FLYING WITHOUT WINGS: Blog 3 - Are you ok?
Currently grounded, First Officer Tom Peaford, asks is it ok to not be ok? Why airlines must do more, now more than ever, to support the well-being of their pilots.
Air Transport
in Air Transport Pegasus signs Covid-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol
Posted 30 July 2020
Pegasus Airlines has signed up to the COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol published jointly by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
in Air Transport Harmonised approach needed to restart aviation
Posted 29 July 2020
IATA has today called on governments in the Middle East to harmonise biosafety measures for passengers across the region as aviation restarts.
in Air Transport Qatar Airways remains committed to a sustainable operation
Posted 20 July 2020
Qatar Airways mix of modern fuel-efficient aircraft helped it to develop a sustainable and adapted solution, allowing it to continue flying routes with less overall demand as it has a variety of aircraft it can select from to
in Air Transport / Technology Etihad and Boeing together on sustainability demonstrator
Posted 20 July 2020
Boeing and Etihad Airways will use a 787-10 Dreamliner to test ways to reduce emissions and noise as part of the aerospace company's ecoDemonstrator program before the airline accepts delivery of the airplane later this year.
in Air Transport / Business & Finance Royal Jordanian Q1 figures show impact of virus
Posted 18 July 2020
Royal Jordanian’s commitment to retain staff through the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic has, unsurprisingly, affected its first quarter earnings,
in Air Transport Etihad drops another 400 pilots
Posted 15 July 2020
Four hundred more Etihad pilots are to leave the Abu Dhabi airline as another swathe of job cuts was announced.
in Air Transport Aviation recovery may take several years
Posted 15 July 2020
The commercial aviation industry’s rebound from COVID-19 is underway, with the number of airline flights starting to gradually increase, but widespread recovery could take several years.
in Air Transport Green recovery must embrace sustainable aviation fuels
Posted 10 July 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has emphasised the aviation industry’s commitment to its emissions reduction goals.
in Air Transport Etihad in codeshare with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
Posted 9 July 2020
Etihad Airways has entered a codeshare agreement with Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost airline, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.
in Air Transport Iraq repatriation flight returns South Africans home
Posted 9 July 2020
CemAir has welcomed 80 South Africans home from Iraq and Jordan on a special repatriation flight which touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday morning.
in Air Transport / Features Why a holiday company took a trip into the unknown
Posted 9 July 2020
Jordan has always been a tough location in which to operate. One young airline fighting to make its mark in the local market is Fly Jordan Airlines.
in Air Transport / Route Planning & Tourism Air Arabia Abu Dhabi set for take-off next week
Posted 7 July 2020
Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost airline – Air Arabia Abu Dhabi – will take off next Tuesday (July 14th) on its inaugural flight to Alexandria.
in Air Transport IATA: Travellers are taking precautions
Posted 7 July 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released public opinion research showing a willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching COVID-19 during air travel.
in Air Transport IATA: Get the aviation industry moving again
Posted 6 July 2020
Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have today urged that costs related to public health measures aimed at mitigating the spread of communicable diseases should be borne by
in Air Transport Emirates delivers on customer promise
Posted 2 July 2020
In the past two months, Emirates has processed nearly 650,000 refund requests, returning over AED 1.9 billion to its customers.
in Air Transport Quarantine measures threaten aviation restart in Middle East
Posted 2 July 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments in the Middle Africa and the Middle East (AME) to implement alternatives to quarantine on arrival that would allow economies to re-start while avoiding
in Air Transport / Business & Finance UAE firm in bid to buy Jet Airways
Posted 1 July 2020
UAE-based Imperial Capital Investments is bidding to buy India’s failed airline, Jet Airways. It is one of four companies to have been shortlisted.
in Air Transport IATA: Urgent need for governments to address quarantine issue
Posted 25 June 2020
IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac yesterday stressed at IATA’s media briefing the urgent need for governments to address the quarantine issue, and for countries seeking to open up their economies, travel and tourism is a
in Air Transport / Features Weighed down under the weight of restructuring
Posted 24 June 2020
Three years after taking on the top job at Tunisair, Ilyes Mnakbi tells Martin Rivers the flag-carrier is still struggling to turn the corner.
in Air Transport / Airports Morocco to restart domestic flights this week
Posted 22 June 2020
Domestic flights in Morocco are set to resume on 25 June, in line with the partial easing of lockdown restrictions in parts of the country.
in Air Transport Qatar Airways expands flights to U.S.
