Some 24 Block I and...

Dubai debut for Antonov transporter

The Antonov An-178 military transport aircraft is making its Middle East debut at the Dubai Airshow. The Antonov (stand 2210) An-178 military transport aircraft is making its Middle East debut at the Dubai Airshow. It forms the centrepiece of the Ukrainian company’s on-going effort to break into the Middle Eastern and African markets. Mykhaylo Gvozdov, Antonov’s acting preside...

Dubai 2015: 407MRH makes its Dubai debut

The UAE Armed Forces' new Bell Model 407MRH (multi-role helicopter) has made its Dubai debut at this years air show. The 407MRH is a new military derivative of the Bell 407 developed by Abu Dhabi-based NorthStar Aviation, which is already fulfilling an order for 30 of the helicopters from the UAE armed forces. Approximately 20 have now been delivered with the remainder will arriving on...

Report: Cause of Metrojet A321 crash still uncertain

Egypt’s Accident Investigation Committee has said its initial observation of the aircraft wreckage from the Oct. 31 MetroJet Airbus 321 crash “does not yet allow for identifying the origin of the inflight breakup.” In a report released Saturday, the committee said the debris is “scattered over a wide area more than 13 km in length, which is consistent with an inflig...

DUBAI: Embraer Executive Jets closes on 1,000th delivery

Embraer Executive Jets is closing in on its 1,000th aircraft delivery, with the milestone set to be achieved in around 11 years since the division’s launch. The Brazilian manufacturer has so far handed over 930 examples of its business aircraft since it arrived on the market in 2005 with the Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. “Next year we will be celebrating 1,000 planes in 11 years...

Estonian Air closes down

Estonian Air has announced that it will cease business from Nov. 8 after a European Commission (EC) ruling that it received unfair state aid. In a brief statement, the airline’s management board said it had decided to cease operations following the EC decision, which demanded that the airline, which has provided services for the small Baltic state since 1991, should pay back some €85...

Saudia increases domestic capacity as competition looms

Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia has wet-leased two Airbus A319s from Czech Airlines to increase capacity on its domestic routes as it gears up to face competitive pressures from new rivals in the Kingdom. Liberalization of Saudi Arabia’s airline sector will see Qatar Airways’ subsidiary Al Maha Airways and startup carrier SaudiGulf Airlines providing new competition for both...

Latitude calls at BGAD, Biggin Hill

Cessna’s new Citation Latitude business jet is making its Dubai Airshow debut this week in a region where the company’s similar Citation Sovereign has proven popular. Textron Aviation’s new twinjet received FAA certification this summer and European (EASA) certification is expected by the end of the year. “With one of the most comfortable and spacious cabins available in...

Dubai Airshow Opens Amid Drop in New Jetliner Orders

After three years of record jetliner orders, planemakers are bracing for a slowdown in new commitments at the Dubai Airshow which opens on Sunday under the shadow of recently falling oil prices and conflicts in the Middle East. Barring traditional show surprises, delegates attending the biennial Nov. 8-12 event predicted a drop in major commercial order announcements as Gulf airlines take stock...

Nepal's Domestic Airlines May Stop Service Due to Fuel Crisis

Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), a representative of the private airline companies in Nepal, has said they might halt a certain number of domestic flights on Sunday due to unavailability of aviation turbine fuel (ATF). It is the first time since the fuel crisis began that domestic airlines are on the verge of not receiving enough fuel. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the onl...

Dubai Airshow Biggest and Best Ever

This year's Dubai Airshow is going to be bigger, better and more varied than anything that has gone before, says Michele van Akelijen, managing director of show organizers F&E Aerospace. "With over 160 aircraft due to appear and the possibility of seeing UAVs taking part in the daily flying program for the first time, it's going to be an exciting event," she says. Dubai...

Dassault to Showcase Expanding Business Jet Family at Dubai

New Ultra Long Range Falcon 8X Set for First Deliveries in 2016,  Strong Response from Middle East Dassault Aviation will present its expanding line of large-cabin long range Falcon business jets at the Dubai Air Show, which opens on November 8 at Dubai World Central. The exhibit will feature the top-of-the-line Falcon 7X, the super versatile Falcon 900LX and a mockup of the all-ne...

DUBAI: A350 stops at air show during Middle Eastern tour

Two Airbus A350s will be present at the Dubai air show, aQatar Airways aircraft complementing the airframer’s MSN2 which will conduct the flying display. MSN2 is stopping at Dubai World Central’s Al-Maktoum airport as part of a Middle Eastern tour and is scheduled to depart to Ethiopia on 11 November, the airframer says. The aircraft, which is cabin-fitted, travelled from To...

Boeing upbeat over possible Kuwait jet sale, oil price hits some deals

Boeing on Saturday gave its strongest indication yet about a near-term sale of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to Kuwait, although the world's second-largest weapons maker said lower oil prices were delaying some arms purchases by Gulf states. "There are things that we're waiting on... those things are going to be cleared and we think they're going to be cleared soon," Boeing...

British airliners on standby for stranded tourists in Egypt

Eleven empty British airliners are on standby in Cyprus and might be used to fly home thousands of tourists stranded in Egypt's Sharm al-Sheikh, airport authorities in the Mediterranean island said on Saturday. Britain halted flights to and from the Red Sea resort after a Russian plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31 with the loss of 224 lives. Western officials think a bomb lik...

Russia coordinates with Egypt evacuation of tourists, security issues - deputy PM

"The Egyptian friends have undertaken first steps, the military control all procedures of registration for flights, they are at the airport in Sharm el-Sheikh, at other airports" said Dvorkovich Russia has been coordinating with Egypt two issues: the first is how the Emergencies Ministry and aviation carriers are delivering tourists and their luggage. "We receive full support...

DUBAI: Emirates new flight training aircraft on display

Think of Emirates and large widebodies such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 spring to mind. But two much smaller aircraft displaying the livery of the Dubai flag-carrier are on the static. Last week, Emirates Flight Training Academy, set up by Emirates to address its growing need for pilots, signed a deal for its first aircraft: 22 Cirrus SR22 piston singles and...