Posted 22 June 2020
Qatar Airways has resumed flights to New York (JFK) from 19 June (rising to 10 weekly from 2 July) and to Boston, Los Angeles and Washington Dulles from 1 July.
in Air Transport Middle East governments urged to implement guidance for safe restart of aviation
Posted 17 June 2020
IATA and the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific are joining the International Civil Aviation Organization Middle East (ICAO MID) in urging governments of the Middle East to
in Air Transport Flydubai prepares for commercial take-off
Posted 16 June 2020
Flydubai’s has been making preparations for the airline’s commercial return to service following the coronavirus pandemic.
in Air Transport Covid-19 guidance for commercial and private aviation
Posted 16 June 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released criteria for the use of COVID-19 testing in the travel process.
in Air Transport / People Slattery takes the top job at GE Aviation
Posted 16 June 2020
John Slattery, who it was announced yesterday is stepping down from his role as president of Embraer’s commercial aircraft division is to become president and CEO of giant engine maker GE Aviation.
in Air Transport / People Meijer to head Embraer commercial aircraft business
Posted 15 June 2020
Embraer’s former vice president of commercial aviation for the Middle East and Africa, Arjan Meijer has been appointed new president and chief executive of the Brazilian company’s commercial aircraft division.
in Air Transport / Airports Beirut to reopen to commercial air traffic in July
Posted 15 June 2020
Lebanon's Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport will reopen to international movements, the transport minister announced today.
in Air Transport / Training / Features / People BLOG: Flying without wings
Posted 15 June 2020
Dubai-based A320 pilot Tom Peaford looks at the changing world for airline pilots and manages expectations.
in Air Transport / Features Silver lining shines through the fog of war
Posted 12 June 2020
Like all Libyan carriers, Afriqiyah Airways is in a seemingly endless fight for survival. But chairman, Mustafa Maatug, tells Martin Rivers he’s full of hope for the future.
in Air Transport IATA stats show Qatar Airways has flown most passengers home safely during pandemic
Posted 11 June 2020
New independent data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) clearly reaffirms Qatar Airways as the airline that worked diligently to take people home safely and reliably during
in Air Transport Flydubai confirms redundancies
Posted 9 June 2020
As reported by Arabian Aerospace at the weekend, Dubai's hybrid carrier Flydubai has begun its process of redundancies.
in Air Transport Emirates begins mass layoffs
Posted 9 June 2020
After “losing family members” last week in the shape of new hires and pilots underway in training or type rating conversions, Emirates has held the first wave of mass redundancies today.
in Air Transport / Events AACO's annual assembly to be behind closed doors
Posted 9 June 2020
The AACO 53rd AGM due to be held in Beirut on 28-30 October 2020 will now be behind closed doors.
in Air Transport Qatar Airways becomes largest passenger and cargo airline globally
Posted 9 June 2020
Qatar Airways has announced it is currently the largest passenger airline, and the largest cargo airline in the world as well its airport hub, Hamad International Airport, being named the third best airport in the
in Air Transport / Features A brand new way forward for FlyEgypt
Posted 8 June 2020
New domestic services, new branding and – hopefully – new aircraft will make this a significant year for FlyEgypt, its CEO tells Alan Dron.
in Air Transport Flydubai prepares for job cut and fleet shrink announcement
Posted 7 June 2020
Flydubai – the budget carrier that works alongside Emirates – is set to announce job cuts this week.
in Air Transport IATA calls on Tunisia’s Government for direct financial relief for aviation
Posted 5 June 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the Government of Tunisia to urgently provide financial relief measures for the aviation industry in order to mitigate the effects of the
in Air Transport Emirates warns about phishing scams
Posted 4 June 2020
Emirates Airlines has issued a warning over phishing attacks using its name, which are targeting passengers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
in Air Transport New flights offered by Emirates as well as resuming transits through its Dubai hub
Posted 4 June 2020
Following the UAE Federal Government's announcement to lift restrictions on transit passengers' services, from 15th June Emirates will offer passenger services to 16 more cities on its Boeing
in Air Transport Wizz Air outlines ambitious GCC plans at the ATM Virtual event
Posted 4 June 2020
Hungarian low cost carrier Wizz Air has ambitions to become a major force in the GCC once it begins operations from Abu Dhabi this year.
in Air Transport Air Arabia confirms additional job losses among revenues collapse
Posted 3 June 2020
Air Arabia has confirmed a further round of job losses as it reported a first-quarter drop in revenues of 45%.
in Air Transport Oman Air prepares for return to service
Posted 3 June 2020
Oman Air is well on the way to preparing to return to services. It announced today there would be a flight to London on June 20. It has already maintained a relatively busy schedule of repatriation flights, mainly to India and Pakistan, as its foreign
in Air Transport AFRAA: North African airlines see impact of COVID-19
Posted 3 June 2020
AFRAA has released an impact assessment analysis showing a 90.3% year on year passenger traffic reduction for the month of May; recovery is expected to start from Q3 2020 with domestic flights, followed by regional and
in Air Transport / Features How Yemenia flies in the face of war
Posted 2 June 2020
For four years, Yemen Airways has attempted to keep services running during the country’s civil war. The company’s chairman, Ahmed Masood Alwani, explains how.
in Air Transport IATA urges implementation of ICAO COVID-19 guidelines
Posted 2 June 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to quickly implement the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) global guidelines for restoring air connectivity.
in Air Transport Turkey resumes domestic flights from today
Posted 1 June 2020
Domestic flights in Turkey resumed today. The first connections provided direct flights from Istanbul Airport to Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, and Trabzon. According to the government services to other provinces will resume gradually over the
in Air Transport UAE airlines face further job losses
Posted 1 June 2020
Etihad flight crews are fearfully checking their emails. The airline has advised that if they don’t hear from the airline then they still have a job – meanwhile hundreds of staff are receiving the mails that summons them to a one-on-on meeting to tell them
in Air Transport Tim Clark has high hopes aviation will return to ‘some kind of normality’ in 2021
Posted 1 June 2020
During the opening session of Arabian Travel Market’s inaugural virtual event, ATM Virtual, aviation industry Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, outlined the impact of COVID-19 on the
in Air Transport Trainees and new recruits among the first victims of Emirates' job cull
Posted 31 May 2020
The region’s largest airline, Emirates, is underway with its staff cuts as employees were called into the Dubai head office and training centre today to be issued with formal dismissal letters.
in Air Transport Kuwait Airways to lose 25% of workforce
Posted 29 May 2020
Some 1500 ‘foreign staff’ are to lose their jobs with Kuwait Airways. The airline has not yet said which departments will be affected.
in Air Transport / Training / People BLOG: Is flying like riding a bike? Rusty pilots and a return to the air
Posted 28 May 2020
Tom Peaford, an A320 senior first officer, looks at the issues affecting flight crews as airlines begin the return to service.
in Air Transport 737 MAX production resumes
Posted 28 May 2020
Boeing has resumed production of the 737 MAX at the company’s Renton, Wash. factory.
in Air Transport / Route Planning & Tourism Saudi Arabia to restart domestic flights on Sunday
Posted 27 May 2020
Saudi Arabia is to resume some domestic flights from Sunday as it eases restriction measures.
in Air Transport IATA: Heavy new debt levels will weigh down airline recovery
Posted 26 May 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released analysis showing that the airline industry’s global debt could rise to $550 billion by year-end. That’s a $120 billion increase over debt levels at the start
in Air Transport IATA board declares principles for industry re-start
Posted 22 May 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a commitment by the airline CEOs on its Board of Governors to five principles for re-connecting the world by air transport.
in Air Transport Emirates sets safety standards as it resumes operations
Posted 21 May 2020
Emirates has unveiled multi-faceted measures for employee and customer care at every step of the travel journey, redefining safety and hygiene standards on board and on the ground. The new measures took effect today, with the
in Air Transport / Business & Finance Rolls-Royce slashes 9000 jobs worldwide
Posted 20 May 2020
Rolls-Royce announced this morning that it will lose up to 9,000 jobs as it addresses the change in demand following the collapse of the aviation industry due to Covid-19.
in Air Transport Etihad feels the pain with more job losses says Reuters
Posted 19 May 2020
Reuters has reported that Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has laid off hundreds of employees this month,, after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to ground flights, according to industry and company sources.
in Air Transport / People Agony as Emirates and Qatar plan for job losses
Posted 19 May 2020
Emirates managers are said to be ‘agonising’ over future plans for the long-haul dominated airline.
in Air Transport First Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop takes flight
Posted 18 May 2020
Textron Aviation has announced the successful first flight of its new twin utility turboprop, the Cessna SkyCourier.
in Air Transport / Features Kuwait at the crossroads
Posted 18 May 2020
Kuwait Airways is undergoing a second major wave of aircraft replacements and looking at ways to handle its increasing passenger numbers. Alan Dron reports.
in Air Transport Father meets new-born for the first time as Etihad reunites family
Posted 18 May 2020
Etihad Airways has repatriated Mrs Farah Oubed along with her young son Adam and newborn baby Ahmad.
in Air Transport COVID-19 crisis continues to devastate air transport in Jordan
Posted 14 May 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on the government of Jordan to provide urgent financial relief to airlines as they struggle to survive the devastating impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
in Air Transport IATA calls on the government of Saudi Arabia to support aviation during COVID-19
Posted 13 May 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for aviation-specific financial relief measures from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address the severe impact of the
in Air Transport Qatar outlines plan to kickstart route growth before end of June
Posted 7 May 2020
Although Gulf carrier Qatar Airways has flagged up “substantial” redundancies to be announced in the next week or so – it has also made its intentions to fight for survival with an announcement that it will gradually
in Air Transport EgyptAir and Air Cairo sign MoU
Posted 7 May 2020
EgyptAir and Air Cairo have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance strategic positioning, network and fleets that will add new customers to both airlines.
in Air Transport Emirates close the book on the A380 future
Posted 6 May 2020
Sir Tim Clark, probably the world’s greatest ambassador for the Airbus A380 has reluctantly conceded its day is done.
in Air Transport Gulf carriers prepare for job losses
Posted 6 May 2020
Airlines in the Middle East continue to feel the pain with both Air Arabia and Qatar Airways announcing job losses to their staff this week.
in Air Transport IATA calls for passenger face covering and crew masks
Posted 6 May 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports the wearing of face coverings for passengers and masks for crew while on board aircraft as a critical part of a layered approach to biosecurity to be implemented
in Air Transport Second Boeing 777X completes first flight
Posted 4 May 2020
Boeing has conducted a productive and successful first flight of the second 777X aircraft.
in Air Transport / Features Progressive Jaz...
Posted 4 May 2020
Kuwaiti hybrid carrier, Jazeera Airways, foresees a list of potential new long-haul destinations in the coming years as it takes delivery of Airbus A320neos. Alan Dron found out more from CEO, Rohit Ramachandran.
in Air Transport A350 suffers with the wind.
Posted 1 May 2020
A Qatar Airways A350 parked a remote stand at Doha International Airport was damaged by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner as high winds swept through the Gulf yesterday.
in Air Transport Emirates protects and prepares its all wide-body fleet
Posted 30 April 2020
Emirates has said it is busy protecting and readying the world's largest all wide-body fleet to take to the skies.
in Air Transport Passenger demand plunges in March as travel restrictions take hold
Posted 29 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for March 2020 showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) dived 52.9% compared to
in Air Transport Airbus furloughs staff as COVID-19 impacts aircraft production
Posted 28 April 2020
As Airbus has furloughed 3,200 personnel at Broughton factory in north Wales, Nicolas Jouan, Aerospace and Defence Analyst at GlobalData offers his view.
in Air Transport IATA calls for global mutual recognition by civil aviation authorities
Posted 28 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on regulators to take urgent action to help civil aviation operate seamlessly and safely between states during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to
in Air Transport / Features Jonaid's private thoughts
Posted 27 April 2020
SaudiGulf Airlines chief executive, Abdulmohsen Jonaid, tells Martin Rivers that the boutique carrier is laying the foundations for a bigger, brighter future.
in Air Transport Emirates reaffirms customer commitment with ramp up of refunds capability
Posted 27 April 2020
Emirates has ramped up its capability to process refunds, reaffirming its commitment to customers and travel trade partners impacted by travel disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
in Air Transport / Business & Finance Boeing pulls out of Embraer partnership deal
Posted 25 April 2020
Boeing has pulled out of its $4.2 partnership deal with Embraer which was planned to give the American manufacturer a bigger stake in the narrowbody regional jet market and develop new markets for the C-390 Millennium medium airlift and air
in Air Transport Relief is critical for Middle East Airlines as COVID-19 impact deepens
Posted 24 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed its call for government relief measures as the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in MENA deepen.
in Air Transport First Abu Dhabi budget carrier receives the green light
Posted 23 April 2020
The first of the two low-cost carriers planned for the UAE capital ‘Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’ (AAAD), has been given the formal go ahead by the UAE’s regulator, the GCAA, and has been awarded its Air Operatinng Certificate (AOC).
in Air Transport Emirates announces limited passenger flights for week ahead
Posted 23 April 2020
Emirates plans to operate passenger services to limited destinations next week.
in Air Transport Gulf Air introduces ‘golden principles’ for health and safety of passengers and crew
Posted 23 April 2020
Gulf Air, in response to the global outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19, has introduced a bundle of ‘golden principles’ to maintain health and safety of its passengers and crew members.
in Air Transport Etihad continues to progress sustainable initiatives
Posted 22 April 2020
Etihad Airways has continued to progress its sustainability agenda, testing a range of initiatives during the wind-down and suspension of its scheduled passenger services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
in Air Transport IATA: Slow recovery needs confidence boosting measures
Posted 21 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to work with the industry on confidence-boosting measures in the face of an anticipated slow recovery in demand for air travel.
in Air Transport Emirates steps up safety measures
Posted 21 April 2020
Emirates is stepping up precautionary measures at the airport and on board to ensure the health and safety of its employees and customers.
in Air Transport / Technology DP World launches digital supply chain platforms for global online trade
Posted 21 April 2020
Dubai based DP World has launched online logistics tools and services, covering sea, land and air shipping around the world, with the connected ecosystem of platforms enabling freight forwarders and any
in Air Transport Kuwaitis to return home on-board Jazeera Airways
Posted 20 April 2020
Kuwaiti citizens started to return home on Sunday, April 19, on board Jazeera Airways flights.
in Air Transport Boeing to resume commercial aircraft production in Puget Sound
Posted 17 April 2020
Boeing will resume all commercial airline production in a phased approach at its Puget Sound-region facilities next week, after suspending operations last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
in Air Transport Etihad Airways advises on operational status and outlines re-start plans
Posted 16 April 2020
Etihad Airways has provided an update on its current and planned operations as COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place around the world.
in Air Transport IATA and ICS: Governments must facilitate ship crew changes
Posted 15 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) are jointly calling on governments to take urgent measures to facilitate crew change flights for seafarers.
in Air Transport Emirates puts customers first in COVID-19 waiver policies
Posted 14 April 2020
Emirates has updated its COVID-19 travel waiver policies into one approach for rebooking and refunds on tickets issued in all its global markets.
in Air Transport Boeing to temporarily suspend 787 operations at its Boeing South Carolina plant
Posted 8 April 2020
Boeing will temporarily suspend all 787 operations at its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) until further notice, starting at the end of Wednesday, April 8.
in Air Transport Airbus adapts commercial aircraft production in Northern Germany and Alabama
Posted 7 April 2020
Airbus is temporarily adapting commercial aircraft production and assembly activity at its German sites in Bremen and Stade and pausing production at its A220/A320 manufacturing facility in Mobile,
in Air Transport IATA releases 2019 airline safety report
Posted 6 April 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the release of the 2019 Safety Report showing continuing improvements in airline safety compared to 2018 and to the preceding five years.
in Air Transport Etihad Airways to resume passenger flights, awaits permission
Posted 6 April 2020
Etihad Airways, which was forced to halt passenger flights amid the coronavirus crisis, is now gradually reinstating scheduled service. However, only one direction is currently planned ‒ and awaiting permission
in Air Transport MEA commences repatriation flights
Posted 6 April 2020
Middle East Airlines, Air Liban, yesterday commenced its repatriation flights after receiving the required approvals from the competent authorities following the covid-19 pandemic.
in Air Transport Etihad Airways continues to operate special passenger flights
Posted 3 April 2020
Over the past week, Etihad Airways has been operating special flights which have allowed stranded passengers to return home, and to support the ‘UAE Food Security Program’ as part of previously announced plans to utilise
in Air Transport UAE authorities give Emirates the go ahead to reinstate limited amount of flights
Posted 2 April 2020
Emirates has received approvals to carry passengers on certain flights. Effective Monday 6 April, initial flights will commence from Dubai to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and
